The hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump and adult film star Stormy Daniels continues, and how Americans view sex and sex workers could influence decisions about the case. There is.
According to the New York Times, Trump’s lawyer Susan Necheres referred to Daniels’ profession during her questioning and questioned her credibility. “You have a lot of experience making false stories about sex seem real,” Necheres said, to which Daniels replied: …The sex in the movie is very real and exactly like what happened to me in that room. ”
Despite the widespread use of pornography, sex and sex work remain taboo subjects in American culture. But experts say that view is starting to change. That could be important in how people perceive Daniels and her credibility.
“Sex workers are fully human beings,” Jill McCracken, a professor of English and women’s, gender and sexuality studies at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, previously told USA TODAY. “Our society tends to focus on sex, especially when we think about sex work and the exchange of money for sexual things, and of course we tend to stigmatize it or just highlight it. I think ” more than everything else. ”
How do Americans view sex and sex workers?
Experts say American society has strong Puritan roots and has historically ridiculed sex talk. However, the internet age has made sex and sexual expression more accessible, and as a result, pornography has become more common.
As a result, porn has become “a very powerful source of sexuality and sexual outlet for people,” Laurie Mintz, a professor of human sexuality at the University of Florida, previously told USA TODAY. “And perhaps it’s considered particularly taboo because it can be seen by other people.”
The percentage of Americans who think pornography is morally acceptable has also increased in recent years, increasing from 36% to 43% from 2017 to 2018, according to a Gallup poll. This number remained almost unchanged in 2022, when he was at 41%.
Despite this, many Americans still have strong judgments about pornography and sex workers. For example, when a photo of Hot Ones host Sean Evans spending time with porn star Melissa Stratton surfaced, the internet erupted with ridicule. “In general, we’re moving in the direction of being more sex-positive,” certified marriage and family therapist Courtney Watson previously told USA TODAY. “But that’s because the society we were in goes way back.”
more:“Hot Ones” host Sean Evans was spotted with porn star Melissa Stratton. That ridicule crossed the line.
Daniels said she would be tried similarly for her porn appearances. On Thursday, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger showed her jury a tweet she acknowledged Ms. Daniels received on March 18, 2023, in which she called Ms. Daniels a “disgusting depraved prostitute.” is. A Twitter user added, “Good luck walking around town after this!” Daniels called that tweet and another tweet “tame” compared to others she had received, she said.
Experts say women face particularly intense scrutiny when it comes to sex, sexuality and pornography. Alison Moon, author of Girl Sex 101, previously told USA TODAY: “It’s hard to find examples of women being shamed for the number of sexual partners they have or the type of sex they enjoy. No. Owning one’s sexuality often comes at a cost, whether it’s humiliation, rejection, or just sexual humiliation.
Ronald Weitzer, a sociology professor at George Washington University and author of Sex Tourism in Thailand, said people make “drastic generalizations” about sex workers, and only because they are famous. He said that he often ends up looking at As a result, sex workers’ humanity is often ignored and people may be less likely to take allegations of sexual misconduct seriously.
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What’s going on in the Trump trial?
Daniels said Tuesday that she met Trump at the 2006 Lake Tahoe golf tournament and had sex with him after they had dinner in a hotel suite. Mr. Trump has denied that such a thing happened.
Daniels’ story about that night in 2006 was the basis for the $130,000 hush money she allegedly received from Trump lawyer Michael Cohen less than two weeks before the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutors allege the payment violated federal campaign finance laws and that Trump falsified her records to cover it up.
Live updates from the Trump trial:Stormy Daniels’ testimony concludes, President Trump moves for miscarriage of justice
Daniels’ occupation and sexual history are key questions during the trial. While on the stand, Daniels was asked by Necheres to confirm that he had appeared in more than 200 pornographic films and had sex. Daniels said the number is about 150.
Necheres also said that despite Daniels’ sexual history, she felt “very upset” and “lightheaded” when she saw President Trump sitting on her bed in a T-shirt and boxer shorts. I almost passed out,” Daniels asked for confirmation. Ms. Daniels said she sees her husband naked almost every day, but she would be shocked if she came out of the bathroom and saw someone who was not her husband naked.
Ms. Necheres also asked Ms. Daniels about other details of her alleged history with Mr. Trump. When she suggested that Daniels made up her own story about having sex with Trump, Daniels retorted, “If that story was a lie, I would have written a better one.”
“I didn’t need to write this,” Daniels added.
Contributors: David Oliver, Aysha Bagchi, Kinsey Crowley, Bart Jansen, USA TODAY
