The Women’s Center will critically analyze the treatment of women in pornography and the effects of pornography on society in a documentary screening Wednesdsay.

A documentary, the Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships, directed and produced by Miguel Picker and Chyng Sun, will start at 6 p.m. in the Pere Marquette Room of Kirkhof Center.

Jo Ann Wassenaar, associate director of the Women’s Center, started to research the sensitive subject months ago. She found while pornography seems to portray men and women in certain roles, no one is protesting.

“As with anything here at GVSU, it’s our job to look at these issues with a critical lens because these issues do have an impact on both men and women,” Wassenaar said. “This isn’t an event to try to convert people but to ask the tough questions and be able to examine them.”

She said the film connects violence against women to the porn industry.

“The film is graphic in nature,” Wassenaar said. “We’re showing the fuzzy version. But more importantly, it progressively shows the increased levels of violence against women, during the progression of the video clips.”

Wassenaar said she was surprised at how mainstream and accessible the multibillion dollar industry has become. According to the film’s online synopsis, once relegated to the margins of society, pornography has become one of the most visible and profitable sectors of the cultural industries in the United States. It is estimated that the pornography industry’s annual revenue has reached $13 billion.

Robert Jensen, associate professor of journalism at the University of Texas – Austin and a consultant to the film, started to research the topic of pornography as part of his graduate school studies. Now one of the leading scholars in the area, he will host a discussion following the film.

“The film looks at the contemporary pornography industry, its products and the effects of the products,” Jensen said. “People want to believe that pornography is harmless fun, but we want people to be able to see beyond the arousal.”

Through his research, Jensen has found that pornography is complex and deeply rooted in society. His goal is to help students step back and understand the culture influences.

“Men use pornography as a masturbation tool,” he said. “We need to question the effects of pornography on women. The pornography industry is a very sexist and racist industry.”

Jensen has taken a different approach to the topic from the usual moral stance. His viewpoint has been from the feminist anti-pornography movement.

“The feminist anti-pornography movement has long been focused on the destructive effects on women,” he said. “Some men have used pornography their entire lives, but now they cannot function as sexual beings without pornography.”

The Counseling Center at GVSU has seen an increase of students whose relationships have suffered the effects of viewing pornography.

Mary Sharp, coordinator of information and advocacy for the Counseling and Career Development Center, has worked thirty years in the human services field and said she believes the increases in pornography use should not come as a surprise.

“Students should attend this event as it is often difficult to understand how and why pornography can and does create discourse within us and in our relationships,” Sharp said. “Not everyone wants or even needs to address the role of pornography in their lives. This event may provide some insight as to why you should.”

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