Reclaiming Pleasure, Rethinking Porn: Sexual Empowerment in Survivors of Childhood Abuse
摘要
This chapter explores the complex interplay between trauma, sexuality, and empowerment in survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA). Grounded in cultural anthropology, this study employs interviews and visual ethnography to examine how survivors navigate their sexual lives, intimacy, pleasure, and desire as adults. The study delves into the impact of pornography on these individuals, considering both its potential harms and its role in the re-appropriation of their sexual agency. By addressing these multifaceted dimensions of sexuality, the chapter contributes to broader discussions on sexual communication. Preliminary findings suggest that engaging with pornography can serve both as a medium for re-traumatisation and a powerful tool for reclaiming sexual agency, offering nuanced insights into how CSA survivors can redefine their pleasure and find empowerment through eroticism. The research captures the nuanced ways in which survivors interact with their environments and articulate their sexual identities. The narratives of CSA survivors reveal both the limitations and possibilities of experiencing sexuality through a traumatised yet desire-generating body. This involves a critical analysis of the language used to describe sexual experiences, the role of pornography in shaping or challenging these narratives, and the implications of these interactions for personal and sexual empowerment.