Sex & Sensibility: Reflections on Forbidden Mirrors and the Will to Censor

by Marcia Pally

Marcia Pally, a social scientist at New York University, examines the hypothesis that government censorhip of offensive books and images will reduce anti-social behavior, including delinquency, violence, and rape. After extensive review of the sociological, psychological, criminological, and cross-cultural research, Pally finds that the causes of anti-social conduct lie in the life experiences of perpetrators, which are unfortunately not likely to be addressed by merely removing images from the public sphere. Moreover, government censhorship in one area may open the door to censoship in other arenas and thus threaten democracy. Pally notes that those in favor of censorship and those opposed share the goal of reducing violence and abuse, and so both might use their energies to further substantive solutions to anti-social conduct. This, Pally suggests, will require a deep look at our values, family structures, parenting, educational systems, and other of our basic institutions.

Paperback

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading quite a lot on censorship, and this book ranks most highly. It is a feminist take on censorship is concerned with sex-negative (or "right-wing") feminism as well as on the religious right, and focuses on facts instead of what feminist theory is currently fashionable. Thorough, well-researched, and liberal with quotations of proven facts, research, and statistics, it debunks many of society's internalized notions about the effect that arts/media (especially television) has on the individual.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

borrowed from library, 1 Feb. 2014

TOC from WorldCat
1. Mr. Bowdler's Return Engagement: Recent Censorship Efforts -- 2. The Image Causes the Harm: The Great Soothing Appeal of Censorship -- 3. Standard Deviation: Research Literature on Sexually Explicit Material and Social Harms. Violence in Sexually Explicit Imagery. Sexual Imagery and Aggression. "Degrading" Or "Kinky" Sexual Material and Aggression. Violent Sexual Material and Aggression. Paraphilias and Sexual Material. Sexual Material and Crime Rates. International Research -- 4. I Know It When I See It - Common Sense Claims for Censorship: The Taxpayer's Revolt, "Porn Made Me Do It," Community Standards -- 5. The Image Is the Harm: "Objectification" And "Degradation" -- 6. Misusing the Magdalene: Sex Industry Workers -- 7. Minors and Media Minotaurs: Sexual Material, Rock, and Rap. Violent Material and Minors -- 8. The "Unmentionable Obvious": Recommendations for Reducing Sexual and Nonsexual Violence. Public Policy Recommendations.
Fantasies and Forbidden Mirrors: The Image-Blamer's Quixotic Joust. Labeling: The Emperor's New Figleaf -- 9. The Return of the Irrepressible: Sex Scares and Witch Hunts. Lace Strings and Brutes: The Confining Pleasures of the Victim -- 10. Say It Again, Sam: Responding to Offensive Speech. In the Beginning Was the Word: Hate Speech and University Campuses. Sense and Censorship.


8/28/2013: clean, solid used copy purchased from powell's.