Journal of Sex Research, by Andreas G. Philaretou
As personal computers became relatively inexpensive, widespread use of Internet technologies for individual and occupational purposes has considerably affected the everyday lives of individuals from all walks of life (Chen, Wigand, & Nilan, 1999). More and more, people from both developed and developing countries are becoming identified by online usernames, passwords, and code names serving both leisure and business Internet pursuits.
Cybersex has been likened to a kind of "sexual revolution" with more than 100,000 000 Web sites featuring all kinds of sexual content, such as erotic photos, videos, live sex acts, and Web-cam strip sessions (Carries, 2001; Cooper, Boies, Maheu, & Greenfield, 2001).
Visits to pornographic sites have increased with some sites reporting as many as 80 million hits (Worden, 2001). Although the majority of Internet users tend to be recreational or utilitarian oriented, some end up becoming "addicted" to Cybersex. According to a survey conducted by the Marital and Sexuality Center and MSNBC (2002), 6.5% of the male Internet population reported spending nearly six hours per week engaging in
Cybersex.
The edited book Net.SeXXX provides a detailed investigation into the intricacies of Internet pornography. Included in the discussions are issues concerning societal values, worldviews, morality and justice, ethics, atypical behaviors, interpersonal relationships, gender issues, economics, technology, social forces, culture, and social institutions. In a casual and easy-to-understand tone, and with useful concluding sections at the end of every chapter, Net.SeXXX provides a thought-provoking account of human sexual diversity. This quality makes the book suitable for a wide range of educational--both undergraduate and graduate students in social science departments--and lay audiences who are interested in gaining valuable knowledge about an otherwise neglected and taboo area of sexuality. The chapters encourage readers to engage in critical introspection, thereby enabling them to arrive at their own conclusion regarding the value and utility of this new form of human sexual expression.
The editor, Waskul, rightly contends that Internet sex is more than just the use of a modern medium for sexual ends; it is more a reflection of today's fast-pace social life characterized by individuality, impersonality, materialism, and social isolation. Since different people, and even the same individuals at different times, express a wide range of responses concerning cybersex, Waskul tries to avoid providing a universal truth about it. Instead, through the use of the various pro and con narratives presented in the book,
Waskul manages to provide an exploratory investigation of the multiple realities surrounding the topic so that the reader can assess them and arrive at his or her own conclusion.
Waskul argues that: "Internet sex is largely composed of images, systems of meaning, and forms of interaction that are conspicuously familiar" (p. 4). The nature of the cybersex sexual immetry is characterized by the usual themes of any pornographic medium, such as androcentric bias, female sexual exploitation, and a consistent refutation of established moral beliefs. However, as Waskul points out, there does exist a distinguishing feature of this new pornographic medium that sets it apart from its predecessors, having to do primarily with the incredibly convenient availability of a high volume of varying types of pornography to large masses of individuals.
Until relatively recently, individuals refrained from fully embracing their pornographic pursuits out of fear of public exposure and humiliation, such as getting caught (a) purchasing pornographic magazines from a gas station or a bookstore, (b) renting X-rated video tapes, or (c) viewing pornographic movies at an X-rated theater.
Cybersex expanded the horizons of the pornography industry by offering consumers the opportunity to enjoy an unimaginable variety of material in the comfort and anonymity of their homes.
Concerning the increased variety of Internet pornography, compared to other more traditional media, Waskul makes an interesting point that this is not only due to the technological superiority of the Internet but also to the different types of people who are gaining access to sexually explicit materials. As more and more individuals of different socioeconomic levels and tastes become cybersex consumers, the more varied the content of Internet sex sites becomes to meet individual consumer's needs.
Waskul rightly argues that for many individuals, the Internet constitutes an important avenue for healthy sexual pursuits. For instance, he contends that Internet sexual resources might prove very useful for (a) homosexual adolescents, physically/mentally challenged, unattractive, or shy individuals living in rural areas far removed from the social support networks of urban areas, and (b) women who desperately seek anonymity in an effort to expand their sexual repertoire beyond the limited bounds of the androcentric double standard.
Although cybersexual pursuits by committed couples have often been labeled as a new kind of "virtual infidelity," the editor goes on to say that easy access to Internet sex has also rejuvenated otherwise monotonous monogamous relationships.
