The Feminist Porn Book: The Politics of Producing Pleasure

Sex industry workers, academics, and feminists explore whether pornography is inherently anti-feminist in this intelligent, accessible, and relevant collection of essays. Porn has often been branded as sexist, with "feminist" groups decrying all forms; however, many women over the decades have sought to bridge their love of erotica with their feminist values by supporting and creating porn that adheres to these values. With contributions from some pioneers of feminist porn such as Candida Royalle, the book features a variety of critical perspectives that examine all sides of the issue. Contributors aren't afraid to both objectively praise and criticize advances the industry has made (such as the way feminist porn has, for some, come to equate "soft" porn, and prescribe stereotypes of female desire), and provide both practical ways to become a smart feminist or queer porn consumer alongside academic approaches to the movement. The collection also rightfully includes essays on racial, queer, and transgender representations in porn, topics often marginalized in this discussion. Besides being extremely thoughtprovoking, this must-read collection is accessible to all readers, and the topic inherently makes it engaging and fun. (Apr.)