from www.examiner.com - With stars such as Ron Jeremy and Jenna Jameson arising out of America’s adult film industry, you might think that America was at the top in the world porn industry.
Surprisingly, the US is fourth in the world in pornography revenues, following China, South Korea and Japan (toptenreviews.com). Despite this startling statistic, American porn can still be found in homes, lockers, and basements across the world. This is because the US is still the top video porn producer and web porn producer worldwide, raking in about $9 to $13 billion a year (www.toptenreviews.com/plosmedicine.org).
Approximately every 40 minutes, a new film is being produced, and every second 370 internet users are typing adult content search keywords (www.desertnews.com).
Let’s face it, some men who grew up overseas watching American porn think that all American women are just that, porn stars. Since most countries don’t have the resources, or some would argue the expertise to make their own local porn, they import American or Asian porn and work it into their stereotype of that culture. In countries where pornography is more of a black market item, and not readily available, it brings certain stigmas with it. A traveller from another country where they had never watched a porn with women from their own culture, may carry a skewed perspective of pornography.
While porn is widely produced and distributed in the U.S., we have some of the harshest child pornography laws in the world. Every country treats and understands porn differently. Many countries that partially ban porn, such as distribution laws only, are very lax in their enforcement. Others don’t ban porn at all, they only regulate child pornography or bestiality, or the age at which one can purchase porn. Meanwhile some countries enforce punishment of fines, imprisonment or death, still in this day and age.
Latin America
There is not an abundant of pornography production which takes place in Latin America, however there is a large import business of U.S. and European films. Brazil may be the only country which actually produces films. They have a mandatory use of condoms, and are the leader in transsexual porn. Many American film crews do visit Latin America to film there with local actors. (wikipedia.com)
Europe
In Europe, actresses seldom have breast implants, and celebrity porn is very popular. Denmark was the first country to legalize porn in 1969, and they are known for their animal porn. In Finland it is illegal to sell pornography except for magazines in any store. Greece is very relaxed about pornography, and softcore is available at roadside shops. In Iceland, publication of pornography is currently illegal, punishable by fines or imprisonment. In the UK hardcore pornographic videos were illegal until 1999. In Sweden there is no age limit enforced to purchase porn at all (wikipedia.com).
While many countries in Europe have become more relaxed about pornography over time, some countries have increased their legislation. Turkey was the first Muslim country to produce porn in 1979, but graphic sex in cinemas was soon outlawed in 1980. In 2004, it became illegal to disperse obscene words or images, and even partial nudity in public messaging was banned. In 2006, all four erotic TV channels were taken off the air. (wikipedia.com) Just last month, the Ukraine passed legislation that owning or selling pornography would lead to a fine or up to three years in prison. Only medicinal porn is allowed (mosnews.com).
Asia
Several countries in Asia currently ban pornography including: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. In 2003, driven by political censorship, China ordered internet providers to monitor private emails for a variety of banned content including pornography (usatoday.com). For distributing pornography, violators can receive fines, prison time, and can even face execution, although rarely is this enforced. In Japan, while in the 1970’s and 1980’s showing pubic hair was prohibited, and closeups of genetalia are still banned, porn is not illegal. Japanese made fetish pornography is popular and Japanese comics and cartoons such as Anime are only self-regulated (wikipedia.com). There is a strong cult following in the states for this type of video entertainment, perhaps since cartoons are typically reminiscent of childhood here, and adding a sexual element to them breaks barriers.
Pornography is also illegal in many countries in South Asia, commonly called ‘blue movies’, however the laws are much more relaxed than in other parts of Asia. In India, porn is readily available, as creating and watching it are not illegal, only distribution is (wikipedia.com). The growing pornography industry has become a concern for the locals in Bangladesh so we may see a tougher crackdown coming soon. The Bangladesh Home Minister, Altaf Hossain Choudhury, said that “Drastic legal measures will be taken against them so that this sort of material will be closed down for ever” (bbc.com)
Africa
African media claims that pornography is linked to violent crime and thus many countries in Africa are trying to prevent its distribution. Internet pornography seems to be their biggest concern. In an attempt to stop porn from entering the Sudan border, officials have confiscated and scanned laptops for illegal materials (sudanwatch.com). In Uganda, viewing internet pornography is illegal, and a new Anti-Pornography bill is being reviewed with stricter regulations (allafrica.com). In Ghana, an Austrian man was recently deported for making homosexual pornography, since homosexual sex is illegal, not because porn is illegal (pinknews.com). South Africa, the hosting of pornographic websites has been banned, due to a concern that vendors could not verify the age of visitors. Violent and child pornography are illegal, while most of it is not.
Australasia
It is illegal to sell or rent porn in most of Australia, however possession is allowed. You can only sell or rent porn in two of their states, but you can not bring it interstate. This means that most of their porn is imported. In 2000 they completely banned certain material that contained fetishes. New Zealand is very relaxed about their litigation, as long as the buyer is over 18. Pornography is completely banned in Papua New Guinea and the enforcement is very strict. (wikipedia.com)
The Middle East
In some countries in the Middle East, porn is illegal in particular forms, but is available. In Israel, pornography has become a budding industry over the past decade, and only pay per view television and child pornography is regulated. In Iran, although porn is illegal, there is a huge black market for Western films which they call “super films”, and the internet industry is also in demand. In Lebanon it is illegal to produce, advertise or broadcast porn, however they are lenient on Arabs coming into their nation to purchase locally made films. (wikipedia.com)
United States
In a country such as the U.S. where porn can be rented in the back room of most video stores, most Americans realize that porn is just that, entertainment. You can find pornography so easily in the U.S., there is much less of a stigma related to it when it is not hidden. Laws are very similar in Canada, except that not only can those under 18 not purchase or appear in porn, but porn cannot depict characters who appear to be under 18 either. In the U.S. software has been utilized to de-age actors to get around the child pornography laws. (wikipedia.com)
People who have an addiction or who are mentally ill will always exist, and we have laws to try to prevent these people from hurting others. We realize that typical pornography does not insight violence any more than action films do. You can find erotic materials through cable television, DVDs, books, magazines, x-rated theatres, flea markets, porn stores, and abundantly online, sometimes for free. Americans even host sex toy parties where attendees can surf through a selection of erotic toys and movies firsthand amongst friends and wine, to choose exactly what they would like to bring home. Although many Americans continue to spice up their love lives or seek internet fame by making their own porn movies, American men don’t typically have that unrealistic expectation that American women are going to perform like in the movies.
Does that mean that American women are bad in bed? Absolutely not. Everyone is different, and everyone’s tastes are different. What is good to someone is bad to someone else. It just means that when an American woman enters a sexual relationship with someone from a different culture, they should be wary that their partner may expect different things. This is not only related to the stigma of American porn, but to their upbringing, cultural beliefs, and laws as well.
