Pornography Addiction Challenge among the Youth: A Case Study of Highfield High Density Area, Harare.
- February 26, 2022
- Posted by: rsispostadmin
- Categories: IJRISS, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue II, February 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Tapiwa Zinyemba
Adventist University of Africa, Zimbabwe
Abstract
Exposure to pornography poses a serious challenge to youth all over the world. Several studies have noted that the vice often leads to various physical, mental and social challenges. These include negative feelings about oneself, distorted beliefs and perceptions about relationships and sexuality, isolation, addiction, increased aggression among others. In Zimbabwe, there appears to be a dearth in literature on pornography and how exposure to it affects an individual. Using the qualitative research methodology which included making use of in depth interviews, the paper sought to understand how youths in Highfield are exposed to pornography and how it has impacted on their lives. Findings show that the exposure to pornography and subsequent addiction is attributed to increased access to the internet, social media applications and platforms and electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops, tablets and personal computers where pupils can visit pornographic websites for viewing, downloading and sharing pornographic pictures and videos. The study recommends a multi-pronged theological approached where school administrators, teachers and parents and guardians coordinate and collaborate in educating the youths in the negative impacts of viewing pornography.
Purpose: Whereas pornography viewing amongst secondary school students and youth in Highfield location of Harare, Zimbabwe is a challenge, the paper seeks to document the factors prompting youths to engage in this practice. It attempts to how pornography is affecting young people in developing countries like Zimbabwe. Above all the study will unpack the Biblical and theological reflections on pornography and what preventative mechanisms can be put in place to ensure total deviation from the practice.
Findings: Findings revealed that exposure to viewing pornographic material is prevalent in Highfield. The researcher’s interactions as a pastor with youths in the area, the questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus groups discussions held during the course of the study showed the prevalence of access and addiction to pornographic material among the youths.
Key Words: Arousal, Explicit, Erotic, Abstain, Exposure, Prevalence
1. INTRODUCTION
Pornography has been defined differently by several scholars but the mostly used definition describes pornography as sexually explicit materials intended to arouse (McKee etal, 2019). Further, the Merriam Webster dictionary (2021) defines pornography as, “the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement.” The CARA article (2019) also defines pornography as “the explicit representation of sexual activity in print or on film to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.”
There are so many common challenges associated with pornography exposure. Quadara etal (2017) suggests that pornography is directly linked to unsafe health practices such as none use of condoms during sexual intercourse, unsafe anal and vaginal sex. They further note the possible existence of gaps between expectations and reality that can produce sexual uncertainty about sexual beliefs and values which may result in sexual dissatisfaction, anxiety and fear.
Relationships can also be significantly affected due to pornography. The continued rise of internet access and use across the globe appears to have increased pornography viewing (Cooper, Boies, Maheu & Greenfield, 1999). Exposure to pornographic material via the internet has been linked with negatively influencing people within the family set up, workplace and in the community. Manning (2006) also suggested that the family life of married people will be negatively affected.
