Only Words

by Catharine A. MacKinnon

Book Overview

When is rape not a crime? When it's pornography--or so First Amendment law seems to say: in film, a rape becomes "free speech." Pornography, Catharine MacKinnon contends, is neither speech nor free. Pornography, racial and sexual harassment, and hate speech are acts of intimidation, subordination, terrorism, and discrimination, and should be legally treated as such. Only Words is a powerful indictment of a legal system at odds with itself,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674639340
• ISBN13: 9780674639348
• Release Date: March 1996
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

115 pages of brilliant analysis

For so few words, MacKinnon really covers a tremendous amount of legal history, free speech precendent and experiential examples. The power of words is detailed better than a linguist could have done it, and the legal framework she argues from is backed up by citing real-world cases. As i read I found myself shaking my head in agreement because she states her theories extraordinarily well and grounds them in truths most readers will be familiar with and able to recognize. Like a sign saying "Whites Only" is not considered "free speech" but is considered in itself an act of discrimination, breaking through the porn fundamentalist's tired excuse of "it's only words/images". Words have the power to promote prejudice, and in the modern technological age these words are a terrific force indeed. Words and images contain real social content that can be really damaging to the humanity of certain classes of people when those with more power promote hate speech through them. That the legal system is set up by men for men's benefit comes across clearly with the history of rape law MacKinnon provides. Isn't it odd that some people keep insisting snuff films don't exist without suggesting why men who videotape themselves raping women, killing animals, destroying property, etc. wouldn't videotape this crime as well? There are several court cases around the US where men have been convicted of murdering women and the videotapes they made doing it were entered as evidence at their trials. I've heard no cogent argument as to how, especially after Abu Ghraib, anyone could believe people really wouldn't do and record the horrors they visit on others. This book is ahead of its time and should be considered must-read material for all lawyers and gender equity activists.

lunatics like this are few and far between...

A joy to read. One is left wondering how a mind can get this obsessively warped. Mentions "snuff" porn on nearly every page - despite the fact that in over 30 years the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have never found a single shred of evidence. The only disturbing thing is that she actually has a doctorate - so much for university standards of integrity...

Amazing!

The woman is a goddess... i consider her my mother.. really

An important contribution to the debate over pornography.

This book is well worth reading. It crystallizes some of the issues at stake in this debate and offers solid legal analysis. Of course, one may disagree with MacKinnon's approach or solution, which are of a piece with her other writings; indeed, the issue she addresses seems intractable and certainly generates much controversy. Still, it is a significant work, and I recommend reading it in conjunction with MacKinnon's more recent publication, IN HARM'S WAY.