The pornographic context of sexual offences: Reflections on the contemporary sexual mentality

Hans Boutellier*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This essay-like article explores the pornographic context of sexual violence. The analysis is based on Giddens' book about the development of intimacy and sexuality in late modernity. Sexual morality nowadays combines a tolerant mentality towards pornography and a claim for prudence in the daily relationship between the sexes. This 'schizophrenic' moral situation gives a special meaning to sexual violence, which can be seen as a realisation of pornographic humiliation and as a rude offending of the norm of equality in modern relationships. The strong consensus on the protection against child pornography and paedophile violence stems from this paradoxical situation. The radical development taking place in our sexual mentality is placed within the context of relationships that are becoming more equal, and against the background of the resulting higher standards set for partners.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)441-457
Number of pages17
JournalEuropean Journal on Criminal Policy and Research
Volume8
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2000

Keywords

  • Pornography
  • Post-modernism
  • Sexual delinquency
  • Sexuality

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