Introduction:
Writing this article has lifted my own curiosity about how something this famed and available on the internet evolved with time and how I, as a child in Nepalese society, should have my voice towards it. Questioning my predefined feelings and thoughts towards it. I found pornography to be a complex topic that touches on various dimensions of subjects. And how has it been a subject of fluctuation, as its definition itself is subjective and various among societies, and how have its sectors been explored by me have different perceptions along with time and people? which I have been through varies research, views, and people's views towards it. And also about the pornography, I though(internet pornography) was just a branch of the overall subject. There are many things on Earth, and every subject has its peak in the most civilized and regulated form, and vice versa.
Similarly, pornographic content also has a well-managed and fabricated aspect as it is perceived by a particular society, but the same content is inappropriate because different societies have different thought processes and their offspring think differently. So, in Nepal, is pornography an issue? How does it harm society? What are the incidences occurred due to pornography and is the government's ban on pornography justifiable? I have looked at the condition of pornography globally and how I believe it should be perceived in Nepal. The lines and stances I have provided are based on various articles that can be explored through superscript text number and the reference listing number.
Background:
Defination:-
Pornography (colloquially known as porn or porno) has been defined as sexual subject material "such as a picture, video, or text" that is intended for sexual arousal.
((McDonald & Kirkman, 2019, p. 163).
Etymology
The word is derived from two ancient Greek porni (“prostitute”) and graphein (“to write”), was originally defined as any work of art or literature depicting the life of prostitutes.
[1]
As the very definition of pornography is subjective, a specified history of pornography is inconceivable
[2]
but
it have been a part of human civilization for a long period life in which
Depictions of a sexual nature existed since prehistoric times(3.3 million years ago) as seen in Venus figurines and rock art.
[3]
The oldest artifacts, including the Venus of Hohle Fels, which are considered to be pornographic were discovered in 2008 CE at a cave near Stuttgart in Germany, radiocarbon dating suggests they are at least 35,000 years old, belonging to the Aurignacian period.(
43,000 to 26,000 years ago).
.webp)
.jpg)
The English act
The American act
and along with time it have be reformed as have acted towards the management of pornography in the world. Whereas In terms of Nepal there haven't been any data found about presence of porographical materials as writing pictures in the past. In which Badi women and girls were often recruited as professional dancers, singers, and Keti syams (housemaids) to offer entertainment and sexual services to the Rana rulers,v religious leaders, and landlords [8] In which along with time it have shaped itself like magazines,shops,video games,movies,animation,artworks,photography, literature,audios. The consumption of pornographical material have been increasing in today world. In which in commercial pornographical studios Performers undergo regular testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) every two weeks.[9]
.webp)
.webp)
Neuroscience has noted that minds of the young are in developmental stages and exposure to emotionally charged material such as pornography would likely have an impact on them unlike on adults, and has suggested caution while enabling potential access to such material. [16] Several studies conclude that liberalization of porn in society may be associated with decreased rates of rape and sexual violence, while others have suggested no effect, or are inconclusive [17] But pornography have cause issues too. Some issues of doxing and revenge porn had been linked to a few pornography websites. [18] And Since the mid 2010s deepfake pornography has become an issue of concern [19]
Addiction?
.jpg)
Causes:-
Some of these causes may include: Underlying mental health conditionsA person might use pornography to escape psychological distress.
Relationship problems: Pornography can be an outlet for sexual dissatisfaction.
Unhealthy cultural norms: Ideas about how people should look and behave during sex, the types of sex that a person should enjoy, and similar norms may draw some people to pornography.
Biological causes: Certain biological factors, including changes in brain chemistry when a person views porn, may increase the risk of addiction.
An outlet
As an outlet for sexual dissatisfaction, you can become dependent on porn. You’ll use it to ease the discontent rather than find real-life ways to fix the issue.Unrealistic views
Watching porn can cause unrealistic views of sex. When it becomes too much, you may not enjoy sex as much. You may then crave the false scenes in porn, turning to them repeatedly.
In Nepal?
Personal Stance
My personal views reflects that excessive pornography is harmful and can be addictive. As the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) banned access to all the pornographic contents and adult websites. In which there aren't even basic infrastructure for even normal mental checkup and as mental health has just being a concern. Nepal have faced a lot in the past decade in coping in our society takes time as well as our society doesn't contain of effective people or places for open talks whereas resources on the internet is effective but I believe not all data are derived from the stand point of Nepal too. But still pornography has been prevailed among youths in Nepal. I do believe porn gives a escape from the stress and problems faced by youths. But it have a chronic effects.Story of addiction was added as a articles in myrepublica.
