During the Victorian Age, it was not considered acceptable for a woman to talk about her sexuality. But gradually, American society has grown more open and vocal about sex issues.
Today, women continue to change their perspectives on their own sexuality. Leading the forefront in this sexual awareness is Annie Sprinkle — an actress, writer and director in the sex industry for the past 25 years.
The EMU Cultural Forum will host “Annie Sprinkle, Feminist Porn Activist” at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the EMU Ballroom.
Sprinkle will show clips from her many films and discuss her career in the sex industry and her work as an activist. Sprinkle’s presentation will not contain live nudity, though she may do a “bosom ballet,” according to Geoff Hoffa, EMU Cultural Forum contemporary issues coordinator, who said a “bosom ballet” must be seen to be understood.
“Annie Sprinkle seems to be an anomaly of a woman who has not only enjoyed her work in the sex industry but who has also made it a personally empowering as well as spiritually enriching experience,” Hoffa said.
But the University community has expressed mixed feelings about Sprinkle’s upcoming presentation, according to Maria Zink, public relations coordinator for the EMU Women’s Center.
Zink said some people see the presentation as a good learning opportunity, but others are skeptical and unsure if an event like this is will be beneficial.
Sprinkle, 47, said she believes in being “sex positive” — promoting sex as a normal and healthy part of life.
“It’s a wonderful thing to love yourself,” she said.
Sprinkle began her career in the sex industry in 1973 at the age of 18. She said she considers herself lucky to be in the sex industry.
But it wasn’t just luck that inspired her career choice.
“I was interested in filmmaking, and I loved sex,” she said. “(The industry) fit my needs.”
Now, Sprinkle holds a doctorate in human sexuality from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality and tours the world as a one-woman theater show dedicated to teaching and learning about sex and sexuality.
Though she does many shows for theater audiences, she said she loves college and university audiences because students want to learn.
Because sex is such a controversial issue, Sprinkle often has to deal with censorship.
“I get censored in one way or another on a weekly basis,” she said.
Sprinkle proceeded to list canceled or monitored shows and poster disappearances as examples of censorship.
“It’s part of the process, and I just accept it,” she said. “I respect other people’s opinions. I don’t let it get me down.”
Sprinkle also said anti-pornography feminists assume all women who have worked in pornography have been exploited.
She conceded that some women in the sex industry have been taken advantage of, but she pointed out that “it can happen anywhere.” She said it depends on the director an actress works for, and how she feels about herself.
Debbie Henley, a homemaker and community volunteer in Springfield, holds a different view than Sprinkle.
“As far as third-wave feminists possibly defending pornography as a sexual statement, I disagree with the use of our liberty and freedom in such a destructive manner,” Henley said. “It just doesn’t seem very ‘sisterly’ for women to make a living seducing and sexually arousing other women’s mates.”
Henley said she does not oppose the right to free speech, but personal liberty and sexual statement must be seasoned with responsibility and moral restraint for the good of American culture. She said obscenity was not protected under First Amendment laws.
Sprinkle said the goal of her presentation is to increase awareness and education of sexuality. She said everybody struggles with sex issues at some time, and she wants to make sexuality topic that is less scary and more easily understood.
“I’m not trying to convert or change people’s minds,” she said. “I want to make this world a more pleasure-filled place,” she said.
Kate Sullivan, an English professor at Lane Community College and former women’s studies professor at the University of Oregon, said she saw Annie Sprinkle’s “Public Cervix Announcement” performance in New York City where Sprinkle invited members of the audience to look at her cervix.
“It’s not a show for Puritans,” Sullivan said.
She described Sprinkle’s performance as trying to demystify sexuality and encourage women to see “sexuality and orgasm” in a positive light.
Zink said Annie Sprinkle’s presentation isn’t a step backward for feminism but instead pushes women forward.
Tickets are available for $8 for the general public and $5 for University students. To reserve tickets by phone, call the EMU Ticket Office at 346-4363 or Mother Kali’s Bookstore at 343-4864.
The presentation is intended for adults over age 18.
Jen West is a Pulse reporter for the Oregon Daily Emerald. She can be reached
at [email protected].