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Is porn immoral? That doesn’t matter: It’s a public health crisis.

The science is now beyond dispute. By By Gail DinesGail Dines April 8April 8 Follow @GailDines

Gail Dines is a professor of sociology at Wheelock College in Boston and author of "Pornland: HowGail Dines is a professor of sociology at Wheelock College in Boston and author of "Pornland: How

Porn has Hijacked our Sexuality."Porn has Hijacked our Sexuality."

Last month, the Republican-led Utah House of Representatives became the first legislative body in the UnitedLast month, the Republican-led Utah House of Representatives became the first legislative body in the United

States to States to pass a resolutionpass a resolution declaring pornography “a public health hazard leading to a broad spectrum of individual declaring pornography “a public health hazard leading to a broad spectrum of individual

and public health impacts and societal harms.” The liberal backlash criticized the measure as an antiquated bit ofand public health impacts and societal harms.” The liberal backlash criticized the measure as an antiquated bit of

conservative moralizing, with the Daily Beast calling it “conservative moralizing, with the Daily Beast calling it “hypocriticalhypocritical” and “” and “short-sightedshort-sighted.” “.” “The science just isn’tThe science just isn’t

therethere,” wrote Rewire, an online journal ,” wrote Rewire, an online journal dedicated to dispellingdedicated to dispelling “falsehoods and misinformation.” “falsehoods and misinformation.”

The thing is, no matter what you think of pornography (whether it’s harmful or harmless fantasy), the science The thing is, no matter what you think of pornography (whether it’s harmful or harmless fantasy), the science isis

there. After 40 years of peer-reviewed research, scholars can say with confidence that porn is an industrial productthere. After 40 years of peer-reviewed research, scholars can say with confidence that porn is an industrial product

that shapes how we think about gender, sexuality, relationships, intimacy, sexual violence and gender equality — forthat shapes how we think about gender, sexuality, relationships, intimacy, sexual violence and gender equality — for

the worse. By taking a health-focused view of porn and recognizing its radiating impact not only on consumers butthe worse. By taking a health-focused view of porn and recognizing its radiating impact not only on consumers but

also on society at large, Utah’s resolution simply reflects the latest research.also on society at large, Utah’s resolution simply reflects the latest research.

Utah lawmaker says porn is a public health hazard !! "

The statistics on today’s porn use are staggering. A The statistics on today’s porn use are staggering. A Huffington Post headlineHuffington Post headline announced in 2013 that “Porn Sites announced in 2013 that “Porn Sites

Get More Visitors Each Month Than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter Combined,” and one of the largest free porn sitesGet More Visitors Each Month Than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter Combined,” and one of the largest free porn sites

in the world, YouPorn, in the world, YouPorn, streamed six times the bandwidth of Hulu in 2013streamed six times the bandwidth of Hulu in 2013. Pornhub, another major free porn site,. Pornhub, another major free porn site,

boasted that in 2015 boasted that in 2015 it received 21.2 billion visits and “streamed 75GB of data a second, which translates to enoughit received 21.2 billion visits and “streamed 75GB of data a second, which translates to enough

porn to fill the storage in around 175 million 16GB iPhones.”porn to fill the storage in around 175 million 16GB iPhones.”

Extensive scientific research reveals that exposure to and consumption of porn threaten the social, emotional andExtensive scientific research reveals that exposure to and consumption of porn threaten the social, emotional and

physical health of individuals, families and communities, and highlights the degree to which porn is a public healthphysical health of individuals, families and communities, and highlights the degree to which porn is a public health

crisis rather than a private matter. But just as the tobacco industry argued for decades that there was no proof of acrisis rather than a private matter. But just as the tobacco industry argued for decades that there was no proof of a

connection between smoking and lung cancer, so, too, has the porn industry, with the help of a connection between smoking and lung cancer, so, too, has the porn industry, with the help of a well-oiledwell-oiled publicpublic

relations machinerelations machine, denied the existence of empirical research on the impact of its products., denied the existence of empirical research on the impact of its products.

