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Only Words
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When is rape not a crime? When it's pornography--or so First Amendment law seems to say: in film, a rape becomes "free speech." Pornography, Catharine MacKinnon contends, is neither speech nor free. Pornography, racial and sexual harassment, and hate speech are acts of intimidation, subordination, terrorism, and discrimination, and should be legally treated as such. Only Words
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Paperback, 160 pages
Published
March 1st 1996
by Harvard University Press
(first published 1993)
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تركز الكاتبة في البداية على الإساءات الجنسية التي تتعرض لها المرأة باسم الفن، والتي يحميها الدستور تحت حق حرية التعبير... تخصص الكاتبة في حديث هو أقرب للمرافعة القضائية منه إلى البحث العميق كلامها عن أفلام البورنوغرافي (الأفلام الإباحية) وتحاول إثبات أنها ليست أكثر من إساءة وأنه لا بد من معاقبة منتجيها ومروجيها كما يعاقب الأشخاص الذين يظهرون مواقف عدائية أو يتلفظون بعبارات مسيئة للسود أو الأعراق والإثنيات الأخرى، باعتبار أن هذه خرق للدستور وجرائم كراهية... لكن لا يجرّم منتجو هذه الأفلام التي لا
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I am trying to read more radical feminist texts this year. This was a very painful but necessary read. Not easy to stomach by any means. Thank god for a thoughtful explanation of why men's right to watch pornography is not a matter of MUH FREE SPEECH!1!1! I really wish more people, feminists especially, would read this.
Catherine MacKinnon, with the best of intentions, always seems to end up with the message that all must be constrained in order to protect the women. Here, she argues that pornography is simply too denegratory of women to continue to exist, and besides, women don't like it.
She perhaps has a point, that pornography can contribute to the perception of women. However, it is not as if the only possible way to fix this is to place pornography outside the scope of free speech, effectively ...more
She perhaps has a point, that pornography can contribute to the perception of women. However, it is not as if the only possible way to fix this is to place pornography outside the scope of free speech, effectively ...more
Militant feminism. This book basically says all sex - including heterosexual and homosexual consensual - is bad because it subordinates and takes advantage of women.
You have to give some credit to MacKinnon for her radicalism, but I feel at this point, we've moved beyond this type of thinking.
You have to give some credit to MacKinnon for her radicalism, but I feel at this point, we've moved beyond this type of thinking.
So, a short book - only 112 pages of actual text, backed up with notes - but really hard to read. Her writing style is just not for me.
Concerned with the First and Fourteen the amendments in the American Constitution the author explains how the legal interpretation of freedom of speech is at odds with the interpretation of equality and how the First Amendment has been used to bolster and support the interests of the few; in this case the producers of pornography. This is intertwined ...more
Concerned with the First and Fourteen the amendments in the American Constitution the author explains how the legal interpretation of freedom of speech is at odds with the interpretation of equality and how the First Amendment has been used to bolster and support the interests of the few; in this case the producers of pornography. This is intertwined ...more
Un excellent essai, écrite par l'une des tenantes du féminisme radical US, à propos de l'autorisation du porno par le droit états-unien sous couvert du premier amendement, portant sur la liberté d'expression.
Après avoir renouvelé, Dworkin à l'appui, sa conviction selon laquelle le sexe étant à la base de la représentation sociale, les représentations pornographiques classiques justifiaient le viol et la discrimination de la femme dans la société, l'auteur compare les produits de l'industr ...more
Après avoir renouvelé, Dworkin à l'appui, sa conviction selon laquelle le sexe étant à la base de la représentation sociale, les représentations pornographiques classiques justifiaient le viol et la discrimination de la femme dans la société, l'auteur compare les produits de l'industr ...more
This is essential reading for students of the First Amendment. It's both a persuasive condemnation of pornography and a necessary (both then (1993), and now) call for America to renew its commitment to equality, especially when it comes to free speech (the latter subject which, if MacKinnon is to believed, our courts have a fairly simplistic and often hurtful understanding of). I find MacKinnon's writing true and right, the perfect balance of academic seriousness, legal savvy, and finely tuned o
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I am finding that small cadre of early radfems (centered around MacKinnon and Dworkin) remain incredibly relevant to present contexts. Given the ubiquity of pornography in the public conscience and individual lives, this text remains relevant. Furthermore, MacKinnon offers a promising argument for the balancing of the First with the Fourteenth Ammendments. Given a pervasive male supremacy which has changed in some dimensions since the writing of this book but by all means remains deeply embedded
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One of her most consise and beautifully written texts, Only Words is an eloquent argument against the pornography profiteering rampant in this nation. Though I'm sure she and I would not see eye to eye in practice, her scope of thinking is brilliant, confrontational, and landmark.
A feminist argument for why pornography is harmful and legally shouldn't be protected as "free speech." I read it in college for a class and some of the points really stuck with me. Very interesting.
I had to read this book for a women/criminal justice class. I thought MacKinnon brought up interesting ideas about the effects of pornography but I found myself skimming because of the ranty- repetitive
4.5; some confusing language in parts kept this from being a 5—but fantastic overall.
Quick, easy read. On it's surface it is classic "anti-porn" feminism, however, I think what is fascinating is the books attempt to add a material dimension to the realm of ideas.
Ok, so, MacKinnon is really weird because she has some solid points (there is a really incongruous way in which we talk about protected speech and what we consider to be worth defending and how it often empowers the worst people to continue in their horribleness); so, why the two star review? I think the major problem is MacKinnon has this absolute lack of analysis on how the law works and wants to write her legal fan fiction (on how she wants the laws executed) rather than looking at practical
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It's extreme from the very beginning, but there are some subtleties hidden in all of that pomp. The way McKinnon adheres to her beliefs is admirable to a fault, for it is when she only argues and no longer supports her claims that she falls from her convincing stance. Women, men, and choices are all taken for granted. The questions for her answers bring about a kind of reaction that rivals a heart attack at 50,000 feet. Nope, I can't stand her. I do, however, appreciate the things she forces int
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She's crazy, but damn, she's interesting. Although I can't say I agree with her central thesis, I'm curious to see how her ideas about group defamation and a balance of speech and equality (1st and 14th amendments, that is) play out. um, I guess I need to think about this more.
Highly recommended if you're at all curious about an extreme feminist opinion on pornography and speech.
Highly recommended if you're at all curious about an extreme feminist opinion on pornography and speech.
Very interesting view on pornography as protected speech, how this is harmful to women in that it perpetuates the normalizing of violence against women and children, and how freedom of speech and the freedom of equality should line up, which it currently does not in this country.
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Catharine A. MacKinnon is the Elizabeth A. Long Professor of Law at the University of Michigan and the James Barr Ames Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School (long-term). She holds a BA from Smith College, a JD from Yale Law School, and a PhD in political science from Yale, and specializes in sex equality issues under international and domestic (including comparative and constitutional) l
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