Mulieris Dignitatem and Pornography

Mary Leary at Catholic Law School has posted an article based on an excellent presentation I heard her give at a symposium on the 20th anniversary of Mulieris Dignitatem:  "Mulieris Dignitatem:  Pornography and the Dignity of the Soul:   An Exploration of Dignity in a Protected Speech Paradigm."  The abstract:

This article, part of a symposium celebrating the 20th anniversary of Mulieris Dignitatem, reflects on Mulieris Dignitatem’s teachings, and how they can inform the issue of pornography. Modern day pornography has increased in both its quantity and severity of content. Mulieris Dignitatem offers a pathway out of this reality with its focus on the concept of dignity. The article reviews John Paul II’s emphasis on the dignity of woman and applies it to the modern day issue of pornography. The article suggests a paradigm shift from examining pornography solely through a “speech and expression lens” to examining the issue through a “dignity lens. In so doing, the article explores John Paul II’s discussion of dignity of both men and women, as well as society as a whole. It examines some parallels between this approach and the previous civil rights approach of the feminist movement. Finally, the article invokes John Paul II’s emphasis on vocation and proposes a social movement targeting a paradigm shift to a dignity perspective rather than relying on a legal movement.

More important than the legal solution (criminalization), Leary argues, is a change in the social norms governing pornography today in the U.S.   She describes how the law "followed the dictates of the societal shift" in attitudes toward smoking, driving under the influence, and dangerous sexual practices.  She argues for increased public education about findings of researchers who have identified online pornography as 'a hidden public health hazard'.  She also argues for greater efforts to combat "the normalization of the sexualization of girls."

As a mother of a nine-year old girl who watches far too much Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, I say, AMEN, Mary!