1980s Sex Wars

Anti-pornography Versus Pro-sex Feminism

Presenter: Nicole Frisch

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 20-21

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Anne-Louise Dierkes

Department: Art

Funding Source/Sponsor: SYRCE Symposium

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1zHyRj_PJsCZ9h_RgFBhalPgsR07zBn3G

Abstract:
Although anti-pornography feminism began during the late 1970s, the "pro-sex" feminists arose in the early 1980s. The "pro-sex" feminists counteract the arguments made by the anti-pornography feminist claims. As a result, what is identified as the Sex Wars occur. The Sex Wars was a major feminist movement in the 1980s. This presentation goes into greater detail about anti-feminist and "pro-sex" beliefs. Following a discussion of each type of feminism, feminist activists such as Andrea Dworkin, an anti-pornography feminist, and Gayle Rubin, a "pro-sex" feminist, share their contributions and beliefs about their feminist movements in greater detail. These women elaborate on what each social movement stands for.