I do not think we can seperate issues of feminism and disability oppression
from each other as they are both artefacts of an unequal society, and the
media re-inforces stereotypes of both kinds. Of course a disabled woman
should be free to be a porn star, but in a free society should be able to
appreciate the criticism that might attract from other free agents.
Whatever we think of the merits of pornography, I do not think that being a
porn star or participating in a disengenous documentary is the same as
appearing in independant cinema and expressing ones sexuality there.
Pornography is part of market exploitation and there should be limits to
sexual expression self informed by the notions of a pluralistic society,
after all I don't think many want to see a society that allows "dogging" to
become the predominant passtime outside the local primary school.
Breaking down one barrier whilst re-inforcing another is something that
should attract criticism. Whilst pornography has the hold that it does and
is clearly the exploitation of sex for profit.Whilst pronography is market
exploitation it is apparant enough that documentary makers will cash in on
that vicariously.
Larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Andrea Hollomotz
> Sent: 03 July 2006 08:36
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Social inclusion, not "freak shows" - Re: Re: sex ...
>
>
> Hi Larry,
>
> Obviously women buy pornography, because women have an active
> sexuality, thus are not passive as formerly assumed. I am still
> convinced that most women buy the type of porn that is currently
> available because there is nothing better out there for them to
> watch, so bad quality is better than none at all.
> But this is getting off the point. What I was trying to say is
> that a female, disabled porn star is not an issue of discussion
> for disability studies, but it is rather an issue for feminist
> debate, because pornography sells sexual images that are not very
> positive on women’s sexuality, that promote the assumption that
> women enjoy to fulfil male sexual urges and have none of their
> own. But this criticism is secondary to my argument.
>
> Disabled people are fighting for inclusion in every aspect of
> social life. Should popular culture, including porn, not be part
> of it? So what is all the fuss about? Yes, I agree that
> documentaries exploring people who are different with perverse
> fascination are “freak shows”. Every single episode of
> “Dispatches” I ever saw made me want to vomit!
>
> Social inclusion is the process whereby individuals who were
> previously marginalised become part of mainstream society, not by
> conforming to norms established by other social actors, but by
> simply “being themselves” and with this contributing to the
> diversity of the society they are actively becoming part of. We
> like to see disabled people becoming socially included in all
> areas of social life, like employment, education and popular
> culture. We are thrilled to see a disabled comedian appear on the
> scene, we want more disabled pop stars, more disabled actors,
> more positive portrayals of disabled people within “mainstream”
> films, in which their disability is not the primary focus. This
> is why I think that a disabled porn star is nothing but positive,
> despite feminist criticism of pornography per se. If inclusion
> means not to conform, then a disabled porn star should be allowed
> to be different. Why panic that some may think she is a “freak”?
> Do we ever say that disabled actors should hide their disability,
> because otherwise their performance will go down as a “freak
> show”? No! What is different with porn actors?
>
> Sexuality is an important aspect of disabled people’s lives. Once
> disabled people are generally acknowledged to be sexual actors,
> there will be disabled porn-stars. This is social inclusion, not
> a “freak show”.
>
> Andrea
>
> >
> > From: Larry Arnold <[log in to unmask]>
> > Date: 2006/06/30 Fri PM 09:10:30 BST
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: sex ...
> >
> > Sex is central to the human condition and any condition for
> that matter lest
> > you be a plant propogating asexually.
> >
> > And pornography is as old as literature I do not doubt, but I
> do sincerely
> > believe that mainstream TV's interest in disabled people whether it is
> > sexual habits or anything else is purely freak circus stuff.
> >
> > In reality until "disability" is consdidered as normality, a part of the
> > total human condition not a sub genre then all interest is going to be
> > prurient, it is an offspring of the marginalisation of
> disability and the
> > creation of "the other" as status that no-one is immune from
> and is created
> > socially when one crosses some line or other in the metaphorical sand. A
> > condition one fears and despises, mocks and is entertained by
> until it one
> > finds oneself on the wrong side of this artificial barrier,
> just as religion
> > and ethnicity can be of no consequence until the prevailing political or
> > social ethos makes it so.
> >
> > The Media are not our friends, they are false allies as alcohol
> is to the
> > drunkard.
> >
> > Larry
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
> > > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Jenny Parry
> > > Sent: 29 June 2006 20:45
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: sex ...
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Andrea ...
> > > yes I agree with a lot of what you say, but at the same time the
> > > 'disabled
> > > people as curios' (ref Colin Barnes) keeps leaping to the fore.
> > > This is a
> > > reply I sent to someone on this list back in January on a
> > > similar subject :-
> > >
> > > Yes - I agree that the subject of 'disabled sexuality' needs to be
> > > investigated - sensitively - for the benefit of those it affects
> > > - but the
> > > attached
> > > article by Bev Burkitt illustrates graphically the curiosity felt by
> > > non-disabled 'others' about how we 'do it'! Bev also points out
> > > the need
> > > for a better
> > > understanding of the issues, but is a Channel4 TV programme the
> > > way to go??
> > > Cheers
> > > Jenny
> > > __http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies/archiveuk/archframe.htm__
> > > (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies/archiveuk/archframe.htm_)
> > > (_http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies/archiveuk/archframe.htm_
> > > (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies/archiveuk/archframe.htm) )
> > >
> > > although I just tried the link and couldn't make it work.
> > > Again - the above was relating to a C4 programme, but is a
> porn show any
> > > better?
> > > If someone wants to participate in a porn movie then OK yes, and
> > > if the fact
> > > that they are disabled gains them some publicity then that is
> > > also a choice
> > > thing - but in all honesty would you show the disabled people
> > > who you work
> > > with this porn movie as a sex education example? I think not.
> > > Sex education can be a necessity for many people, not 'just' disabled
> > > people, but to endorse a woman being involved in porn, and
> > > further a disabled woman
> > > being involved, is not the sort of example I would like to use
> > > for anybody,
> > > disabled or otherwise.
> > > This harks back somehow to the 'freak show' of old time circuses
> > > - not sex
> > > education, or even a good example .....
> > > all best
> > > Jenny
> >
> > ________________End of message______________________
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