Lately I’ve seen more and more articles and blog posts on Facebook covering the topic of pornography and its effect on teenagers . I think it’s great that the subject is finally being discussed on so many platforms however the comments that follow those posts prove we still have a long way to go.
Studies that prove how many adolescent males view pornography follow with comments that encourage and cheer them on- despite the obvious negatives. Articles proving that our teenage girls are suffering every day in school because of the expectations of their male counterparts lead to more victim shaming, ‘she knows what she’s doing’, ‘she could say no’ (this is the part that absolutely must change- victim shaming is never acceptable).
Sadly we live in a society where one of the most toxic addictions is handed to our adolescents on a plate, ready for them to access whenever and wherever they want. The most frustrating thing is that it is still viewed as ‘fun’ or ‘normal’- but it isn’t fun for the women who grow up trying to replicate what they believe males want.
It’s not OK for girls who are assaulted and asked to do ‘what she does’ whilst being shown images or videos. If she doesn’t do it everyone in her class will be talking about how she’s a coward or a virgin (like it’s a bad thing) and if she does she’s called much worse.
It’s not OK or normal when those expectations lead to years of being unable to view your body as more than something that should please men, it takes less energy and effort to raise a confident child than to heal a broken adult right?
It’s not ok when ladies are still hating their bodies and men are distant in relationships because of something they began watching years ago. Something has to change before more and more generations go through what ours did.
So I’m asking you, as a lady who has been working through that damage for the last ten years and has finally recognised it, to help our young people love themselves. We should be teaching them the value of every person not their potential as an image or ‘plaything’. We should be humanising those images and speaking out very honestly about the reality of porn culture because it isn’t going to go away by being ignored. Let’s be open and honest, standing together to change this culture for our children’s sake.
Kirsty x
inthistogether2016 