Episode 04: Pornography, Smut, and Gender-based Violence with Dr Samantha Keene

We talk with criminologist and 'sexademic' Dr. Samantha Keene on some of the ethical conundrums that arise with consuming erotic material, particularly gender-based harm. **🚨 Emergency Support** If you or someone you know is in immediate physical danger, please contact your local emergency services right away: - **Emergency:** **111** (NZ) | **911** (US/Canada) | **999** (UK) | **000** (Australia) **🇳🇿 New Zealand Support & Reporting Services** - **Safe to Talk (He pai ki te kōrero)24/7 confidential helpline offering support, information, and connection to local support services.** - **Phone:** 0800 044 334 - **Text:** 4334 - **Web/Live Chat:** safetotalk.nz - **Sexual Abuse HELP24/7 crisis line offering support, social work, and support through medical/police processes.** - **Auckland HELP Helpline:** 0800 623 1700 | helpauckland.org.nz - **Wellington HELP Helpline:** 0800 367 4357 (0800 FOR HELP) | wellingtonhelp.org.nz - **Rape Crisis NZNational helpline connecting callers to local Rape Crisis centres across Aotearoa.** - **Helpline:** 0800 88 33 00 - **Male Survivors AotearoaDedicated support networks for male victim-survivors of sexual violence.** - **Web:** malesurvivors.org.nz - **NZ Police Non-Emergency ReportingTo report past or non-urgent incidents of sexual harm.** - **Phone:** 105 - **Online Reporting:** 105.police.govt.nz **Shownotes**: Dr Keene, “How we can help dismantle rape culture,” *Newsroom,* August 3, 2023, https://newsroom.co.nz/2023/03/08/rape-culture-rough-sex-and-rape-trials/.  Dr Keene on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-samantha-keene/  “The Sex Wars 1970s to 1980s” *OutHistory*, https://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/lesbians-20th-century/sex-wars.  **Discussion Questions:** What does Dr. Keene mean when she suggests that we need a richer narrative than a simple causal link between consumption of erotic material and physical harm? Dr. Keene stated that as humans, we struggle with processing the reality that we can feel more than one thing at a time. What are your reactions to this idea that we must look deeper than a single feeling to tell us whether something is right or wrong? Erotic material does not exist in a vacuum. What other narratives in education, culture, religion, news, movies, and books must we consider to see a wider constellation of sexual scripts? Some argue that the biggest indicator of erotic material affecting one’s real life is media literacy. In other words, knowing erotic material isn’t real life can help people maintain a healthy and ethical sex life. Do you think written material is easier to distinguish as fantasy? Why or why not?