Valenti: Pop Culture Gone Wild

I really enjoy reading this author's work, because she is down to earth and uses language that speaks to a younger generation of women. In this particular chapter, Valenti talks about the double bind of the sexuality of women. Women are supposed to be sexy, always. If they are sexy and abstain from sexual activity, they are prude. If they engage in sexual activity they are sluts. Women can't win. They are expected to be sexy, yet to abstain from sex. What a contradiction!! Valenti discusses the increasing porn culture and how it often makes women feel obligated to perform acts like flashing their boobs or making out with another girl to turn on a guy and to feel sexy. The porn culture is everywhere. It is especially prevalent in the abundant playboy paraphernalia. Girls Gone Wild is the best example of porn meeting real life. The producers walked around New Orleans, finding girls who were willing to flash their boobs at the camera. Now the GGW industry is booming. The porn industry has made many girls feel like sex is meant to contain dirty talk, screaming, and madness in order to please the guy. Yet, most porn stars do not orgasm. So, the porn industry is promoting girls to have fake sex. With all these society influences on female sexuality, it is hard for females to know how to behave sexually. Valenti concludes that females should feel free to act sexually as they choose, as long as they are comfortable with their actions and are not doing it because society says they should. Women should also be aware of the societal influences that affect their actions, even if it will not change how they act.

I really liked Valenti's conclusion to the article, because it left the door open for females to behave sexually in whatever manner they see fit. She did not pass judgment on women, but challenged them to be true to themselves in their actions. I really respected this.