Letter to the Editor

Editor’s Note: The following was written in response to “The Horny Husky” published on September 5.

 

married to a BU chemistry professor, we were both appalled and disturbed by a recent publication of the “Horny Husky” in The Voice Sept. 5, 2019 issue, encouraging the use of PornHub based on their recent contributions to charities.
In light of overwhelming peer review evidence that skyrocketing internet pornography contributes directly to human trafficking, prostitution, drug abuse, sexual dysfunction, and violence against women and minors, it is unacceptable to promote this mind set from a university publication.
Below are several links representing only a few of the myriad of studies on how harmful the use of internet porn has become.
Even if one tries to argue that some videos are “harmless,” why are we advocating for an industry that utilizes human trafficking?
What woman could read this article and not feel the danger of societal desensitization?
By normalizing and encouraging the use of online pornography for a misguided charitable gain, this comes at the cost of normalizing abuses against other human beings.
The lazy analysis of benefits achieved through their charitable contributions begs the question, “why do you not just donate to charity directly?”
On behalf of abused or trafficked victims, as well as the misdirected readers of The Voice, it would be necessary and appropriate for a written public apology and retraction of the horrific endorsement published in the referenced article.
Thank you for your consideration.

Editor’s Note: After gaining approval to publish the letter, the authors clarified their purpose with the following statement.

While the location of our response is in the “Opinions” section, I would want potential readers to understand my response is not just an emotional one, but one backed by credible data showing direct correlation to harmful physical and social outcomes caused by the pornography industry.

Sincerely,
Dr. Ivy R Tamblin
Dr. John F Tamblin

Editor’s Note: the following are credible sources offered by the author of this letter. Readers are encouraged to visit buvoice.com for the hyperlinks to these resources.

“Human Trafficking and Pornography: Using the Trafficking Victims Protection Act to Prosecute Trafficking for the Production of Internet Pornography.”
Author: Allison J. Luzwick

https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1244&context=nulr_online

“Pornography as Trafficking.”

Author: Catharine A. MacKinnon

https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1241&context=mjil

“Human Trafficking.”
Authors: Tammy J. Toney-Butler and Olivia Mittel

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430910/

“The Invisibility of Digital Sex Trafficking in Public Media.”

https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://ojs.stanford.edu/ojs/index.php/intersect/article/download/721/705/__;!XhsHhB3Zla0!Kd3g1mPDZWDB8i8yGJ49__aBjT9kCAO9y07frpPDixm3KAn39m1pG1rCtCo_tCJ63-dFVDci15M$
Author: Zack Verham

“Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports.”Author: Bryan Y. Park et al.

Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports. – PubMed – NCBI [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

 

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