direct action gets the goods

the-gingerdancer asked: I do hope you realise that women CHOOSE to be on porn and actually get paid high sums of money-more than the men for that matter- to do it? Silly feminazi, getting on her high horse :)

there are two points here: one is that most women are forced into pornography. the second is that choice is a false construct in capitalist society.

first: millions of women are trafficked every year into the sex industry. they are exploited and raped and filmed in pornography that is consumed almost solely by men. they are not engaged under any kind of “choice” relation by any stretch of the imagination, unless you think that choosing to end your own life or face incredible violence is a valid option in this scenario.

secondly, women do not choose to go into pornography. they are forced by circumstance. unfortunately in this economy we believe that being forced by circumstance is he same as having a choice. women may be paid more in pornography than working the same amount of time in fast food, but if you offered a woman the same pay as pornography but in a legal or public profession (or even at mcdonalds) she might make a different choice, yes? so “choice” is surely mitigated by circumstance. choosing between rape and being homeless is not really a choice. it is someone being influenced by downward pressure to engage in humiliation. perhaps a woman is addicted to drugs, is scorned by her family, and needs to make money to feed her drug habit. this is hardly a rational and free choice she makes. it is as if you are saying that someone who steals a loaf of bread to feed themselves is making the choice to steal. this is incorrect. they would be forced by circumstances, and to expect someone to choose against their own subsistence is foolish. that’s why instances of martyrdom or bravery in the face of death are celebrated, not commonplace.

people do not choose even to engage in wage labor. they are forced by circumstance, and by an environment that requires them to engage in this relationship. it is not a choice to get a job. you must have a job. what kind of job you have is mitigated by your skills, abilities, background, limitations and environment (once again). so it’s sort of useless to talk about how people “choose” to do this or that and more worthwhile to examine why they “choose”, that is, the economic, gendered, cultural, political underpinnings to the “choice” being made.

anyway I can tell by your language you’re not really interested in engaging in discussion but I hope this lengthy response helps someone out!