There is nothing ‘fair’ about pornography

“Politically correct labels be darned, porn communicates that women are objects or, worse, simply pleasure-giving machines to be discarded after they are exploited.” — Maureen Vacca

This letter originally appeared in the Boston Globe

“Fair-Trade Pornography” (02/09/12) could have been written as a promotion piece for the pornography industry. The Op-Ed panders to the ill-advised concept that porn is a fact of life so just get used to it. Rape is a fact of life so should I as a woman just get used to it? Pedophilia is a fact of life so should our innocent children just get used to it? I hope not!

Politically correct labels be darned, porn in any form communicates that women are objects, or worse, simply pleasure giving machines to be discarded after they are exploited. Porn destroys intimate relationships and families. It permanently corrupts the minds of children and teaches some to molest younger children. Porn promotes “the rape myth,” that when women say no, they really mean yes, resulting in more rape.

FBI statistics show that 80% of serial murderers are addicted to pornography. The only way to slow the spread of this vile cancer is active enforcement of obscenity laws, with officials cooperating at the national, state and local level. Let it begin with the Justice Department doing their job and prosecuting major commercial distributors of hardcore adult pornography.

Maureen Vacca
Director of Public Policy
Massachusetts Family Institute