Pop Culture Exploitation

There is no “fair trade” certification for porn.

There is no “fair trade” certification for porn.

There is no “fair trade” stamp for pornographic content—pornography consumers have no way of knowing if sexual acts they are viewing are consensual. There is no enforceable measure for “ethical production”. Even if it’s something that looks consensual or caring, there’s no guarantee that force, fraud, or coercion wasn’t involved. Whether it’s Pornhub, any of the other porn companies owned by MindGeek, or other companies that create, host, or purvey pornographic content—there is just simply no telling whether content features exclusively consensual acts—and was shared online with entirely unforced consent.

Is there justice for me? | Survivor's thoughts on Epstein's death

Is there justice for me? | Survivor's thoughts on Epstein's death

Last month when Epstein passed, we invited survivors to tell us about their reaction to his apparent suicide. Three survivors responded—and wrote beautiful expressions that focused less on Epstein’s death, and more on a collective commitment to dismantling systems of abusive power and bringing forth justice in their day to day lives. 

On the grooming and trafficking of minors

On the grooming and trafficking of minors

In the last two months, three powerful men—billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, R&B singer/songwriter R. Kelly, and megachurch founder Naasón Joaquín García—have been arrested and charged with various crimes surrounding the sexual abuse, creation or possession of child pornography, and trafficking of minors.

50 Shades of Propaganda: How You Are Being Indoctrinated To Sexual Violence

 50 Shades of Propaganda: How You Are Being Indoctrinated To Sexual Violence

Tomorrow, the movie adaptation of “global phenomenon” Fifty Shades of Grey will be released in theaters, after selling more than 100 million books worldwide. Fifty Shades of Grey, billed as “romantic erotica,” tells the fictitious story of a Seattle billionaire who enlists a woman to be an object of his degrading and violent sexual acts.