Pornography is usually a touchy subject that comes with a lot of questions, especially when looking at it through a feminist perspective. You can’t talk about pornography without asking, is it demeaning to women? Or is it empowering to women?

I am still not sure where I stand in this debate. I think that one must look at the intentions an individual has, as with all professions, when they make the decision to enter the porn industry. However I am also of the belief that everyone, regardless of gender, should be able to choose their own path. If that path is porn, then so be it … as long as it’s something you genuinely want to do, and not something someone is forcing you to do or something that feels compromising but will pay well.

A big name involved in this debate is infamous porn star Jenna Jameson. If you’re an adult in the United States, there’s a pretty slim chance that you haven’t heard of her. Girl isn’t only a porn star… she’s created a whole damned empire.  On her Wikipedia page she’s listed not only as a porn star but an entrepreneur. She’s founded her own adult entertainment company, extended her career from porn to television, film (okay, Howard Stern’s Private Parts), and literature.

Needless to say, she’s got some career under her belt, and she’s been pretty darn successful throughout most of it. However, when interviewed at the VMA’s this past weekend, Jameson was not keen on encouraging other women to follow her path.

As reported in Fox News:

So given her success in what was previously a very male-dominated industry, would Jameson recommend other young woman pursue such a lifestyle?

“No. It’s a hard lifestyle and I made the choice and I was able to get through it unscathed but I don’t recommend it to anybody,” she said.

I think that it is realistic for Jameson to be taking this standpoint. She is, as I said, successful, and, as she is also quoted as saying, “It’s really important for women to be free and not be stigmatized,” for deciding to be involved with the porn industry, however, it is important to note that not everyone ends up in her position. After a long struggle with drugs, abusive relationships, and other such unsavory matters, she got to a place where she had control over what films she took part in … but, well, it took her a long while to get there.

Don’t get me wrong — porn can be great, and Jenna Jameson has certainly been involved with some top notch stuff. I still, however, think it’s commendable for her to be taking such a stance on the porn industry. It’s not easy. You don’t start at the top. It’s a difficult business, in which unsavory stuff definitely goes down. Many people get involved for the wrong reasons and have warped views of how things will play out for them. So, I say take Ms. Jameson’s words into consideration.  I have a feeling that she knows what’s up.

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