Date of Award

Winter 12-9-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Paul Benzon

Abstract

This paper proposes a feminist “porn-critical” framework that moves beyond the pro-sex versus anti-pornography divide that has been standard since the 70s, arguing that this binary limits meaningful analysis of pornography’s social function. Drawing on feminist theorists such as Andrea Dworkin, it reframes pornography as a system of representation that structures gendered power rather than a matter of individual taste or morality. The paper examines how U.S. First Amendment absolutism reframes feminist critique as censorship, shielding pornography from harm-based analysis, while contrasting this with the United Kingdom’s harm-centered legal approach.

It further critiques “choice feminism,” arguing that its emphasis on individual autonomy obscures the structural conditions shaping women’s participation in pornography and aligns with industry interests. Additionally, the paper interrogates the rhetoric of empowerment in contemporary pornographic forms, demonstrating how apparent role reversals often end up reproducing patriarchal dynamics.

Ultimately, the paper advocates for porn-literacy as a feminist practice, emphasizing the need for critical tools to address pornography’s role in shaping sexual norms and reinforcing inequality.

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