Autonomy vs. Domination: The Dispute over Pornography in Feminism

The text analyzes a deep conflict within feminism regarding the nature of female agency, with pornography serving as the flashpoint. On one side is presented the liberal approach (e.g., Wendy McElroy), emphasizing individual rights, freedom of speech, and the validity of informed consent. On the other side, the radical current (Catharine MacKinnon, Andrea Dworkin) interprets pornography not as expression, but as a mechanism of domination and an act of violence embedded in power structures. The author considers whether sexual preferences are autonomous or shaped by historical hierarchical relations. The key question is whether cultural influence on desire invalidates individual freedom of choice, making this dispute a clash between two different political anthropologies.