The Anti-Anti-Porn Episode
EPISODE SUMMARY
Yeah we’re going there. But in a way you probably won’t expect…
Join Samantha as she listens in close to Remoy and University of Nebraska Professor and sociologist Dr. Kelsy Burke explain how porn, addiction, and christianity have colluded to maintain the patriarchal status quo.
EPISODE NOTES
How have we gone this long without talking about it? That’s right… We’re talking about porn this week, but it may not be what you think. Remoy enlists the help of Dr. Kelsy Burke to understand how the term “porn addiction” came to be, and exactly what the folks who came up with this term had in store.
It’s hard to believe that Remoy starts this conversation at Christianity, but he does. He sets the tone for the conversation by getting the tea on the hosts’ humble Christian beginnings.
They relate over their hyper-Christian, and sometimes, conservative upbringings and reflect back on the messaging they received in church about the way men and women were supposed to behave.
Remoy reflects on his megachurch experience and how his time in men’s group “were a vibe.” Samantha’s jealous.
Remoy shares how porn and Christianity intersect and the warnings men receive in church.
Dr. Kelsy Burke explains how the notion of “porn addiction” and men’s Christianity intersect…and somehow work well together.
Remoy breaks down how the term addiction and what it actually means..
Addiction is real, but it’s no longer the term to use. Remoy breaks down how the disorders should be referred to according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
By the definition provided, “porn addiction” may not be a scientific thing the way drug addiction is… Kelsy clarifies.
Why would using the term “porn addiction” be co-opted by Christian men? Kelsy lets us know about that too…
The anti-porn movement and the term “porn addiction” are used side by side for a very specific aim…
How did this even happen, you ask? Kelsy reveals what organization the anti-porn movement fashions itself after.
Do People in Conservative States Really Watch More Porn? A Hierarchical Analysis
What about women? Can they be “addicted” to porn?
We’ll let you hear Kelsy’s insight on this, but let’s just say that women enabling the patriarchy has always been better than tending to their own proclivities, however good or bad…
Women’s sexuality is men’s to dictate it seems… Samantha shares her own experience with modesty policing as a former churchgoer.
Remoy describes meeting women who talked openly about sex for the first time upon moving to NYC.
Soooo, is porn bad or naw??
It’s a valid argument that most porn portrays sex and sexual relationships unrealistically, impacting body standards for all genders. Hear what our illustrious guest has to say about it.
What about ethical porn? What exactly is it? And now, there’s feminist porn? Remoy runs through these progressive innovations in the audiovisual form. It’s not just about minors!
Samantha shares the oxymoron that pops up between cishet men and women.
In a patriarchal world, men’s behaviors are condoned in a myriad of ways. Even if women are uncomfortable by some of the ways men communicate, it can still feel like necessary discomfort to be validated as desirable. Key word: objectification.
Kelsy goes on to describe how conservatism and conversations around sex in Christian circles lead to upholding the system we all know and (don’t) love.
We know at least some of you have heard of No Fap November. Christian men are using this strategy as a show of masculine strength. Guess where this theory/strategy came from…
This anti-porn rhetoric and scapegoating is everywhere, including government…
Some questions we’re still wondering about:
How does porn inform MASKulinity in our listeners’ lives?
Have you had to give it up? Did you view it as an addiction?
How can Christians come together to put their faith and morality above patriarchy?
Let us know in the comments below!
Referenced on this episode:
Interested in learning more about all that Dr. Burke’s uncovered? Read more in their book: The Pornography Wars: The Past, Present, and Future of America’s Obscene Obsession
You can also catch some of the highlights from Dr. Burke’s book over in their 2020 article over at Slate: Sinning Like a Man
COMPANION PIECES:
We talked about substance use disorders (addiction at the time) and MASKulinity a long time ago:
Our Guest This Week
Kelsy is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. After receiving a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2013, they have become a leading expert on the relationship between conservative Christianity and gender and sexuality in the United States. Kelsy's research has examined a wide range of topics, including debates over pornography, religious freedom laws and LGBT rights, evangelical women's ministries, and the Christian sex advice industry.