Using a wide range of methodologies, researchers from a number of disciplines have shown that viewingUsing a wide range of methodologies, researchers from a number of disciplines have shown that viewing

pornography is associated with damaging outcomes. In a pornography is associated with damaging outcomes. In a study of U.S. college menstudy of U.S. college men, researchers found that 83, researchers found that 83

percent reported seeing mainstream pornography, and that those who did were more likely to say they wouldpercent reported seeing mainstream pornography, and that those who did were more likely to say they would

commit rape or sexual assault (if they knew they wouldn’t be caught) than men who hadn’t seen porn in the past 12commit rape or sexual assault (if they knew they wouldn’t be caught) than men who hadn’t seen porn in the past 12

months. The same study found that porn consumers were less likely to intervene if they observed a sexual assaultmonths. The same study found that porn consumers were less likely to intervene if they observed a sexual assault

taking place. In a taking place. In a study of young teensstudy of young teens throughout the southeastern United States, 66 percent of boys reported porn throughout the southeastern United States, 66 percent of boys reported porn

consumption in the past year; this early porn exposure was correlated with perpetration of sexual harassment twoconsumption in the past year; this early porn exposure was correlated with perpetration of sexual harassment two

years later. A years later. A recent meta-analysis of 22 studiesrecent meta-analysis of 22 studies between 1978 and 2014 from seven different countries concluded between 1978 and 2014 from seven different countries concluded

that pornography consumption is associated with an increased likelihood of committing acts of verbal or physicalthat pornography consumption is associated with an increased likelihood of committing acts of verbal or physical

sexual aggression, regardless of age. A sexual aggression, regardless of age. A 2010 meta-analysis2010 meta-analysis of several studies found “an overall significant positive of several studies found “an overall significant positive

association between pornography use and attitudes supporting violence against women.”association between pornography use and attitudes supporting violence against women.”

# Play Video 1:40

A A 2012 study of college-aged women2012 study of college-aged women with male partners who used porn concluded that the young women suffered with male partners who used porn concluded that the young women suffered

diminished self-esteem, relationship quality and sexual satisfaction correlated with their partners’ porn use.diminished self-esteem, relationship quality and sexual satisfaction correlated with their partners’ porn use.

Meanwhile, aMeanwhile, a2004 study2004 study found that exposure to filmed sexual content profoundly hastens adolescents’ initiation of found that exposure to filmed sexual content profoundly hastens adolescents’ initiation of

sexual behavior: “The size of the adjusted intercourse effect was such that youths in the 90th percentile of TV sexsexual behavior: “The size of the adjusted intercourse effect was such that youths in the 90th percentile of TV sex

viewing had a predicted probability of intercourse initiation [in the subsequent year] that was approximately doubleviewing had a predicted probability of intercourse initiation [in the subsequent year] that was approximately double

that of youths in the 10th percentile,” the study’s authors wrote. All of these studies were published in peer-that of youths in the 10th percentile,” the study’s authors wrote. All of these studies were published in peer-

reviewed journals.reviewed journals.

Because so much porn is free and unfiltered on most digital devices, the Because so much porn is free and unfiltered on most digital devices, the average ageaverage age of first viewing porn is of first viewing porn is

estimated by some researchers to be 11. In the absence of a comprehensive sex-education curriculum in manyestimated by some researchers to be 11. In the absence of a comprehensive sex-education curriculum in many

schools, pornography has become de facto sex education for youth. And what are these children looking at? If youschools, pornography has become de facto sex education for youth. And what are these children looking at? If you

have in your mind’s eye a Playboy centerfold with a naked woman smiling in a cornfield, then think again. Whilehave in your mind’s eye a Playboy centerfold with a naked woman smiling in a cornfield, then think again. While

“classy” lad mags like Playboy are “classy” lad mags like Playboy are dispensing with the soft-core nudesdispensing with the soft-core nudes of yesteryear, free and widely available of yesteryear, free and widely available

pornography is often violent, degrading and extreme.pornography is often violent, degrading and extreme.

In a In a content analysiscontent analysis of best-selling and most-rented porn films, researchers found that 88 percent of analyzed of best-selling and most-rented porn films, researchers found that 88 percent of analyzed

scenes contained physical aggression: generally spanking, gagging, choking or slapping. Verbal aggression occurredscenes contained physical aggression: generally spanking, gagging, choking or slapping. Verbal aggression occurred

in 49 percent of the scenes, most often in the form of calling a woman “bitch” and “slut.” Men perpetrated 70in 49 percent of the scenes, most often in the form of calling a woman “bitch” and “slut.” Men perpetrated 70

percent of the aggressive acts, while women were the targets 94 percent of the time. It is difficult to account for allpercent of the aggressive acts, while women were the targets 94 percent of the time. It is difficult to account for all

of the “gonzo” and amateur porn available online, but there is reason to believe that the rented and purchased pornof the “gonzo” and amateur porn available online, but there is reason to believe that the rented and purchased porn

in the analysis largely reflects the content of free porn sites. As researcher in the analysis largely reflects the content of free porn sites. As researcher Shira Tarrant points outShira Tarrant points out, “The tube sites, “The tube sites

are aggregators of a bunch of different links and clips, and they are very often pirated or stolen.” So porn that wasare aggregators of a bunch of different links and clips, and they are very often pirated or stolen.” So porn that was

produced for sale is proffered for free.produced for sale is proffered for free.

