June Hunt, of Hope for the Heart Ministries, warned that, “Lust creates a rut that wants more and more.” Most people who are regularly exposed to pornography end up struggling with some form of sexual addiction. The images stay with you.

Earlier, we discussed mainstreaming of pornography in socially acceptable mediums. Today we’re talking about how the mainstreaming of pornography and our increasingly sexualized culture is impacting girls and women.

Instead of being a gift designed by God to be enjoyed by a man and woman in a committed, marriage relationship, sex is used by our sin natures and Satan as a tool to ensnare us. Second Peter 2:19 states, “a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” Unfortunately, many people—men and women—are slaves to some form of sexual immorality. Some say that viewing or reading some form of pornography is “victimless” recreation; just a harmless diversion that is safe because it doesn’t hurt anyone else. Frankly, that’s just naïve. The first victim pornography takes down is you – you are creating an appetite in your mind for things that cause lust, which brings forth sin. (Jms. 1:14-15)

Consider the progression: when a woman spends time fantasizing about sexually explicit material, the allure can lead her to want to see it, and then lead her to acting out what she has seen. James 1:14-15 warns us, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.” We must start viewing pornography as a destructive tool used by the enemy to ensnare—the Bible warns us, “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” (Prov. 6:27).

How is Pornography Impacting Women?

It objectifies women. We have accepted what is very harmful to women as entertainment. Reviews of the book Fifty Shades of Grey deem the story romantic, when in reality it supposedly depicts a woman who is in a sexual relationship where the man treats her as less than human. One study that looked at the effects of non-violent pornographic movies on viewers concluded that

Men began to view women as insatiably sexual playthings; that men become more aggressive toward women; and that they begin to view rape as a trivial offense—something that all women secretly desire…There can be no doubt that pornography, as a form of primarily male entertainment, promotes the victimization of women.

It develops cravings for that which will never satisfy and sets up unrealistic expectations of sexual intimacy. June Hunt, of Hope for the Heart Ministries, warned that, “Lust creates a rut that wants more and more.” Most people who are regularly exposed to pornography end up struggling with some form of sexual addiction. The images stay with you. One study showed that

Epinephrine is a chemical which is secreted into the bloodstream by the adrenal gland when the porn addict indulges in his habit. Epinephrine goes to the brain and locks in the visual (or auditory) stimulus present at the time. The addict’s mind is polluted with sexually explicit images. Furthermore, he will remember these images without trying, and he will see them regardless of his desire to forget them.

Because the images are locked in your brain, reality can’t compete with the fantasy. Exposure to pornography sets up unrealistic expectations of sexual intimacy and affects the way we think about our bodies and relationships in general. Naomi Wolf said that “the ubiquity of sexual images does not free eros but dilutes it. . . For the first time in human history, the images’ power and allure have supplanted that of real naked women . . . Today, real naked women are just bad porn.” The opposite is true as well—women who indulge in this type of material began to view real men as not measuring up to the fantasy.

Sex becomes cheap. Last month a 20-year-old Brazilian student auctioned off her virginity online to the highest bidder for over $750,000. The young woman “justified the auction as she had not found the right person to have sex with and that taking part in the auction was ‘more sane’ than having sex with a stranger drunk at a party.” Are those really the only two options—drunken sex at a party or auctioning off your virginity online?! Sex has lost its value because it is everywhere.

Sharlene Azam warned of the impact this is having on young girls:

Advertising and media feed off each other, generating a proliferation of images that are sexually suggestive or blatantly pornographic. These ads, music videos, video games, television shows, internet sites, and teen fiction then become guidelines for acceptable teenage social behavior. Sexual imagery is such a normal part of teens’ daily lives that, regardless of family pressures, disapproving peers, or religious taboos, very young girls are influenced into dressing provocatively, acting sexy, and becoming sexually active …T-shirts for girls read ‘Porn Star,’ ‘The Rumors Are True,’ and ‘I Know What Boys Want’ across the chest. Sweat pants have ‘juicy,’ ‘yummy,’ and ‘sweet’ emblazoned on the back. The current brand identity for girls is clear: ‘I am something to be consumed.’

What Should Women Do?

Since lust and pornography is often regarded as a “man’s-only struggle,” many women have an added sense of shame and guilt when they find themselves struggling with it. This sin entangles men and women, and the problem will not go away by itself. You must seek the Lord’s transformation: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps 51:10).

Katie McCoy gave some excellent advice for recognizing “triggers” in a woman’s life that may create dissatisfaction or cause her to stumble, specifically in the area of lust. Here’s what you can do to start overcoming this habit:

1. Admit your problem—“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Prov. 28:13). You must start seeing porn and sexually explicit material as what it really is—sin. “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit” (2 Cor. 7:1a). Furthermore, “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin . . . but rather offer yourselves to God” (Rom 6:13).
2. Flee temptation—“Flee from sexuality immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18). That may mean you need to avoid long blocks of time alone by yourself and rid your home of anything that calls you into sin – getting filters on your computer, throwing away books, magazines, or videos that cause you to sin. Make a commitment to “not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men” (Prov. 4:14).
3. Be careful what you “dwell” on – “I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar” (Ps 101:3). However, more than just refusing to look at or read those things that cause you to stumble, you need to start dwelling on things that help you. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil 4:8).
4. Make time with God a priority and memorize Scripture. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11).
5. Get help—It may be that you need to seek counseling. You definitely need some form of accountability. “Two are better than one . . . If one falls down, his friend can help him up” (Ecc. 4:9-10). If you know someone who is struggling, help her to the extent you are able: “If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (Gal. 6:1).

June Hunt gives this challenge: “Will you do whatever it takes to be conformed to Christ?” I hope and pray we all are willing to answer “Yes” and do what it takes to be conformed to Christ, especially in the area of sexual purity. For more resources if you or someone you know is struggling with the matters discussed, see the material on Sexual Addiction, Temptation, Sexual Integrity, and Habits prepared by June Hunt with Hope for the Heart, www.HopeForTheHeart.org.

Candi Finch serves as Assistant Professor of Theology in Women’s Studies at Southwestern and is nearing the end of her PhD studying systematic theology.  This article appeared on the Biblical Woman Blog from SWBTS and is used with permission.

[Editor’s note: Some of the original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid, so the links have been removed.]