The Readers Weigh In: Women and Pornography
Made in His Image is exceedingly grateful to New Advent for promoting our blog!! Yesterday’s post “Let Her Speak: Women and Pornography” produced countless emails and responses. Thank you so much to all who have written. It’s my hope, that the following will be a source of inspiration and healing to you.
A reader writes, I stumbled upon your blog though a link on New Advent. Your recent blog post, “Pornography: Not just a Man’s Problem,” tackles a subject that doesn’t receive enough attention, women can become addicted to porn, just like men. As a woman who struggles with porn, I have a suggestion for a resource for your readers: “Pure Heart: A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Integrity.” A few things to note about this book, the writer is not Catholic (there’s nothing anti-Catholic in the book); the book is aimed at all women who are experiencing problems staying chaste, not just at women with a pornography addiction, though there is one chapter that specifically addresses porn; and I found it presented some of the same ideas as Theology of the Body, but was a much easier read. As someone who has struggled with pornography and masturbation, the book was very helpful to me.
Other things that have helped me in my struggle: frequent Mass and Confession, prayers to St. Joseph, patron saint of purity, the Rosary, lots of Bible reading, and patience. I have lots of patience with others, but when it comes to myself, I forget that I’m not perfect and that habits can be hard to break. Although once in a while, I need to give myself a good talking to, I have a history of self harm and eating disorders, and it is far to easy for me to slip back into destructive patterns. So, I try to be patient with myself.
I’m glad that you and others have drawn attention to the problem of women and pornography. When I first admitted I had a problem, I could hardly find resources on women and chastity, much less anything on women and pornography! Everyone seemed to be assuming that women didn’t need help with chastity. There’s nothing quite so lonely as believing yourself to be the only person in the world with a certain problem! Not that I’m glad other women have this problem, but when I heard about other women with a porn problem, it comforted me to know that other women were in the same boat. The greater comfort came from hearing that there were women who had conquered the problem.
Another reader writes, One resource that is outstanding for both men and women is the book of meditations called “Clean of Heart” by Rosemarie Scott. It’s the best Catholic resource that I have found for helping to heal these sins.
Another reader concurred, I agree. This book really helped to turn my life around, and it isn’t geared toward men specifically at all. Good luck and God bless to all who struggle.
Another gentleman wrote, I recommend another wonderful and useful book: Neal Lozano “Unbound.” No doubt, it will change your way of thinking on this matter. Blessings!
Justin wrote, pornnomore.com is a good site for those struggling with this issue and is geared towards Catholics who want to be serious about the Faith and about recovering from porn and other sins against purity. Anyone that says pornography is harmless needs a reality check. It does deep damage to people on almost every level. I will offer up a decade of the rosary for all who struggle with this.
Always remember, “We are not the sum of our failures, but of our Father’s love.” – Blessed John Paul II
