(1976) to demonstrate three ways in which someone can be silenced. She (Langton,
1993, pp. 315) then identifies the final type of silencing, illocutionary disablement as
the way in which pornography silences women.
The first way in which a speaker could be silenced occurs when no utterance or
locutionary act is made or attempted, this is often due to fear or intimidation. An
example of this can be seen in the scenario where A threatens B, and says, “Do not tell
C whe re we are otherwise, I will kill your family”. In this example, B has been
locutionary silenced, they are prevented from making the utterance of saying where
they are. The second type of silencing is known as perlocutionary frustration
(Langton, 1993, pp. 315). Perlocutionary frustration occurs when an utterance is made
but the perlocutionary act (the resulting effect of the locutionary and illocutionary
acts) isn’t as the speaker intended. For example, if Jim invited Jonah to church but
Jonah does not go as he didn’t think that Jim was sincere in his intention of inviting
him Jim can be said to have been silenced through perlocutionary frustration, as he
was prevented from achieving his intended perlocutionary effect of inviting Jonah to
church. The third and final way in which a speech act can be silenced is through
Illocutionary disablement (Langton, 1993, pp. 315). Illocutionary disablement
occurs when a speaker can utter words, however, the words fail not only in achieving
their desired aims but also fail to perform the speaker’s intended action (Langton,
1993, pp. 315). It is this type of silencing that Langton (1993) claims can explain the
harmful effects of pornography. Langton (1993, pp. 315-316) points out that cases of
illocutionary disablement occur in instances where the speaker’s authority is reduced,
causing them to be prevented from performing the relevant illocutionary act.
It is important here to highlight that the main difference between perlocutionary
frustration and illocutionary disablement is whether uptake is or is not secured.
Langton (1993, pp.320) suggests that uptake is only present in the case of
perlocutionary frustration. Using the case of a woman attempting to refuse sex,
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