The sex industry on the Net

What happens on the Net?
The Internet is a fantastic resource for communication and the spread of information. Thanks to the Net, people from all over the world can meet and share experiences -and this in a matter of only a few minutes. Whoever wishes to is free to publish material and express their views on the Net. In this respect, the Internet is the world's biggest democracy project which no regime can stop. But it also means that xenophobic, mysogynist and other discriminatory views can be spread and are hard to stop or regulate.
The spread of sexual material and services on the Internet is growing explosively, in Sweden as in the rest of the world. In Sweden it is now estimated that more than 800 000 people surf porn on the Net. How is this development possible? 

Sven-Axel Månsson (professor at Malmö University) and Peder Söderlind have written a book about the sex industry on the Net, the leading players, content and the sex industry's commercial aims. "Sexindustrin på nätet. Aktörer, innehåll, relationer och ekonomiska flöden" (2004). Swedish only

The book deals with the hidden agenda behind the scenes and reveals the relationship between the flow of money and the players who are driving the development of the sex industry for commercial aims. The authors attempt to analyse the jungle of concepts and structures that comprises the sex industry on the Net, in order that we can better understand what's happening. Through this increased knowledge we become more able to act. The book is packed with information but nevertheless is relatively easy to read.

Marianne Eriksson has also tackled the theme of sex and commercialisation in her booklet "Sexslaveriet i vår tid. Om en industri som vill bli rumsren" (2004). Swedish only

Marianne Eriksson is a member of the EU-parliament and has worked with issues around pornography, trafficking and the sex industry. 

Eriksson also points out the increased commercialisation of sexuality and its increased exploitation in the public sphere. This distorted picture of desire and sexuality, as shown in pornography, magazines, films and on the Internet, also leads to the "porno-fying" of relationships between people. In other words, we internalise the images we are bombarded with and these in turn influence our picture of ourselves and our sexuality. 

Pornography's stereotypical and sexist images threaten to reinforce these problems in real life. Above all they influence our children and young people who, in their time of development, look for images with which to identify.

These important issues and many more are discussed in these two texts, which are really recommended. It's important to discuss these questions in order to be able to offer resistance.

Feel free to discuss the issues at the Discussion Forum.