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Book review: Dr. Jill C. Manning releases book about "the truths" of pornography

What a bunch of distorted, poor scholarship!
First, let's start with Dr. Manning's horrible definition of pornography: "pornography is material specifically designed to arouse sexual feelings in people." By that definition, my putting on an attractive negligee to �arouse sexual feelings� in my husband on our wedding (or any other) night is �pornography�?
Don�t be ridiculous! My husband was (and still is) attracted to me on a sexual level in addition to intellectual, personal, and other levels of our relationship. Humans are sexual beings. To hear prudish Mormons like Dr. Manning tell it, she seems to forget that fact. And there is no way you can tell me that my efforts to be sexually attractive to my husband "hinders a person's abilities to make clear choices" and can "distort a person's outlook on bodies, relationships, sexuality, and gender."
Based on such a poor definition of pornography, there is no possible way Dr. Manning�s advice and recommendations could possibly be healthy and beneficial. She has obviously failed to resolve her own distorted feelings about sexuality, and is allowing her religious fervor to bias her research. No doubt she is doing more harm than good in the therapy room. Beware.

To real therapist: I get your point, but, I think you are taking your metaphor too far as well. Granted, her definition of pornography isn't the greatest, but I think we need to look at what she's TRYING to say. I think we should recognize that actual pornography, (at least what you and I and most everyone else probably considers to be pornography)does in fact distort the development of a healthy sense of sexualiity, resulting in misogynistic and control-based systems of arousal. Look at the body of research available on the topic. Be careful not to slam this lady too hard just because her definitions of pornography are a little prudish. We might be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Try to relax, take a deep breath...
Anyone capable of abstract thought knows that healthy marital relations is not classified as pornography. Quit assuming people are so stupid that they can't tell what she's talking about.
Furthermore, unless you would like to be fully discredited because someone doesn't agree with your definitions for words, you ought to offer her the same courtesy.

I AM familiar with the research. I HAVE read this book. It is damaging. Her poor definitions are NOT simply trivial semantics. Indeed, I spend a great deal of time working with people who have been to therapists like Dr. Manning, and I see the evidence of the harm she does every day. The research does not support such radical and puritan stance on human sexuality in general, and on "pornography" in particular.

Here we go again with Jill "Porn Queen" Manning. She and her strange husband Mike liken every social, emotional, and physical ailment as having an origin in porn. I find it amazing that someone with so little actual experience in counseling is such an expert that they already have the authority to write a book.

After having read the book, it was evident that it is directed primarily to teenagers in a very easy, readable style, and not necessarily meant to be an adult marital guide.

I'm finishing up research for a book on the topic of pornography/sex addiction to include real stories of how it negatively impacts marriage and to offer hope for those who have endured (or are presently enduring) the pain of having a spouse or loved one who is addicted.

After interviewing a number of divorced women who told me pornography was at least a part of the reason for divorce, I recognized the strong connection.

My research has led me to prosecutors who tell me that they have never prosecuted a sex offender for whom pornography did not play a role in landing them in prison.

Having an axe to grind with religion should have no place in this serious matter. The fact is, pornography has a negative impact on society, and we see it our criminal system and in our failing families. The fallout costs millions in taxpayer money, as well as millions of broken hearts.

Cherilyn Bacon Eagar
World Class Education Research

I cannot comment on the book because I have not read it yet. But I have read artcles by her and reviewed her congressional report presented to congress. When you concider how little research has been published on pornography, Dr. Manning has contributed a significant amount. She is a top therapist and schollar.

Cherilyn Bacon Eagar: You say: "My research has led me to prosecutors who tell me that they have never prosecuted a sex offender for whom pornography did not play a role in landing them in prison." Now what do you (and they) mean by "play a role"? I suspect you may be confusing correlation with causality. Have you considered how many people are exposed to porn and NEVER commit an antisocial act? If I could establish that 99% of serial killers ate mashed potatoes within a year of their offenses, would that
make a compelling case against spuds?

The book makes a point that is overlooked too often: The pornography of today is not the pornography of yesterday. We are not just talking about a playboy under a matress here. Teens have easy access to the hardest most vile pornography that exists. The negative effects of such easy, and large amounts of this severe content area a new area of research that "Real Therapist" is frightingenly behind on.

I recently read this book and found it to be an excellent resource for teens and parents. It isn't intended to be for adults or scholars, and the dedication of the book makes that very clear. I think it is impressive that someone who has done scholarly work in this area has been willing and able to write to a general teen audience about a serious subject. No one who has commented here has recommended another resource for teens or parents - which I find interesting. I applaud Dr. Manning for addressing a tough topic and for making contributions in this area.

I have read Dr. Manning's book. It is clear to me where her focus was - helping primarily young people avoid the dangers of pornography with some practical and clearly-understood techniques. "Real Therapist"'s comments seemed to be more of a red herring argument focused on hair-splitting regarding the definition of pornography. I don't really care whether Dr. Manning's definition is accurate according to a "Real Therapist". Her definition and approach are practical, make sense, and don't at all impugn healty, caring marriage relationships as "Real Therapist" suggests. I would be curious to hear the case studies and research that show the supposed damage done to someone who follows Dr. Manning's advice -- does anyone actually believe rational people not ensconced with academic or anti-religious biases actually believe pornography is any way beneficial to its consumers as well as its creators? Give me a break.