.webp)
Where a 19 years old high school graduate belonging to a middle class Nepali family has shared :-
" I was thirteen when the internet came in my house, the age when I started developing interest in opposite sex. I began to view inducing pictures on the internet. I started watching sexual images and ultimately discovered pornography. I loved watching adult content behind my parent’s eyes and discovered masturbation and ejaculation. This developed into an addiction that I never noticed. My creativity and concentration eroded. I became an introvert, shy and failed in exams and sports. I developed sexual fantasies and gradually started viewing aggressive and hardcore porn videos where a girl is beaten, manhandled, abused physically, mentally and verbally, and used like an object. Such inclination toward abusive content led my views about sexuality to be violent. I started objectifying female body. My eyes would scan every single girl that passed around me. I used to rape females in my mind. I was isolated socially and developed inferiority complex and suffered depression. I never shared this with anyone fearing the consequence. Porn was like a drug to me, a drug as devastating as heroin and cocaine. "[22]
It also stated about how the writer has supported the Government's act.
As well as another article by Shubha Kayastha, stated
"The problem with Nepal's porn ban"
where she have stated that
"The fact that the porn ban has been posed as a solution to sexual violence is questionable. There is no definitive evidence that shows that porn leads to sex crimes." [23]
She have her opinion that of banning materials of internet the government should direct its attention towards ending the root cause instead of trying to find quick-fixes. It believe that
It violates both the freedom of expression and the right to knowledge. Furthermore, the existing limited space that exists for women and LGBTQ+ individuals to explore their sexualities is further reduced by such internet control.
Similarly, Sexologist Dr Subodh Kumar Pokharel said,
“Some pornographic content is important for people to acquire knowledge about sexual life. The government must be clear on the categories of pornographic content before taking such steps.”
[24]
Janakpur Engineering College civil engineering student Aaditya Bhandari said,
“The government has failed to arrest and punish the real culprits of sexual violence. Rather than maintaining law and order, the government has resorted to doing futile things like banning of porn.”
My stances:- The availability of pornographical content to under aged should get stopped and healthy conversations and discussion in home and school should be done in Nepal.
Incident caused relating pornography in Nepal?
Various incident have occurred in Nepalese societies relating to pornography. Some are:-
"
A young boy attempted to sexually assault the domestic worker the family had while his parents were not home. The girl got out of the house unhurt, yet did not tell the family.
Her family later called the child helpline (1098) and with the help of psychologists, who questioned both the children and found out proofs of the assault, along with Sabin’s addiction to porn.
The incident was reported, however, only after the 35-day deadline. Hence, the police did not file a case at the court.
"
"An unusual call left a staffer at the 1098 helpline astounded. Three boys, of under five years of age, reportedly tried to sexually assault a female classmate at a school in Pokhara. The police found themselves at a pinch to investigate further, legally.
According to section 1 of the Children’s Act, 2018, any child under the age of 10 will not be charged with any legal actions and no penalty or punishment will be imposed on her/him. Hence, the police solved the matter with the parents of the kids and brought them to an understanding."
"
In 2018, a 13-year-old boy was ‘arrested’ for raping a 12-year-old girl. The boy was kept at the District Police Office in Kavrepalanchok. In custody, the boy started showing unusual behaviours.
"
[25]
Status of Nepal?
According to a study by the Child Workers In Nepal (CWIN), an NGO working in Nepal for children, 82 per cent of the children in Nepal use the internet. Out of that, 73.7 per cent of the boys and 26.3 per cent of the girls share personal information with strangers.
.webp)
Likewise, 3.9 per cent of the children surveyed in the study had one porn website among their top five websites whereas 11 per cent of the children were found exchanging ‘obscene’ texts and photos with various people via the internet. And, more significantly, 66.6 per cent of the children were found watching adult movies.
According to CWIN Project Manager Bharat Adhikari, the 1098 helpline gets 150 calls of sexual assault on average every year. Among them, children below 10 are involved in about five to 10 cases.
A former chief of Women, Children and Senior Citizen Service Directorate in Nepal Police, Pitambar Adhikari, says that there has been an influence of porn or adult movies in the majority of rape cases filed. Adhikari says, “Rape is a crime that originates in one’s psychological state and porn or any adult movie influences that state of mind.” When the perpetrator is a minor, it creates further complications in the legal proceedings, he adds.
Krishna Thapa, the director at Voice of Children, another child rights NGO, says technologies such as the internet are being misused rather than being used, and it is promoting child sexual abuse. “Today, mobile phones and gadgets are being used as a medium to engage the children. And while browsing YouTube and other sites, they do encounter some kind of obscene videos.”
