Lecture notes
Cathrine Mackinnon - Pornography subondinates
This is lecture notes which Analyse, describe and evaluate the theory on Pornography Subordinates Women, 1st class notes.
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Radical PhilosophyNotes week 8 Notes 8
Pornography Subordinates – Catherine Mackinnon (1946)
Lecture aim:
To explain why MacKinnon thinks that pornography subordinates women; to show how it is a radical
philosophy claim; to bring out its significance for current issues; to question it.
What is assumed?
- Pornography is like cigarettes: it may harm people but it doesn’t do that by subordinating
them
- To subordinate women, Pornography would have to (or at least intend to)
- Attribute inferior worth to women than to men
- Legitimate discriminatory behaviour by men towards women
- Deprive women of important powers – And some doubt whether pornography does (all) this
Mackinnon Views on Pornography:
- ‘Pornography sexualizes rape, battery, sexual harassment, prostitution, and child sexual
abuse; it thereby celebrates, promotes, authorizes, and legitimizes them’ (p. 171)
- ‘Pornography constructs what a woman is as what men want from sex’ (p. 171).
- ‘Pornography codes how to look at women, so you know what you can do with one when
you see one’ (p. 173).
- Subordination means to be in a position of inferiority or lord of power, or to be demeaned
or denigrated’ (p. 176)
- ‘what a woman is, is defined in pornographic terms; this is what pornography does. If the
law then looks neutrally on the reality of gender so produced, the harm that has been done
will not be perceptible as harm’ (p. 166)
- ‘Pornography is a political practice, a practice of power and powerlessness’ (p. 175).
- ‘what pornography means is what it does’ (p. 191).
Mackinnon’s Argument premises:
A) Pornography legitimizes certain behaviours
- it celebrates
- Promotes
- Authorizes ‘rape, battery, sexual harassment, prostitution
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Pxnda. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £6.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
73918 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now
