In 2008 America, where front-running presidential candidates include an African-American and a woman, it’s hard to believe how ingrained misogyny and racism remain in our culture. Not only that, but pornographers are doing a thriving business in selling both, with nary a peep from the progressive community. Bob Herbert publishes a spot-on column in January 15’s New […]
Media Ethics
Rhode Island’s Top Newspaper Runs Display Ads for Amazing.net (explicit language)
Adult industry advertising isn’t limited to alternative weeklies like the Valley Advocate. Amazing.net, the porn chain operated by Capital Video, just placed display ads in the December 26 and 28 editions of The Providence Journal. This is the “#1 newspaper” in its market.The ad promotes Amazing.net’s locations in Providence (3), East Providence, Johnston, North Kingstown, […]
Call to Action: Ask the Valley Advocate’s New Owner to Drop the Sex Ads
Today’s Gazette reports that its parent company, Newspapers of New England, is acquiring the Valley Advocate. Now is a good time to ask NNE to start on the right foot and drop the Advocate’s sex ads. Here is a sample letter: Mr. Tom BrownPresident and CEONewspapers of New England, Inc.One Monitor DriveConcord, NH 03302Dear Mr. Brown:Congratulations on […]
S.M. Berg: “Hey, progressives! Cathouse got your tongue?”
S.M. Berg is a radical feminist activist against pornography and prostitution. She is not afraid to choose prostituted women over prostitute-using men, and is a big fan of the Swedish model–decriminalizing prostitutes but not pimps and johns. Berg runs Genderberg.com. She has kindly given us permission to reprint the following article, which also appears in […]
Another Victory for NOW-NYC: New York Magazine Drops Sex Ads
Congratulations to NOW-NYC, which last week persuaded another publisher to drop its sex ads. Several news outlets reported on the story:International Herald Tribune, 11/6/07 New York Magazine agreed Tuesday to stop accepting sex ads after the local chapter of a women’s rights group threatened protests outside the popular weekly publication.The National Organization for Women had […]
AP: “Widespread Teacher Sexual Misconduct Reported” (explicit language)
In October, The Associated Press announced it had “found more than 2,500 cases over five years in which educators were punished for actions from bizarre to sadistic.” The actual incidence of abuse is likely to be much greater, as “most of the abuse never gets reported,” and “those cases reported often end with no action.” One […]
Letter to Harper’s: “Boys on the Side”
The November 2007 issue of Harper’s publishes a letter from NPN’s Jendi Reiter, “Boys on the Side”. Reiter is responding to a September article by Laura Kipnis, “Lust and Disgust: A short history of prudery, feminist and otherwise”. In her article, Kipnis reviews Intercourse (Andrea Dworkin), Girls Gone Mild: Young Women Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It’s Not Bad […]
Cognitive Science: Don’t Give False Claims a Free Pass
The mainstream porn industry can be viewed as a pervasive propaganda industry that spreads certain myths. Dr. Mary Anne Layden characterizes these as “Permission-Giving Beliefs”, such as “All men go to prostitutes”, “Women like sex mixed with violence” and “Children enjoy sex with adults”. Myths surrounding the latter are particularly visible in incest pornography, such as that sold […]
New Book – Prostitution and Trafficking in Nevada: Making the Connections
The Guardian writes about Melissa Farley’s new book, Prostitution and Trafficking in Nevada: Making the Connections, in its 9/7/07 article, “It’s like you sign a contract to be raped”.Dr. Farley established Prostitution Research & Education in 1995. She is a research and clinical psychologist and author of 25 peer-reviewed publications on sexual violence, prostitution and trafficking. Prostitution […]
“Trade – A Film Brings Sex Trafficking Home”
The Women’s Media Center reports on Trade, a new movie based on actual events. “Trade tells the story of Veronica, a young Polish woman, and Adriana, a 13-year-old Mexican girl, who are caught up in an international sex trafficking scheme to bring them to New Jersey and auction them off to the highest bidder.” Trade […]