Porntrepreneur: A phenomenological study on the narratives of women towards pornography as a source of income in San Jose De Buenavista, Antique

Abstract

Pornography as a business industry in the Philippines persists despite legal restrictions. This research maps the narratives of select Catholic women and gender advocates in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique towards pornography as a phenomenon and as a source of income. Various themes are explored around their views of sex work as work, and their perception towards government policies and gaps in addressing issues on pornography. The study utilized data from two separate Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with eight (8) of women who are members of Lay Organization Movement Association (LOMAS) and Marian Movement Organizations (MaMOs), five (5) gender advocates, three (3) of whom are government workers, and two (2) NGO representatives, and sexual violence-related national legislations. The Moustakas transcendental phenomenology framework was employed and data were analyzed through the lenses of the conservative and feminist theories. Results revealed that women view pornography as exploitative yet bounded by moral dimensions. As an industry, it is easily accessible to the public, a business involving money, profit, and income. Catholic women argue that pornography should be exclusive only for married couples but should be restricted from children, while gender advocates do not want to restrict everything but are concerned about women’s rights. The women articulate that the driving forces leading people to engage themselves in such work are poverty and survival.