Men and Pornography: Illusions, Delusions, and the Struggle for Intimacy in Patriarchy

Abstract

The radical feminist critique of pornography remains the most compelling analysis of sexually explicit material available, yet it is routinely marginalized in the dominant culture and in feminist circles. Why? Patriarchy is woven deeply into our lives, and denial or avoidance of the pathology of patriarchy is common. But men should embrace, not reject, radical feminism, not only for the sake of women’s liberation but for our own. The power of arguments from both justice and self-interest are particularly useful in helping men to understand and accept the radical feminist critique of pornography.