"The
New York Times" estimates that the porn industry is a $10 - $14
billion business, bigger than professional football, basketball, and
baseball combined: "Porn is no longer a sideshow to the mainstream...
it IS the mainstream." And corporations as large as Marriott (through
its in-room X-rated movies) and General Motors (through its ownership of
satellite giant DirecTV) are just a few of its (silent) business
partners.
While the Web aspect accounts for barely 1/5 of American porn
consumption, 50% of the women running these sites are single moms
raising children. This fact catapults the mommy wars into yet another
aspect of the age-old controversy of what good parenting is. There are
no longitudinal studies tracking the psycho/social development of these
children. When they become adults, how healthy will their relationships
and sexuality be? As a social scientist, author, psychotherapist, and
educator, I examine this enormous new sector of our population. I probe
the upbringing of a particular amateur adult porn mom, and the
consequences her choice has on her family.
During my intense 5-hour interview with her, Sharon Alt described how
much she loves her son. I asked why he still lacked basic medical
insurance. She obviously had money for breast implants, clothes,
business equipment, vacations, and pornography conventions... How was
this woman raised? What was her real motive for entering this
profession? For how long does she believe she can keep her work from her
young child? And if she's ready to tell him the truth--as opposed to his
discovering it on his own--at what stage of his development would it be
age-appropriate? Then, how will she address his questions? How will she
protect him from teasing or bullying peers? Will he follow her lead when
he chooses a profession of his own? Above all, how do we assess what we
consider "good parenting"?
This film is a psycho/social investigation into a burgeoning business
culture whose ever-increasing size is staggering. Because it affects
many more people than just its adult stars, its concomitant issues can
no longer be ignored. Andrew Baker of "New York Press" rightfully calls
TheWorkingGirl.com a reflection of James Ronald Whitney's "unsettled,
unsettling" art. I am proud to be part of such provocation that spurs
social awareness and growth.
Dr.
Gilda Carle
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