The performers who make up the porn industry are also at risk, in ways that affect them as well as members of theThe performers who make up the porn industry are also at risk, in ways that affect them as well as members of the

broader public. Aside from broader public. Aside from frequent claims of sexual violencefrequent claims of sexual violence and harassment, film sets are often flush with and harassment, film sets are often flush with

sexually transmitted infections. In a sexually transmitted infections. In a 2012 study2012 study that examined 168 sex industry performers (67 percent were female that examined 168 sex industry performers (67 percent were female

and 33 percent were male), 28 percent were suffering from one of 96 infections. Even more troubling, according toand 33 percent were male), 28 percent were suffering from one of 96 infections. Even more troubling, according to

the authors, was that the porn industry’s protocols significantly underdiagnosed infections: 95 percent of mouththe authors, was that the porn industry’s protocols significantly underdiagnosed infections: 95 percent of mouth

and throat infections, and 91 percent of rectal infections, were asymptomatic, which, the authors argue, made themand throat infections, and 91 percent of rectal infections, were asymptomatic, which, the authors argue, made them

more likely to be passed on to partners both in and out of the sex industry. Since members of the industry havemore likely to be passed on to partners both in and out of the sex industry. Since members of the industry have

protested proposed safety measures protested proposed safety measures requiring the use of condoms and other prophylactics, legislating to protectrequiring the use of condoms and other prophylactics, legislating to protect

these performers has proven challenging.these performers has proven challenging.

Beyond the porn industry, legislators have begun to respond to yet another genre of pornography quicklyBeyond the porn industry, legislators have begun to respond to yet another genre of pornography quickly

proliferating on the Web: “revenge porn,” whose perpetrators post and disseminate sexually explicit photos of theirproliferating on the Web: “revenge porn,” whose perpetrators post and disseminate sexually explicit photos of their

victims (often their former girlfriends) online without their consent. Unsurprisingly, revenge porn victims (often their former girlfriends) online without their consent. Unsurprisingly, revenge porn has been linkedhas been linked

to several suicides and has been used to to several suicides and has been used to blackmail and sexually exploit minorsblackmail and sexually exploit minors..

As the evidence piles up, a coalition of academics, health professionals, educators, feminist activists and caregiversAs the evidence piles up, a coalition of academics, health professionals, educators, feminist activists and caregivers

has decided that they can no longer allow the porn industry to hijack the physical and emotional well-being of ourhas decided that they can no longer allow the porn industry to hijack the physical and emotional well-being of our

culture. This means understanding that porn is everyone’s problem. Culture Reframed, an organization I foundedculture. This means understanding that porn is everyone’s problem. Culture Reframed, an organization I founded

and currently chair, is pioneering a strategy to address porn as the public health crisis of the digital age. We areand currently chair, is pioneering a strategy to address porn as the public health crisis of the digital age. We are

developing educational programs for parents, youth and a range of professionals that aim to help shift the culturedeveloping educational programs for parents, youth and a range of professionals that aim to help shift the culture

from one that normalizes a pornographic, oppression-based sexuality to one that values and promotes a sexualityfrom one that normalizes a pornographic, oppression-based sexuality to one that values and promotes a sexuality

rooted in healthy intimacy, mutual care and respect.rooted in healthy intimacy, mutual care and respect.

Parents and educators at every level need to know that if porn is not discussed in a research-based, age-appropriateParents and educators at every level need to know that if porn is not discussed in a research-based, age-appropriate

sexual health curriculum, its effects will surely show up as sexual harassment, dating violence and inadvertentsexual health curriculum, its effects will surely show up as sexual harassment, dating violence and inadvertent

“child pornography” on students’ phones. Pornography can cause lifelong problems if young people are not taught“child pornography” on students’ phones. Pornography can cause lifelong problems if young people are not taught

to distinguish between exploitative porn sex and healthy, safe sex. As the research shows, porn is not merely ato distinguish between exploitative porn sex and healthy, safe sex. As the research shows, porn is not merely a

moral nuisance and subject for culture-war debates. It’s a threat to our public health.moral nuisance and subject for culture-war debates. It’s a threat to our public health.

Gail Dines is a professor of sociology at Wheelock College in Boston and author of "Pornland: How Porn has Hijacked our Sexuality." $ Follow GailDines