What if I told you that there is an epidemic spreading across our entire world?
What if I said that one of the most public health issues our society is facing today is readily available in every home, but few people are educated on how bad it is?
What if I told you that there is science and research proving that this problem is at the root of affecting human lives and relationships?
Whether you like it or not, everything I have stated above is true. This is a huge social issue, and it deeply affects our lives and relationships.
Have you guessed what I’m talking about yet?
Probably not, because I am talking about pornography.
Don’t put the paper down just yet. Please don’t run away. Listen to what I have to say. Pornography is harmful, and the science is here to prove it.
Pornography harms the brain by changing it and rewiring it. It floods the brain with the pleasure chemical- dopamine. The rush of dopamine to the brain happens over and over until it rewires the brain’s reward pathway, ultimately changing the makeup of the viewer’s brain. This can result in an increased “need” or appetite for these sexually explicit videos.
It not only affects the viewer, but it also affects the people around them as well. Studies found that after being exposed to pornographic images, “people were more critical of their partner’s appearance, sexual curiosity, sexual performance, and displays of affection.” (FTND.org, 2015).
Then we can’t forget about the inseparable connection between the pornography industry and the sex trafficking industry. Trafficking primarily involves exploitation which comes in many forms. They will be forced into prostitution, slavery, or forced to commit sexual acts for the purpose of creating pornography. The organization Fight The New Drug cites a 2007 study of 854 women in 9 countries that found 49% of women said that “[pornogrpahy] had been made of them while they were in prostitution, and 47% said they had been harmed by men who had either forced or tried to force their victims to do things the men had seen in it [pornography].” Pornography fuels the demand for sex trade.
This is not only a problem within itself. It’s the four letter word that most people are too scared/embarrassed/uncomfortable to talk about, or even say. Somewhere along the way, pornography became a topic that we just don’t talk about. Right now, we are living in a society where it has become mainstream. Yet, still, the discussion about it has remained taboo.
Several studies from scientists at FightTheNewDrug.org (2009) have found that it also affects the partners of people who view pornography. They have reported feeling loss, betrayal, mistrust, devastation, and anger when they find out that their significant other is watching pornography. Many show physical symptoms of anxiety and depression. The pain can have very serious consequences. Many partners show signs of PTSD and some even become suicidal. They feel like they are not living up to their partner’s standards.
A study of the most popular pornography videos found that nine scenes out of ten showed women being physically or verbally abused, yet the female victim almost always responded with either pleasure or appeared to be neutral.
Think about this. We have 24/7, 365 unlimited access to watching pornography with the click of a button on a device that fits in our pocket. We are the first generation in history to deal with this epidemic, and I strongly believe that we will be the generation to put an end to it.
With something this dangerous in our world, it’s time we start to talk about it. It’s time to stop ignoring the big XXX elephant in the room.
Reference: Fight The New Drug. (2009). http://fightthenewdrug.org/the-porn-industrys-dark-secrets/ & http://fightthenewdrug.org/get-the-facts/
Anna Uhrhammer is a student at Mabel-Canton High School. She is one of eight area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its eighteenth year.
Leave a Reply