The Home Secretary’s Films

I’m having to be very careful not to use the P word today because I don’t want Google bringing forth all sorts of undesirable adverts. But you will all know what I’m talking about. But what about the sociology of the matter?

It’s all about gender and identity. It seems to me that you can usefully profit from the Home Secretary’s misfortune by pondering over the relationship between such films and gendered identity.

Many commentators - journalists and other such uneducated riff-raff, like to portray these issues in terms of essentialism. It is in men’s nature to be the more sexually active and indeed, predatory, whereas women - the so-called ‘fairer sex’ take a more passive, or in the case of the films which I cannot mention - manipulative - role. This is why, such critics will argue, that p…(whoops, nearly wrote it) is predominantly produced for men. So, it is all about nature, is it?

Many sociologists - I would argue - however, will say that our gender identities are not just the outcome of nature; they are socially constructed. From a very early age, children start to learn about their bodies and their sexuality and they grow into gendered sexual identities (albeit doing a bit of customising of the roles and rules) set out for them by their society. Or if you prefer a more action-based approach, you might care to emphasise that sexual identities are constructed through interaction, and they change over time. Whichever emphasis you prefer, that’s fine, just keep it sociological. There are those who think it’s terribly clever to point out that such images exploit men as well as women; as if that evens it all out. But many factors in our society lead to a situation where it is predominantly women who are exploited and objectified. This must surely be at least part of what Marx meant by alienation?

In our sex-obsessed society, that seems to be worth knowing. What can be done about it? It will be a slow process, but if sociologists can put together the right sort of research programmes, in the future and over time, it may be possible to have an influence on our society so that it can step back, start to be more reflexive, and start to change this important part of our lives - sexual identity - for the better.

I notice today that it is - of course - The Sun - which wants to have its cake and eat it; a full feature on how internet porn is corrupting ‘our kids’. Look around the rest of the paper and I challenge you not to be confused.