Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity

Thank you Robert Jensen. This book gives voice to a marginalized yet truthful analysis of adult "entertainment". Jensen probes the collective denial about the exploitation in the name of "liberated" fun.

I wish I had this book when I was teaching undergraduate Women's Studies courses! Jensen uses the topic of pornography to cover the most pressing issues facing feminism, and society at large, today. He has built upon the work of radical feminist scholars in regards to applying feminist theory to pornography. He looks at how the industry, its violent content, and access to pornography through new technology, has changed since writers like Andrea Dworkin first tackled the problem of how porn turns violence against women into a vehicle for sexual pleasure. Jensen is successful at attacking the problem from every angle. You can tell he is an experienced lecturer by the way he addresses the typical, and also atypical, arguments that are thrown at feminists in regards to pornography, sexuality and gender. He also approaches the topic autobiographically, (a very feminist approach) and his arguments are stronger and more poignant because of it. Because of this autobiographical angle, his tone is not just analytical, but also one of remorse and sadness about the state of sexuality and masculinity in today's world. But he offers up a new vision, one which I believe male readers will be receptive to. I wrote my thesis for my Masters in Women's Studies on sex work, so I can wholeheartedly say I've read most literature on pornography. Getting Off is one of the best books on the subject, and he brings the feminist argument against pornography into the 21st century. I admire and appreciate that he does not merely copy the work of female scholars, but rather builds upon them all the while showing how they paved the way for his analyses. I highly recommend it for course reading material for college instructors. This is an excellent text for anyone interested in understanding power, gender and sexuality.

Every person should read this book. It will make men better human beings, and enable them to imagine a masculinity that isn't rooted in domination over women as a source of sexual gratification. Jensen analyzes pornography from what seems to be every possible angle. His conclusion - masculinity is toxic, and must be reconfigured. He writes, "The call to go beyond masculinity to a new humanity asks people to imagine something for which there is no model. It is frightening but like most things that spark fear it also opens up the possibility of finding something deeper, richer, and more satisfying." Men will not be put off by the book, but rather will be comforted by Jensen's honesty about his own journey as a man in a culture that dominates women. Jensen's tone will put readers at ease, because he is so honest and brings his own story into an otherwise analytical text about culture, gender and sex. This personal touch makes the book easier to read, since a lot of the violence described is hard to witness. Jensen seems to cover it all, and peppers the book with interesting facts about the impact of porn on society. For example, who knew that in the 80's Betamax probably went to the grave because the porn industry chose the VHS format? Getting Off will enlighten all readers, and it isn't just about pornography. It is a book that gets to the root of how dominant cultures function and thrive through the normalization of sexual violence.

As a biblical Christian, I have quibbles. But Jensen identifies what pornography is really about and ties it to its larger context in American culture. There is a reason that pornography is becoming both more mainstream and more violent. Jensen accurately locates this in the lack of relationship in pornographic sex, which means that substututes must be found for that emptiness. Among these substitutes is the thrill of violent domination, expressed by O'Brien in Orwell's 1984 as "a boot stamping on a human face forever." I think any honest reader can recognize himself or herself here. Jensen is extremely frank about his own history, which makes that essential insight easier for the reader.