pornography legitimises and perpetuates this behaviour (Langton, 1993, pp.302).
Subordination is identified as the illocutionary force (the speaker’s intention) of
pornography. Langton argues through MacKinnon that “ pornography can have the
illocutionary force of subordination, and not simply have subordination as its
illocutionary content, or as its perlocutionary effect” (Langton, 1993, pp. 302). In the
case of pornography, subordination can be seen through the sexualisation and
objectification of women by men, which is often manifested through sexual
violence. Examples of subordination can be seen in “lower pay at work, insult and
injury at home, battery and rape on the streets” (Easterbrook, as cited in Langton,
1933, pp. 294).
1.4 The significance and importance of accepting Langton’s (1993) claims.
After exploring how Austin’s (1976) Speech Act Theory is drawn upon by Langton
(1993) to show how pornography silences women we are then left to judge Langton’s
(1993) claim. I do this in two ways. Firstly, I look at whether it is situated within the
correct theory of uptake, and secondly, whether other thinkers may have better
captured the harm that pornography has on women, with a specific focus on Hesni’s
(2018) illocutionary frustration. However, before that, I must highlight why it is
important to addr ess and assess Langton’s claims (1993).
The issues addressed in this dissertation are significant in terms of who it suggests
has the power to perform speech acts and the consequences this leads to. In Langton’s
(1993, pp.304) breakdown of how silencing occurs, we can see how the ability to
perform, or to be prevented from performing speech acts are dependent on the
speaker’s authority. Those with authority and power can do and say more with their
words, as well as have their speech count for more. Those without are not only
prevented from speaking and performing their intended speech out of fear and
intimidation but instead stopped from their speech counting as its intended action
despite making the appropriate utterance (Langton, 1993, pp.299). If it can be
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