Viewing women, children online
Madam,
The internet has created a global medium for the sexual exploitation of women and children by increasing men’s sexual access to women and children at the same time that it increases both their privacy and communications.
The use of the internet has increased women’s visibility at the same time that men’s anonymity has increased. It furthers the sexual exploitation of women and children by offering online communities for perpetrators to gather and share stories. By offering a common meeting place for perpetrators, the internet normalises sexual perpetrators and their acts. Violence and humiliation are also normalised and eroticised. The way pornographic videos are shared after they surface exposes young girls to so much criticism and humiliation, also by people who have no idea that they are breaking the law merely by sharing what has already been shared, or leaked.
There is this other effect of sharing explicit content online - viewing women and children online as commodities on sex sites serves to dehumanise women and children, causing a loss of empathy for them. I have noticed how few or little people actually side with the girls. Everyone dehumanises them as if they are merely objects that have to be scrutinised and taken apart piece by piece.
THIRD PARTIES
There is no prostitution without third parties to intervene, organise and profit from it. Nevertheless, these third parties would seem to disappear from the contact websites, as they are offered as a further experience with a rating or review system. As much as the internet seeks to portray itself as providing a relationship between two individuals under equal conditions,
this isn’t the case. We’ve seen how inequalities in gender, ethnicity, age and class are clear in this activity. So I worry a lot about the exploitation of young ladies and wonder how many are actually out there that may need our help.
The great power of the internet is democratisation and empowerment, and most murder victims associated with prostitution are among society’s most vulnerable and voiceless. Many are born into poverty and broken homes. Many were abused as children. Few graduated high school.
Others were addicts and plenty were single mothers. The internet has made it easier than ever to turn to prostitution, and it’s made the process of selling sex more efficient: No need for a pimp or a brothel, just an internet connection and a sex worker can be in business. But because these women go it alone online, often without a community or enforcer, it can also make the process more dangerous.
Nomsa