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Illocutionary Acts and Inequality: A Feminist Critique of Pornography and Liberal Freedom
Miller, Annie
Miller, Annie
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Abstract
This thesis explores the philosophical debate surrounding pornography, focusing primarily on its role in the subordination and silencing of women. The key work throughout this thesis is Rae Langton’s influential essay, “Speech Acts and Unspeakable Acts”, in which I examine her claim that pornography functions as a kind of speech act that holds the authority to reinforce gender power imbalances. The central research question guiding this thesis is: Can pornography, as a form of speech, perform illocutionary acts that actively contribute to women’s social and political subordination, and how should this challenge liberal commitments to freedom of expression and autonomy? Each chapter engages with different aspects of this question: first, pornography’s role in women’s subordination; second, pornography’s role in women’s silencing; and third, pornography’s protection under the principles of individual liberties, such as freedom of expression or freedom of autonomy. I hold that Langton’s work remains a powerful tool for feminist critique of pornography—rather than reflecting misogynistic culture, pornography actively reinforces and constructs misogyny through its linguistic and cultural force. This thesis advocates for a rethinking of free speech and autonomy that considers the social context in which such freedoms are exercised and denied.
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Thesis (B.A. in Humanistic Studies, Minor in Art History and English)--John Cabot University, Spring 2025.
Date
2025
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Keywords
Pornography, Social aspects
Citation
Miller, Annie. "Illocutionary Acts and Inequality: A Feminist Critique of Pornography and Liberal Freedom". BA Thesis, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. 2025.