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Effects on Relationships

Whilst the success of the online pornography industry has been widely written about, the effect that this same industry has on personal relationships is scarcely documented. The presence of pornography within a relationship redefines a number of things, ranging from expectations in regards to sex to the way in which one perceives his or her body image. Considering that in July 2003 there were approximately 260 million pages of online pornography, there is no real way of escaping its presence, as pornography is accessible in almost any medium, with online pornography leading the way.

The argument against the omnipresent use of pornography is that it is “transforming sexuality and relationships for the worse� (Paul, 2004: 99), with experts believing that frequent users of pornography could develop naïve anticipations towards the behaviours and appearances of females. It is also thought that pornography has strong influence over the way in which relationships are developed and sustained, as well its adverse effects on the sexual appetites of its users.

The internet has provided pornography users the anonymity they have always desired, allowing them to access pornography from the comfort of their own home alleviating the embarrassment of buying pornographic material in public. Furthermore, the internet also provides users easy access and affordability, which has resulted in higher pornography consumption, with new and existing users moving from soft-core to more hard-core material (Paul, 2004: 99). Labelled as being “the crack cocaine of sexual addiction� (Schneider in Paul, 2004: 99), online pornography is even contributing to a newly developed form of sexual compulsiveness, with 15% of online pornography users acquiring sexual behaviour that is disruptive to their lives. Users of pornography claim that their interest is no more than good fun, with a 2001 survey revealing that 2/3 of the 7037 pornography participants surveyed regard their internet activities as harmless, having no counter-effect on the amount of sexual activity present in their relationship.

Despite the fact that pornography users ascertain that pornography does not cause conflict within their personal relationships, lawyers refute this, stating that the internet plays a considerable role in the number of divorces filed each year. Furthermore, it is the presence of online pornography that has been a contributing factor in more than half of divorce cases, with “evidence [showing] a common thread that runs through dysfunctional relationships – pornography and infidelity� (Moore, 2004: 170).

The presence of pornography in the facets of everyday life is overwhelming, with the arrival of the internet only assisting pornography to move beyond its original mediums. Although the online pornographic industry is flourishing due to its popularity and easy access, it is necessary to consider the effects of this thriving industry on personal relationships and the self esteem of individuals.

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References

Hartley Moore, J. (2004) Infidelity - Exploding the Myths, New Zealand: Harper Collins. ISBN 1869505077

O'Toole, L. (1998) Pornocopia, London: Serpent's Tail. ISBN 1852423951

Paul, P. (2004) 'The Porn Factor', Time [Online], vol. 163, issue 3, pg. 99. Available: Proquest: ABI/Inform Global, ID no: 527237191. [Accessed 23 Oct. 2004].

Jessica Ong 19:36, 28 Oct 2004 (EST)