Suicide Girls have been around for quite a while. Since 2001 to be exact. As I'm sure most of us know, it began as a alternative porn site for those who admire girls with tattoos, piercings, and a broader spectrum of body types. The women keep up their own profiles, photos and journals on the site. The SGs have been marketed as edgy and feminist. The company states that they are "founded on the belief that creativity, personality, and intelligence are not incompatible with sexy, compelling entertainment and millions of people agree. The site mixes the smarts, enthusiasm and DIY attitude of the best music and alternative culture sites with an unapologetic, grassroots approach to sexuality."
When SG was in it it's beginning states SG promoted itself a company that was run by women. At this point and time it is pretty well known that SG has always been run by a man. In 2005 President of the company, Sean Suhl had been reported to verbally sexually harass suicide girls that worked with him. The company has been reported to have a history of paying their models and photographers low wage. Many SG models quit the company however their photos remained on the website. In addition, many photos were released to other porn websites which upset many of the models.
When SG was in it it's beginning states SG promoted itself a company that was run by women. At this point and time it is pretty well known that SG has always been run by a man. In 2005 President of the company, Sean Suhl had been reported to verbally sexually harass suicide girls that worked with him. The company has been reported to have a history of paying their models and photographers low wage. Many SG models quit the company however their photos remained on the website. In addition, many photos were released to other porn websites which upset many of the models.
I'm sure it is quite possible that I am not aware of all of the details. However, what disturbs me most about SG is that it attempts to pass off as empowering and feminist. I understand that there is a sect of feminist women and men who are pro-pornography. I am not one of those people. Sean Suhl is making money off of women's bodies just as any other pornographer does. Labret rings and sleeve tattoos don't change that.
I don't doubt there are many SG models that indeed feel empowered, sexy, and desired when they pose. Not only is it difficult for me to understand how empowerment must include taking one's clothes off, it is difficult for me to believe that the men and women that are masturbating to these photos are concerned with the empowerment of the models. Playboy, Hustler, Suicide Girls, it's all the same.
I understand that women enter the porn industry for a myriad of reasons. One of the most complex and difficult reasons is due to severe financial strain. I believe however, that true feminism requires that we all consider how our behaviors impact others.
I don't doubt there are many SG models that indeed feel empowered, sexy, and desired when they pose. Not only is it difficult for me to understand how empowerment must include taking one's clothes off, it is difficult for me to believe that the men and women that are masturbating to these photos are concerned with the empowerment of the models. Playboy, Hustler, Suicide Girls, it's all the same.
I understand that women enter the porn industry for a myriad of reasons. One of the most complex and difficult reasons is due to severe financial strain. I believe however, that true feminism requires that we all consider how our behaviors impact others.
I invite those who have invested interest in SG or any other form of pornography, to see beyond the instant gratification. If porn serves it's purpose with you that does not necessarily mean that it is healthy or truly helpful. Understand that your orgasms come at a price. It is impossible to decipher which women are in the business to support their families, or the ones that are simply manipulated by our patriarchal society to believe that porn doesn't offer a scewed view of sexuality. There isn't much that is honest about porn.
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