Epistemic Resistance and the Problem of Pornography: Reconsiderations of Power and Sexual Agency

Feminist perspectives on pornography that characterize it as either harmful or liberating for women tend to overemphasize men’s sexual power over women or women’s sexual empowerment, respectively. I argue that taking women’s particular social context and location into account enables a better assessment of women’s capacity for sexual agency in relation to pornography. I further argue that considering women’s capacity for epistemic resistance and empowerment creates hermeneutical resources for resisting harmful conceptions of female sexuality. Women’s ability to practice epistemic resistance to the harmful aspects of pornography can facilitate the potential of sexual empowerment through pornography consumption. However, this type of empowerment and agency requires responsible reflection on the limitations of endorsing or perpetuating patriarchal forms of sexuality.