I’d like for us to take a moment to talk about oral sex. Specifically, men giving the ladies oral sex, which is totally GROSS amiright?
Oh wait – that’s just what Hollywood thinks. Which would explain why a man sawing off his own leg is officially rated as less offensive than a woman getting head.
Hollywood isn’t exactly known for it’s equitable treatment of women in films. Be it in the form of pay-packets, or simply the lack of scenes that include women not talking about men.
But the warped attitudes towards women as sexual beings who enjoy pleasure is pretty darn concerning. Basically, there are ridiculous double standards in film when it comes to oral sex.
Allow me to explain:
Sex scenes = totally fine
Violence = totally fine
Sexual violence = totally fine
Graphic murder/torture = totally fine
Woman giving man oral sex = totally fine
Man giving woman oral sex = DISGUSTING AND MUST BE CUT FROM FILM IMMEDIATELY
The proof is in the totally appropriate and not at all sexual pudding. In the US, the MPAA (the standards board that gives all films a classification) has a reputation for giving films that feature men going down on women the highest possible rating, NC-17.
That is basically the equivalent of XXX, and because most cinemas aren’t allowed to show NC-17 films, it also pretty much guarantees a film will fail at the box office. Most producers choose to cut the evil, scary and unnatural lady-pleasure scene in exchange for a lower rating.
But recently, some high profile actors have been calling out this double standard for what it is: ridiculous and clearly sexist.
Evan Rachel Wood, star of the soon-to-be released Charlie Countryman, went on an awesome Twitter rant over weekend when she found out the film had only received a lower rating when the producers agreed to cut the scene in which her character receives oral sex, even though graphically violent scenes were allowed to remain:
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Sex, nudity, etc .....and more sex. I feel there is far too much of everything on TV and movies. I actually do feel confronted if in a movie theatre and explicit stuff is going on. I don't want to sit with a bunch of strangers watching it, to be really honest. It is all too much information, too much, too often. I don't care if its male or female, unless its 'R' rated please be discreet. That's the reason we have ratings, not that they mean much at all these days. PG is no longer safe for me with my young children due to swearing and content. I find it all a bit depressing and demoralising. It's all too 'out there' and liberal for me. As my dear old nanna used to say....the whole world's gone mad.
If I was to try to post images of oral sex performed on both men and women in this thread (with text and comments to provide the right context), would it be ok. Would you let them through for publishing or display the very same form of censorship/moderation that you are criticising?
I'm asking to see where the boundaries are here since I'm not sure what is being advocated. Do web blogs have different standards to films.
If the article started with a NSFW (not safe for work) disclaimer at the start, then you probably could. Or, you could put links in your comment.