Join World Without Exploitation (WorldWE) for a special webinar discussion, Behind the Headlines: From Playboy to the Modern Porn Industry, to be held on May 14 at 12:00pm Eastern.
It can feel—especially for young people—that pornography has always been part of everyday life; the growing normalization of the industry, fueled in part by the popularity of platforms like OnlyFans. In reality, however, pornography is a relatively recent phenomenon. From its early development through its recent evolution, the industry has been marked by systemic violence against those behind the screen and the particular exploitation and fetishization of marginalized communities—dynamics that continue to shape it today.
As social media increasingly glamorizes the industry, young people are more likely than ever to accept its ubiquity and even enter the trade, often without recognizing the abuse experienced by those involved or the harm it can cause to viewers. This normalization is shaping young people’s understanding of sex and consent in misleading and harmful ways.
In this webinar, survivor leaders and subject-matter experts will examine the origins of the pornography industry and its legacy of sexual exploitation. Drawing on high-profile cases of sex trafficking and abuse, they will explore the recurring patterns and systemic harms that persist today.
The conversation will be moderated by WorldWE's Dahlia Edidin Locke, with panelists Dr. Gail Dines, Founding President and CEO of Culture Reframed; Mariah Rief, Founder of Undox Content Removal; and Jewell Baraka, Writer and Advocate at Journey Out.