The sexual Internet
Today we live in an industry where
"SEX" sells. With the internet freely available to millions of people around the
world, it is no wonder that sex is the most frequently searched topic. In
America Porn is an ever growing industry with a revenue of over $1 Billion a
year. Why is it growing so much each year though? The reason can be partly down
to the way it has been used by celebrities to glamorize the
way they wear their clothes, how they poise, what they look like, what they
say, and who there with. Today a celebrity will more likely be remembered for how
she looks and acts rather than their original reason for becoming famous in the first place. For
example, Miley Cyrus is a famous celebrity who has been around for many years
in America with her television shows, however, she is now a singer and most of
her videos are very sexual along with other things, which as a result have made
her very popular today.
Porn has always been
seen as degrading, (towards women) and dehumanizing, especially when showing a
male inflicting harm to the female. However, erotica is seen as a respected form
of art dating back to ancient times which has always been seen as consensual
sex without the degrading of people.
The “sexual
internet” as they put it in the book isn’t simple about cyber sex. There are
many forms of sexually related activities one can get up to whilst browsing the
internet. People are able to purchase online products, watch videos, sex
therapists, swingers meeting, relationships or even educational information.
With these options the internet allows humans to facilitate forms of sexual
role playing. “Over time emotional attachment, arousal, and psychological pleasure
can often lead to visits to virtual sex shops rounding off the online sexual
experience.”(Nayar, p125)
There
are many forms of online relationships known as cyber affairs. These include
forms such as:
1.
Those that are exclusively in cyberspace, with
people who will never meet.
2.
Those that start online, but wish to take it
offline as well.
3.
Those who meet online but soon take it to real
life environments.
The
internet does however, allow people in cultures where homosexuality,
promiscuity, fetishes to provide reasonably affordable avenue for individuals
who wish to remain anonymous. Although men appear to seek more sexual based programs
online, women did use the internet to seek out male partners in sexual
relationships.
The game “second
Life” is mentioned a lot in this chapter as people are using this game to chat
whilst also do sexual things with other people online with their virtual characters.
There are many games like this out there that allow people to take part in
online fantasies whilst also remain anonymous.
There have been different
mixed responses from feminists in regards to cyber sex. One type see cyber sex at
liberating for women. The idea that women who might have been rejected or felt
ugly in real life can become whoever they want to be in this other world. Another
big factor is the fact these women can have control over their body, their
desires and control what they do and with whom. The second response sees cyber sex as intimidating and exploitative, as the realm of male, heterosexist
ad male presence on the net suggests a gendered structuration of online
sexuality itself. (Doring, 200)
After
reading this chapter I can see that it was more based towards women. I feel that cyber sex has many positives and
negatives to it. The illusions that are created, such as perfect bodies, along
with non-messy sexual encounters bring in the user. The fact that impersonal
intimacy is a high priority amongst users allows people to feel more relaxed
about their actions. I have never participated in any of these online forums,
but I can see what draws people in and how it can become additive.
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