Hot debate on porn at the Oxford Union Tonight

On the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures recorded hitting 32C, the Oxford Union debated pornography this evening. The motion before the house, ‘the commodification of Women’s Bodies is a form of exploitation’ what with the heat was sure to set the chamber on fire.

Hottest day of the year at 32C matched with porn debate at the Oxford Union

Proposer stated this is about where bodies are sold. Includes, plastic surgery, the beauty industry, surrogacy etc, this exploitative, the answer is a unquestioned yes. Whike industry is worth 130b by 32. Sex worker industry oldest industry in the world. Comes with abuse, trafficking, most enter the industry. Below age. 18. Whole industry is 600b. Debate not about individual choices it is about how capitalism exploits the woman’s body. Physiological effects, dieting, bolemia etc. Women are not empowered by profiteering from their bodies. Opposer main speaker from Christ Church college, the industry does empower women and speakers will show how. Sex workers of Ancient Rome treated like second class citizens, also in ancient Egypt. 2.3 billion industry on modification of bodies. Women who modify their bodies, dictate the nature of their own work, strip trade workers now have union rights and dignity like in any other industry. It’s all moral panic perpetrated by the police state. Sex workers handcuffed, interrogated not right. Modification of women’s bodies nothing new, if vote against, just affirm things have changed from attitudes of centuries before. Supermodel who earns her living from the industry, seconded in favour arguing the industry is inhumane, solely concerned with profit making. Why do women modify themselves? It’s about survival and strategy. Sesmetic effects. Industry is racist, treats you like an object rather than a human being. Modification not exploitative because it is empowering is the main thrust of the argument of the other side. Need to stand up against gender violence. Effects our ability to survive on this planet. Making ourselves desirable is exciting. It is not shameful to be desired. Paradoxical and confusing speech. Fashion and cultural journalist seconded against. Life is not so black and white. It was my choice to be a model. Had no debt as a result of entering this industry. Value of a person related to their appearance. In our world, everything is commodified, pets, sport, everything. So why not the body? The commodity of fetishism, Marx called it. The power of beauty used to get you to part with your money, an aborant of genius is beauty, see plato etc. industry is 650 billion, fashion is a several trillion industry. Fetishism, you believe they have magical powers when you see beauty. That is why we buy it. By making a woman to take off her trousers, are you commodifying them or empowering them? The history and beauty of oxford. Is that commodification? Floor debate followed. Student dressed in Muslim white outfit. Let us be clear commodification is profiteering and dehumanising. I feel empowered by covering up. It does not protect me gender violence but it protects me as a human being. A system that exploits woman and dehumanises them, another for floor speaker added. No floor speakers against. Palestinian influencer dressed in black Muslim outfit gave final for speech. In the end I have turned to faith and modesty. Important to show ourselves internally rather than externally. Was making loads of money from promoting my appearance and beauty brands etc. Have chosen the former rather than the latter. I lost money but I found freedom. Commodification has gone too far. Putting profit always first, that’s exploitation. Topic is complex, said final speech from against speaker. Another you tuber and influencer but this time claimed to be a feminist empower. Claimed to have been abused by a GP.

The whole debate seemed to be rigged. For speakers speaking on both sides of the house. Felt like a goodbye present from outgoing feminist president who didn’t seem to care the whole debate was biased because her presidency was ending and therefore she could not be sacked. Spent my whole life trying not to be sexualised. Felt like lunatics taking over the asylum. Has happened with ethnic groups, now also the feminists. Religion is used to control women by men who don’t practise what they approach. How is pornography a woman, a mother or a child? In previous two debates, had stronger for speakers. Had a stimulating and balenced debate. This one was not.