Sex Under Pressure

                In Anderson’s “Sex Under Pressure: Jerks, Boorish Behavior, and Gender Hierarchy,” he discusses an essay written by Sarah Conly regarding sexual coercion and if it is ethical. Conly and Anderson and Conly disagree on what their idea of what is ethical when it comes to sexual persuasion. Conly’s side is stating we should not deny the validity of a women’s consent to sex even when she is pressured by a “jerk” (her definition for the person applying sexual pressure). Anderson looks a little past “consent is all that matters,” and asks to look at things that may affect someone’s consent.

                Let’s discuss Conly’s approach. Her ideas run parallel to Barons “performative consent” which is what is said or expressed, not what is thought or felt. She only believes that sexual persuasion is not ethical if a coercive threat is involved. So, in her case, you must feel endangered to leave for reasons such as physical or harm, or feel like you have no other choice (i.e. your boss would fire you if you did not have sex with them). This I feel fit more under the under the criminal standard than opposed to what is ethically right to persuade someone into doing.

                I agree with Andersons approach to look at other things, such as things that would have changed someone’s reasons for giving consent. “Thus the ability of one person to pressure another into unwanted sex needs to be explained by reference to the factors that make such pressure relevant to one’s ends, predictably effective in altering behavior, and socially viable (i.e., not quickly and strongly discouraged) (365).” The gender hierarchy that is clearly visible in our society today allows for their men’s stereotypical role as the seducer and women’s role as the target of seduction. Anderson looked at sorority women in this case. In a study by Robbins (2004), when sorority women were asked their reasons to have sex or sexual contact, the results were interesting. Things included: to get a steady boyfriend, to show one’s attractiveness to a sister, or to avoid the stigma on virgins. These all exemplify some sort of sexism in them or as Anderson says gender hierarchy. Women feel like sex will get them a steady boyfriend, or that sex will get women acceptance by their peers.

                In addition to the stereotypical part of the gender hierarchy, Anderson also incorporates how males use tactics for coercion that women would could or would not use. “Our understanding of how men can coerce women into unwanted sex depends upon our understanding of the kinds of powers men possess over women, when they are likely to use them, and so forth (364).” If these things are known and apparent in society today, ethically, we must take them into consideration when asking why someone would consent to something.