The illusion of empowerment: how sex positivity aligns with neoliberalism and right-wing ideologies In contemporary discussions about sexuality, sex positivity is often framed as a progressive stance, defending individual sexual freedom, autonomy and expression. Yet critical examination shows that this movement, in its mainstream form, is much more aligned with neoliberalism and, by extension, right-wing ideologies than many of its proponents realize. This alignment is not only disturbing but also deeply harmful, as it reinforces patriarchal systems of exploitation and undermines the collective struggle for gender justice.

Neoliberalism: a right-wing framework disguised as freedom

To understand how sex positivity aligns with right-wing ideologies, we must first examine the core tenets of neoliberalism. Neoliberalism, at its core, advocates individualism, free markets and minimal state intervention. It celebrates the ability of individuals to make choices within the marketplace, seeing personal #autonomy as the ultimate expression of freedom. Neoliberalism downplays or ignores structural inequalities – such as patriarchy, capitalism and racism – that limit individual choices and reinforce existing power hierarchies.

This #framework, despite the veneer of freedom, is essentially a right-wing ideology. It prioritizes capitalist interests and works to preserve traditional systems of power, such as white supremacy and patriarchy, by focusing on personal responsibility rather than addressing systemic oppression.

The alignment of sex positivity with neoliberal values

Sex positivity, in its mainstream form, reflects this neoliberal obsession with individual choices. It prioritizes personal sexual freedom above all else, often presenting activities like pornography and sex work as inherently empowering, as long as they are framed as ‘choices’ made by consenting individuals. However, this emphasis on individual autonomy and consent ignores the broader context in which these choices are made. For example, women’s participation in pornography may be portrayed as liberating, but it exists within a deeply patriarchal, capitalist, and exploitative system that profits from the commodification of women’s bodies.

The problem with “choice” rhetoric

Like neoliberalism, sex positivity’s focus on individual choices ignores the structural inequalities that shape those choices. Neoliberal ideology celebrates the freedom to participate in the market while ignoring how capitalism and patriarchy limit the real options available to marginalized groups. Likewise, sex positivity emphasizes the importance of sexual autonomy without critically addressing the systems of power that limit women’s ability to make truly free choices.

For example, pornography is often defended by sex-positive advocates as a form of self-expression or empowerment. However, this defense ignores the fact that pornography is produced and consumed in a male-dominated industry in which women are often depicted as objects for male pleasure. In this context, women’s participation in pornography is less about empowerment and more about fulfilling the demands of a market that thrives on the objectification and commodification of female bodies.

The commodification of women’s bodies

One of the most troubling aspects of sex positivity’s alignment with neoliberalism is its role in the commodification of women’s bodies. Neoliberalism treats everything, including human labor, as a commodity to be bought and sold in the market. Sex positivity, especially when it defends pornography and sex work, treats women’s sexual agency in much the same way. The idea that women’s bodies can be commodified and sold as objects of sexual desire is presented as a form of freedom, when in reality it reinforces capitalist exploitation and male entitlement.

This commodification is eerily similar to the way right-wing economic policies frame labor and productivity. In both cases, individuals are valued primarily for their ability to participate in the marketplace, and systemic inequalities are ignored. Just as right-wing ideologies treat poverty as a personal failure, sex positivity treats women’s participation in pornography or sex work as a personal choice, ignoring the broader social forces that make these industries inherently exploitative.

Neoliberal sex positivity and the right-wing defense of patriarchy

At their core, right-wing ideologies perpetuate traditional power structures such as patriarchy and white supremacy. Neoliberalism, with its focus on individualism and free markets, serves to perpetuate these systems by promoting the idea that any oppression or inequality is the result of personal failure rather than systemic injustice. Sex positivity, when aligned with neoliberal values, plays a similar role in defending patriarchal structures.

By refusing to engage with radical feminist critiques of pornography and sex work, sex-positive advocates often find themselves defending industries that perpetuate gender-based violence, exploitation, and male rights. They fail to challenge the underlying systems of patriarchy and capitalism that make these industries harmful in the first place. In this way, sex positivity becomes a right-wing defense of the systems it claims to oppose, reinforcing male dominance and female subjugation under the guise of sexual freedom.

Insights from Andrea Dworkin and Catharine MacKinnon

Prominent feminists such as Andrea Dworkin and Catharine MacKinnon have articulated powerful critiques of pornography and sexual exploitation, providing crucial insights into the intersection of sex positivity, capitalism, and patriarchy.

Andrea Dworkin argues in her works, especially in Intercourse and Woman Hating, that pornography is fundamentally exploitative and serves to reinforce male dominance. Dworkin once said, “The pornographer is a man who wants to be able to do anything with a woman, without any responsibility for his actions.” This perspective highlights how pornography is not just a form of expression, but a tool to perpetuate patriarchal control. Catharine MacKinnon contributes to this discourse with her concept of sexual politics, arguing that sexual freedom cannot be separated from issues of power and inequality. In her book Only Words, MacKinnon discusses how language and images in pornography shape and reinforce societal attitudes toward women, ultimately reinforcing their subjugation. Her work emphasizes the need for a critical analysis of the sexual landscape, taking into account the power dynamics at play. Both Dworkin and MacKinnon argue that the celebration of sexual autonomy within a patriarchal framework fails to address the systemic violence women face, making such autonomy a facade rather than a reality.

The need for a radical critique

Radical feminists have long pointed out that true liberation for women cannot be achieved within systems that commodify and exploit their bodies for male pleasure. Dworkin and MacKinnon articulate the urgent need for a critique that examines the impact of patriarchy and capitalism on women’s lives. These critiques argue that mainstream acceptance of sex positivity often ignores the collective struggle against oppression in favor of individualism, ultimately leaving systems of exploitation intact.

Conclusion: the right-wing roots of sex positivity

Although sex positivity presents itself as a progressive position, its alignment with neoliberalism ultimately places it within the domain of right-wing ideology. By prioritizing individual choices and ignoring the structural inequalities that shape those choices, sex positivity reinforces the patriarchal, capitalist systems it claims to oppose. The commodification of women’s bodies and the defense of exploitative industries such as pornography and sex work are not examples of empowerment; they are symptoms of a society that values ​​profit and men’s right over collective liberation.

True sexual liberation requires a radical critique of both patriarchy and capitalism. It requires a feminist movement that places solidarity over individualism and challenges the systems of exploitation that commodify women’s bodies. Without this critique, sex positivity risks becoming a right-wing defense of patriarchy cloaked in the language of empowerment.

Additional sources: Dworkin, Andrea – Intercourse https://caringlabor.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/intercourse-andrea-dworkin.pdf and Woman Hating https://archive.org/details/womanhating00dwor/ page/n229/mode/2up MacKinnon, Catharine – Only Words and Sexual Harassment of Working Women https://readcatharinemackinnon.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/sexual-harassment-of-working-women-catharine -a.-mackinnon.pdf Volkov, Angela – Pornography: neither harmless nor fantasy (prostitution research) https://prostitutionresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Angela-Volkov-Pornography-Neither-Harmless-Nor -Fantasy.pdf MacKinnon, Catharine – Towards a Feminist Theory of the State https://feminisminnewterms.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/mackinnon-1989-toward-a-feminist-theory-of-the -state-copie.pdf #feminist #porn #antiporn #MacKinnon #liberation #sexpositive