Elephant in the room

Christine Emba addresses the pervasive influence of hardcore pornography on society, using the controversial case of Lily Phillips—a British OnlyFans creator who gained fame by sleeping with 100 men in one day—as an entry point. Emba argues that extreme acts like Phillips’s reflect a broader normalization of sexual exploitation fueled by widespread, easily accessible pornography. Citing Sophie Gilbert’s book Girl on Girl, Emba explores how the 1990s and 2000s pop culture conditioned women to accept sexual objectification as empowerment, arguing that pornography has shaped harmful sexual norms—such as choking, slapping, and spitting during intimate encounters—especially among younger generations.

Emba critiques the hesitation in progressive circles to openly acknowledge porn’s detrimental effects due to fears of being seen as prudish or judgmental. She highlights a growing willingness among Gen Z to criticize porn openly, recognizing its negative impacts on personal relationships and self-perception. Emba concludes by urging society to confront and admit pornography’s harmful role, moving beyond superficial nonjudgmental attitudes to prevent further exploitation and degradation of sexual values and relationships.