Though there has been plenty of research regarding masturbation that suggest masturbation is a natural thing, the state of Utah is pondering whether to pass legislation to limit people’s ability to watch pornography for health reasons.
Senator Todd Weiler filed the resolution, SCR. 9 Concurrent Resolution, on Friday publicly declaring that pornography is creating a wide “public health crisis.”
According to a report by Deseretnews in 2009, the Utahans watch more porn than people of any other state in America.
The resolution filed by the senator makes a bold claim that watching pornography is leading to damaging addiction in people. He also argues that pornography is hugely responsible for “hypersexualisation” of teenagers and other social problems like prostitution.
The resolution states:
“Whereas pornography use is linked to lessening desire in young men to marry, dissatisfaction in marriage, and infidelity.”
“Legislature and the Governor [must] recognize the need for education, prevention, research, and policy change at the community and societal level in order to address the pornography epidemic that is harming the people of our state and nation.”
A US state wants to declare porn a ‘public health crisis’ https://t.co/MwjR57TZWx
— The Independent (@Independent) January 31, 2016
In a report by Covenant Eyes (A site that filters other porn sites), 79 percent of American men and 76 percent of women between age 18 to 30 years watch internet porn at least once a month
Senator Weiler also presented forward a SB 227 Exposure of Children to Pornography, which means that a district court has the right to judge whether the parent has deliberately exposed his/her child to pornography, when deciding child custody in the case of a divorce.
Weiler suggests in the bill that exposure to pornography to teenagers is directly responsible for their low self-esteem and risky sexual behaviors.
The resolution SCR 9 suggests that pornography use causes a biological addiction, which induces a desire for even more hardcore porn, which, according to the document is causing sexual violence, including sexual abuse of children.
According to the Senator, pornography decreases the morale of the women and thus is responsible for sexual abuse of women.
“WHEREAS, because pornography treats women as objects and commodities for the viewer’s use, it teaches girls they are to be used and teaches boys to be users. Pornography normalizes violence and abuse of women and children; WHEREAS, pornography treats women and children as objects and often depicts rape and abuse as if they are harmless.”
His resolution also states that the use of pornography is linked to lessening desire in young men to marry, dissatisfaction in marriage, and infidelity.
The resolution also pleads the Legislature and the Governor to recognize the need for education, prevention, research, and policy change at the community and societal level in order to address the “pornography epidemic” that is harming the people of the nation.
Now Senator wants to ban porn.. gimmeabreak #conservative pic.twitter.com/m2jVJZRwnV
— James (@ironyitsmejames) January 31, 2016
This resolution by the senator is attracting a lot of criticism on the internet. Psychology Today described the legislative action as “based on hyperbole and morality, ignoring much of what is known about pornography and its effects.”
The writer David J Ley of Psychology Today further writes:
“It is clear that Weiler believes that it is men who watch porn, and women who are abused by it. There is a pervasive heteronormative tone throughout the resolution, suggesting that Weiler’s main concern is that pornography decreases males’ interest in marrying women and having children. The fact that pornography is often a safe, healthy outlet for women, and for those who are not heterosexual, and live in socially conservative areas such as Utah, seems ignored.”
In 2013, Weiler introduced a similar resolution, which was passed by the Utah senate. The resolution declared that pornography was a “gateway” behavior which affected teens’ brains. It seems Weiler, and the Utah Senate are deeply concerned by the high rates of pornography and rigidly believe pornography is downright evil, but perhaps they should try contemplating about the causes of these behaviors rather than jumping onto conclusions and acting on the effects.
[Photo By Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley /Shutterstock]