Pornography elicits mixed reactions

JAKARTA (JP): Take a look at any newsstand on the street and you'll see magazines and tabloids with hot pictures of seductive women on them. The exposure of such pictures, along with sex stories, is not new indeed. Recently, however, following the government's decision to relax the publishing license regulation, there has been a mushrooming of new media, including those focusing on sex.

The case has become a hot topic of discussion after the police charged several magazines and tabloids with pornography. In the past few days, a number of different groups, including Muslim organizations of students and women, have staged demonstrations and called upon the police to take stern measures against what they call pornography in the media.

The issue has drawn mixed reactions from the public.

Smita Notosusanto, a member of the Society Against Violence Toward Women: I will be really happy if such media is regulated. We have been addressing this issue for many years. We invited the magazines, Popular and Matra, to discuss this. Matra never accepted our invitation. Popular argues this is a matter of marketing: people buy it and the women are willing to pose like that.

In fact, the exposure of such pictures stains the image of women. Women are treated as a commodity, not as a human being with a personality. They are exploited to make a profit. This is a violence against women and human rights. As for the women, I don't blame them. They need money. But isn't it fair if they then receive such treatment? These types of media only give weight to claims of sexual exploitation.

I wish the media could be more responsible. They never think about the impact on women. Women are cornered for their role as the one who should satisfy other people's sexual desires and profits.

This is supported by capitalism. And worse, the media is dominated by men.

I remember when we once protested against the photo of a golf course ad featuring a female caddie wearing shorts, we were regarded as silly feminists.

We are in the field of research and teaching. The image of women in mass media, film, sinetron (TV films) is negative. In sinetron, women always become the victims, they are beaten, they become sex objects.

This can not be stopped if the media and society do not improve their awareness and understanding on this matter.

Djoni Irawan, the lawyer for Popular: The police charges Popular with pornography. But what is pornography? You see, in the 1960s, men growing long hair was not appropriate, in the 1970s people frowned at you if you wore a miniskirt. Nine years ago when Popular first hit the market, it carried photos of models wearing swimsuits. What's wrong with that? They are not naked. If they look naked, it is only trick photography.

Some say that it is an exploitation of women. From a conservative view, maybe it is. I don't mind. They have the right to say so. But from a liberal point of view, it is beauty, art.

So far, I haven't seen any social impact from the photos. I've never heard of any case of sexual harassment, rape or other crimes which could be triggered by the pictures.

My client is charged with violating the Criminal Code's Article 282 on obscenity. It carries a maximum of one year and six months imprisonment or a fine of Rp 4,500. But let the courts decide. In the meantime, the magazine will publish less photos using trick photography which make women wearing bikinis appear nude.

Dimas Widosasongko, 29, a marketing staff of a security company: I like beauty and I don't see any problem with erotic pictures of beautiful women like those in Popular. They are not pornographic. I have seen the pictures of bodybuilder Ade Rae and I also like them.

I have never had any idea that it is an exploitation of women or exploitation of men.

The problem here is that anybody can buy them. In some foreign countries, they have Playboy and Penthouse but they are only for adults. I think what we have to do here is not ban them, but regulate the circulation by allowing sales at authorized book shops only.

About the stories, I like them if they are informative and well written. You can learn from other people's experiences, for example if they contracted a disease because of their sexual activities. But it also depends on how the story is written. It should not be written like in porn books."

Priscilla, a youth counselor at a Christian church: There is nothing wrong with such pictures in the media as long as they can be categorized as art. I am more concerned with the sex stories. The publications are available at the market and to everyone, including adolescents who can easily buy them. As we know, there is a lack of sex education at school. Therefore, adolescents might want to have a try.

But it is also good the media exposes things which are always forbidden. Now we know more about the dark side of life, which is also reality.

In this era of globalization, I believe that such things can not be concealed any more. What is important is how the government, parents and teachers handle it. There should be proper sex education for young people, for example those at junior high schools.

Alwi Nurdin, head of Jakarta's Ministry of Education and Culture office: In my opinion, one of the media's roles is to help provide something beneficial. If there's any media which reports improper things and sells it to the public, there will be a negative impact on students. They might read it. And we're really concerned about this.

Sex education at school is covered by the biology lesson. I think there's no need to add sex education at schools yet. In biology, there are explanations on ovulation and other things.

And it is also included in religious lessons about marriage. Besides, my office does not have the authority to decide. It's the central government which has the authority. But do we have to specially add sex education at schools? Even the word, sex, is already arousing.

Nanik, an advertising executive: What is pornography? Pictures of naked men or women can be pornography or art, depending on how they are presented and what is the purpose of the presentation.

I don't agree if the government bans any media on the grounds it is pornographic. It is good to have a wide variety of media. Let people pick their choice. To let people choose also means to educate them. What is important is that it should be the people who dictate the market, not the publishers.

Siwi, 22, a private university student in Yogyakarta: I like reading this kind of media because the content is lighter and it does not need serious thinking.

I even learn more about social realities that are considered 'dirty'. If we keep on thinking about politics, it makes us tired.

Asroni, 16, a magazine vendor operating at traffic intersections in Yogyakarta: Selling this kind of media is easier and brings more profits than offering serious media publications.

Only particular people will buy serious magazines or newspapers, but for these magazines, it looks like everyone likes it.(sim/ste)