Wendy Mcelroy: Individualist Feminism

In Wendy McElroy’s article “Liberal Feminism: The Glimmer of Hope”, she discusses the differences between the liberal and radical feminists’ views about pornography. McElroy defends pornography and is an individualist feminist. She discusses the arguments behind liberal feminists against censoring pornography: the freedom of speech, suppression of pornography, and that pornography offers benefits for women. McElroy believes the first two arguments are problematic as they seem to be anti-censorship rather than pro-pornography. McElroy goes more into depth of the third argument in her article “Individualist feminism”. Individualist feminists believe that individuals have their own choice of what to do with their body and have their own rights. …show more content…
I agree with her statement that individualist feminism is the best defense to pornography. Feminism should not be a concept that is based on communal needs but rather individual needs. Each individual woman should have the choice to do whatever she wants with her body. Thus, McElroy and I would argue against Lorenne Clark’s view of pornography. In Clark’s article “Sexual Equality and the Problem of an Adequate Moral Theory”, she believes that women are victims and are subjected to harm in porn. Clark states that people tend to copy the behaviour they see around them. Thus, she believes pornography is harmful. However, if a woman is comfortable and satisfied participating in pornography, then why do people say that pornography is harmful for all women and that they should be protected from it? That statement is what I believe is at fault in the views of radical feminists and Clark. I believe that to consume or produce pornography does not cause direct harm to anyone as the purpose of pornography is to satisfy sexual desires through media. To call yourself a feminist and support anti-pornography would be hypocritical because you are discriminating against women who engage in pornography yet say nothing about the men. Isn’t the whole concept of feminism for women and men to be treated equally? Why does no one think men also need protection from pornography? Thus, I support McElroy’s views on pornography and believe that each women should have control over what to do with their body. As much as radical feminists and anti-pornography supporters are trying to protect women, they are destroying the true motive behind

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