Introduction
Globalization and the spread of the internet have revolutionized the sex industry. The internet has especially revolutionized the sale and distribution of pornographic materials by increasing the convenience of customers to buy sex products online.
This development exacerbates existing concerns about the treatment of women and children as commodities of sexual gratification. Since the growth of the internet has led to the expansion of the sex industry market, some people see the emergence of more opportunities for people to exploit women and children.
On the contrary, there are people who do not see a direct role of the internet and the sex industry in women exploitation. Their argument stems from the opinion that the exploitation of women and children did not start from the emergence of the strategic relationship between the internet and the sex industry.
People who support this view also use the non-exploitative nature of some sexual contents as proof that the internet and the sex industry does not collaborate to exploit women. Instead, they suggest that consenting adults develop most pornographic materials.
This paper explores both arguments through the perspective of Hughes (1) in her article, which is titled, “The Internet and Sex Industries: Partners in Global Sexual Exploitation.” Indeed, on one side of the divide, this paper explores the view that a strategic partnership between the internet and the sex industry intensifies the sexual exploitation of women and children.
On the other side of the divide, this paper explores the view that the strategic partnership between internet players and the sex industry does not intensify sexual exploitation of women and children. Nonetheless, after weighing both arguments, this paper supports the view that the strategic collaboration between the internet and the sex industry exploits women.
Opposing Arguments
The Internet is not the Source of Sexual Exploitation
Hughes (4) admits that the true causes of sexual exploitation stems from social ills and misfortunes, such as, rampant poverty, increased racism, and discrimination. These are only some causes of the spread of sexually exploitative practices in the society.
Notably, Hughes (4) ignores the existence of the strategic relationship between the internet and the sex industry as a cause of sexual exploitation. She only mentions this relationship when outlining the distribution and marketing of sex industry products (Hughes 4). The role of the internet in supporting the sex industry therefore applies to the sale, marketing, and distribution of sex products.
Here, it is crucial to note that the partnership between the internet and the sex industry is not responsible for sexual exploitation. Therefore, it may be incorrect to classify the strategic relationship between the internet and the sex industry as partners in the sexual exploitation of women because social ills and misfortunes are responsible for this type of exploitation.
Not all Forms of Internet Contents are Exploitative
Albeit many people believe that the internet is responsible for the exploitation of women and children, not all forms of sexual content is exploitative (here, exploitation means deception, coercion, and compulsion). In fact, when referring to the sexual exploitation of women and children, Hughes (3) mentions human trafficking, slavery, and detention of young girls and women as the classic forms of the practice.
She says these practices thrive on deception and coercion (Hughes 3). However, some forms of sexual contents exclude coercion or deception.
Instead, some professional actors choose to engage in the sex industry, willingly. In fact, most “adult movie” companies prefer to use adults who make mature and independent decisions regarding their decision to participate in the industry, or not. Most of them choose to do so, willingly. In this regard, it is difficult to confirm the exploitation of women who choose to engage in the trade (without coercion).
Supporting Arguments
Shipment of Underage Girls
The internet plays a direct role in the shipment of underage girls from third world countries to markets that have men who are willing to pay for these women as objects of sexual gratification. Hughes (16) gives the example of exploitative websites, such as, “mail-order-brides for men”, which gives Americans the opportunity to buy underage girls as wives.
The internet website has helped relocate thousands of women from the Philippines to foreign countries, as migrant laborers or sexual slaves for men who are willing to pay for them. When these women reach the US, they become highly vulnerable to violence and abuse from men. To this extent, the internet plays a direct role in human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women.
Intensifying Harm
Even though the strategic partnership between the internet and the sex industry may not contribute directly to the emergence of sexually exploitative practices, the sale and distribution of online sexual content makes the impact of sexual exploitation more profound. Hughes (41) agrees that many women engaging in prostitution want to leave the practice.
The high levels of drug abuse and violence in the practice informs their decisions. However, the internet creates a financial trap for some of these victims because it promises high financial rewards from the trade. Therefore, many women who come from poor backgrounds have a difficult time trying to leave the trade.
The role of the internet in promoting sexual exploitation exceeds the provision of financial gains because it also normalizes sexual exploitation. In fact, coupled with the societal reluctance to curb sexual exploitation, the internet has normalized the advertisement of sex products online.
Through the deregulation of the internet and the questionable reluctance to stop this practice, the internet has managed to expand sexual exploitation practices. Such exploitative practices exist in the open marketing and advertising of sexual products in online media. Comprehensively, through the strategic partnership between the internet and the sex industry, sexually exploitative practices thrive.
Conclusion
The role of the strategic partnership between the internet and the sex industry has played a pivotal role in creating a positive or negative perception regarding the spread of sexually exploitative practices. This paper acknowledges that not all forms of sexual contents are exploitative.
Indeed, some of the sexual content generated in the sex industry involves the full consent of the participants. Therefore, it is difficult to compare such sexual content with the sale of pornographic internet material of young children (who do not give their consent to engage in sexual practices).
Similarly, this paper acknowledges that the partnership between the sex industry and the internet did not start the exploitation of women and children. However, since the strategic relation between the internet and the sex industry intensifies the pain of sexually exploited victims, and eases the shipment of underage girls as sexual objects to foreign countries, this paper affirms the role of the internet and the sex industry as partners in the sexual exploitation of women.
Works Cited
Hughes, Donna 2000, The Internet and Sex Industries: Partners in Global Sexual Exploitation. Web. <https://www.uri.edu/>.