Oprah talks Porn

Today, in what might possibly be the only time ever that Oprah's show came with the warning that the content may not be appropriate for children, Oprah invited Lisa Ling, Jenna Jameson, and an expert on erotica on to have a frank discussion about porn: it's wonders, and it's pitfalls. Though after watching the entire show, I am not entirely sure exactly what the point of it all was, I did learn a few things. And Oprah navigated the subject with her usual class and grace, managing to discuss porn and sex toys without ever using such dirty words as penis, orgasm, or vibrator. She did say G-spot once or twice, which was pretty hilarious.

Things I learned today:

1. Apparently numbers are up on female porn viewers and buyers. This means that the leading men in porn will be getting better looking since more and more people watching are actually checking out the guy.

2. Jenna Jameson is actually quite a savvy businesswoman. She has a profitable business, a book that spent many weeks as a NY Times Bestseller, and is married with two sons. She is very emotional about the day that she will have to tell her sons about her past in the porn industry.

3. Most adult film enterprises require all actors and actresses to present STD and AIDs test results prior to filming, which is a step towards protecting those employed in this industry. One woman interviewed, however, notes that these results are not fail safe, and that the fear of getting AIDs hovers over her constantly while working because it is not allowed to wear condoms in pornography, because audiences find it undesirable.

This last knowledge made me quite sad for the woman being interviewed, who claimed it was the only way for her to make money to pay her bills. Jenna Jameson talked about the pitfall many women do not feel strong or confident enough to refuse to be filmed in sexual acts they do not feel comfortable with. Since many women in this profession may be doing it as a last resort, they could easily be exploited by directors and coerced with threats of losing the job and the income. Yet she also reported that porn can be quite a lucrative employment for women, since they make more than men in the same industry. Women typically make between $2,000 and $5,000 per performance, which if working a typical work week would lead to incomes exceeding $200,000 annually. I am not sure whether it is an improvement or pitfall that porn is becoming "safer" for those involved in it, which might make more women seek this type of career which while safer is not anywhere near being completely without risk of health complications.

Then there are the social ramifications to consider. Jenna Jameson has retired from porn, and told Oprah how many of her movies were made with her husband at the time. Now, she is married with two boys. She dreads the day that she has to tell them about her past, for she understands that once a porn star, always a porn star-people will continue to judge her by her past. She claims that she does not care what other people think of her, but only how her boys will judge her and how it might impact children willing to be friends with them once they are old enough.

Although, as Oprah pointed out, with porn becoming more mainstream and more women becoming interested, perhaps it will become less taboo and by the time Jenna's boys are old enough, no one will care that their mommy had sex on tape for a living. If Oprah is talking about it, it must be becoming more mainstream.

Check out the video footage from the show and full story here: http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow-20091007-porn-erotica-report