The Influx of Pornographic Materials and the Consequences on Youths

10 PAGES (2265 WORDS) Sociology Seminar
Abstract

This seminar paper examines the influx of pornographic materials and their efects on youths. Two major and broad factors responsible for the widespread of pornography are identified and fully examined. These include the technological and sexual revolutions. While the former facilitated the ease with which pornography could be accessed, the latter liberalized the attitude toward pornography. How these were fully done are systematically explained in this paper. The paper also examines the effects of pornography on youths. These include psychological, emotional, social effects. The paper concludes summary.


Brief Overview
As with many concepts, pornography is very difficult to define. In determining what constitutes pornography, views vary from location to location, time to time and individual to another. As subjective as it may be, it is still very much insufficient to conclude that the subject matter is much in the eyes of the beholder. While some think that lurid materials pose a moral danger, others remain unsure. There are even debates on what constitutes sexually explicit materials. Educational materials on sexuality and sexual health, sexually suggestive ads and arts object have incited debates among parents or guardians on what is appropriate for their children or youngsters. These disagreements are scholarly, political, religious and personal. Lack of consensus subjects these issues to a contentious controversy.

However, there is enough evidence in the literatures to conclude that there exists a consensus on the etymology of the term. It is traced back to Victorian archeologists who coined the term from two words; pornē meaning whore or prostitute and graphos meaning description or writing. These archeologists uncovered the ruins of ancient Pompeii where they discovered many lurid and sexually explicit artifacts. These lurid paintings and sculptures were kept from public domain in secret museums. These materials were classified as pornography to mean the description of prostitutes.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
WIDESPREAD OF PORNOGRAPHY
EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY ON YOUTHS
SUMMARY