Note that the article in link below contains sexual descriptions that may be triggering. If this is an issue for you, you may want to avoid the article.
"I have had a number of divorce cases where pornography has been at the centre. The couples still want to be together, but their sex lives have been distorted and destroyed." - Dr. Ann Olivarius
For many of us counselors, coaches, pastoral care providers, psychologists, and other treatment providers who work with men and women in relationships broken by chronic infidelity, our work requires us to learn how to help our clients navigate through the litter field of infidelity and sexual compulsion, back towards health and integrity.
As part of that, our training and on-the-job experience usually entails a peripheral learning about the netherworld of the sexual exploitation industries: pornography, stripping, prostitution, etc., since our clients have usually habituated themselves to this realm of commodified sexuality.
How do we ensure that our learning as professionals doesn't fixate narrowly on only the problematic sexual behaviors of our clients, but also encompasses the broader cultural contexts within which their behaviors occur?
One effective way to expand our understanding is to widen the lens through which we view the sexually exploitative industries by including the perspectives of professionals outside the treatment field: sociologists, attorneys, media specialists and journalists, ethicists, feminist academics and activists, plus others with experience in how the sexual exploitation industries affect not just our own relationships, but entire societies...and how that happens.
Towards that end, we are excited to introduce a woman who also works with the effects of the pornographic culture. Her work focuses on legally defending partners, couples, pornography addicts, women attempting to exit the pornography field, revenge porn victims, child sexual abuse victims, sexual harrassment victims and more..
Meet Dr. Ann Olivarius, an internationally practicing attorney that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lists as one of the most influential people in the history of U.S. anti-discrimination law.
Dr. Olivarius, who was a Rhodes scholar at Yale and earned her doctorate at Oxford University, is responsible for coining the term "date rape" 36 years ago as she brought an unprecedented lawsuit against Yale University in defense of many students there who claimed sexual assault on campus. She continues to inspire with her bold legal defense initiatives across the globe.
After reading Dr. Olivarius' incisive post on why anyone still questions whether the pornography industry is oppressive, we think you'll agree her outspoken and courageous views are a welcome addition to the growing body of voices speaking out against this usurious industry. And we at PoSARC were galvanized by what she had to teach us about the sexual exploitation field she encounters in her professional life.
Read Dr. Olivarius' insightful post here: I clean up the messes of the porn industry. Why are we still questioning whether pornography is oppressive?
Then let us know what you think about Dr. Olivarius' question, "Is pornography inherently oppressive?". Do you think there is a push back against the pornography industry by young people? How has pornography affected you?
Commenting Anonymously
Note that you must enter a name and email below in order to submit a comment. The name you enter will show up along with your comment (your email will not), so if you'd like to comment anonymously, please enter a name such as "guest" or use your initials.