Pornography as an introduction to being a prostitute

ENLIGHTENMENT / By Theresa Burgstaller / January 21, 2021

Becoming freer does not happen without reason or thoughtlessly. Sexual exploitation is deliberately ignored and commercial sex is actively sought after. While lust or boredom are often cited reasons for often repeatedly visiting prostitutes, it is pornography, among other things, that entices people to become johns. Both the prostitution system and the pornography industry are characterized by exploitation and human trafficking.

However, if the pornographic material on the Internet is no longer enough for you, you will look for other ways to satisfy your needs.

PORNOGRAPHY AS AN INTRODUCTION TO BEING A PROSTITUTE

It is no longer new information that behavior when consuming pornographic material has changed. With the rise of the Internet, but also of smartphones, access to pornography became significantly easier. This is why the average age of porn consumption is steadily falling and a starting age of 12 is the new normal. Minors who enter the world of pornography at an early age can develop a false understanding of sex and the importance of consent in sexual acts. Police officers in the fight against prostitution and human trafficking are increasingly experiencing what happens as soon as the video material no longer provides the right kick. The increasingly younger punters want to experience the porn scenes in reality. They buy sex with women who have no choice and have to submit to the wishes of their clients. From individual nudes to a complete copy of a pornographic script - it is no longer new territory for prostitutes when clients include pornography in purchased sex.

PORNOGRAPHY: UNCONTROLLED AND UNCLEARED

Stimulation, satisfaction, boredom or to find out about sexuality - watching porn is justified for a variety of reasons. However, the fact that there is often a world of difference between pornographic material and reality can be difficult to recognize, especially for young people. Nevertheless, interest in pornographic content is not declining due to misrepresentation or lack of information. On the contrary (LINK): with around 68 million search queries per day and double-digit sales of millions, the Internet porn industry is experiencing increasing demand. This is accompanied by a growing number of legal and illegal porn content. Child pornography, physical and psychological abuse and other criminal content can therefore be found more and more often on porn platforms. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE is networked with the Safersurfing association, which is dedicated to raising awareness about internet pornography and its effects. Among other things, they address the problem that younger people in particular cannot distinguish reality from fiction when it comes to pornography.

Pornographic content characterized by sexual exploitation can be found freely accessible on the Internet, which is why minors also come into contact with the images without having received the understanding or proper information.

EXPLOITATION IN PORNOGRAPHY AND PROSTITUTION          

Pornography and prostitution have a lot in common: both systems include those affected by exploitation and human trafficking. People are recruited with promises of big money, the “lover boy” method or other forms of recruitment and then forced into pornography or prostitution. These dependency relationships and constraints are hardly noticed by johns, but also by people who watch porn. The participation of those affected in the porn industry and prostitution industry is seen as voluntary. The johns have the mentality that because of the pay, prostitution is okay. In doing so, they try to relativize and justify their own demand for commercial sex. What is forgotten, however, is that a relationship of power dominates in prostitution.

In return for payment, the john receives control over the body of the prostitute for a limited period of time. Reenacting porn or fulfilling other sexual fantasies. Forces the sex worker to give up her sexual self-determination and submit to the demands of her clients.

EFFECTS OF THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN PORNGRAPHY

In the age of digitalization, pornographic content can be found with just a few clicks. Platforms like Redtube, YouPorn or Pornhub offer a variety of videos without taking a closer look at their content. This is why porn that shows abuse or rape is available uncontrollably on porn portals. On Pornhub, porn videos from the company “Girls Do Porn” that forced the actresses to film were only taken down from the platform after lawsuits, media attention and public protest. The portrayal of women and the presence of sexual exploitation and human trafficking in pornography impacts the system of prostitution. On the one hand, the prostitution industry is being promoted with new clients who have developed a demand for prostitution through pornography.

On the other hand, sex workers, on whom clients can live out their fantasies through commercial sex, are given lower status. Those affected, who are already victims of human trafficking and exploitation, are traumatized with further abuse and additional violence.

Quelle: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE