The P-Word Podcast: The Normalization of Gender-Based Violence With Dr. Jackson Katz

What does it mean to hold men accountable for violence against women, and how has pornography become such an important part of that conversation? In the third episode of The P-Word Podcast: Beyond “The Talk,” Culture Reframed Founder and CEO Dr. Gail Dines and Director of Programming Dr. Mandy Sanchez sit down with educator, author, and activist Dr. Jackson Katz to explore the connections between pornography, masculinity, and gender-based violence.

Drawing on decades of work in the movement to prevent violence against girls and women, Jackson challenges the idea that these issues are the responsibility of a small number of abusive men. Instead, he examines how cultural messages, media, and deeply rooted systems of power shape the way boys and men understand masculinity, relationships, and women. Together, they discuss why men must take a more active role in challenging these norms and creating a culture rooted in gender equality.

Watch or listen to the full episode here, and explore highlights below:

How Technology Has Changed the Conversation

Looking back on decades of advocacy, Jackson reflects on how much the landscape has changed since he and Gail began their work in the 1980s. While technology has created opportunities for connection, education, and movements like #MeToo, it has also made misogynistic pornography, deepfake images, and online harassment more accessible.

“I would not have imagined that the porn industry could have done such a stealth attack on the culture and on children, especially,” said Gail.

Despite progress in raising awareness about gender-based violence, the conversation around pornography remains largely absent from broader discussions about sexual abuse and women’s safety.

Why Pornography Is Missing From the Public Conversation

Jackson and Gail explore why people hesitate to criticize pornography, even when discussing violence against women and children. Fear of being labeled anti-sex or prudish has made it difficult for people to engage critically with documented harms that the industry produces.

They also discuss the divisions within feminism and how misunderstandings about feminist perspectives can discourage meaningful conversations. Without a core understanding of the structural forces behind gender inequality, important critiques are often dismissed before they can be heard.

Feminism, Media Literacy, and the Importance of Knowledge

The conversation turns to the role of education and feminist scholarship in helping people understand gender and power. Jackson reflects on how feminist books shaped his understanding of patriarchy and why those ideas remain relevant today.

He and Gail also discuss how younger generations increasingly get information through short-form digital content rather than books or science-based educational resources. As Gail puts it, we are living in an information-rich, knowledge-poor world.

Mandy recalls what it meant to her when the language to describe sexual violence shifted to “men’s violence against women.” She said, “[Before], we were told that language wasn’t important. … That domestic violence was just that: domestic.”

How Porn Culture and the Manosphere Reinforce Male Dominance

Jackson explains how the manosphere and pornography work together to both create and reinforce ideas of male supremacy and control over women. Influencers like Andrew Tate promote the idea that masculinity and success are tied to dominance, while pornography visually reinforces and cements those messages by depicting women as passive and men as entitled to control sexual encounters.

“The two go hand in glove,” said Jackson. “Many of the young men who are listening to Andrew Tate are also immersed in a porn culture where women have very little and very limited agency. Men are the actors; women are the acted upon. Men are doing something to women.”

They also discuss how these narratives contribute to a broader culture of sexualized cruelty, including the normalization of violence against women. Jackson argues that pornography must be part of the conversation when examining the manosphere and its influence on young men.

The Normalization of Sexual Strangulation

One of the most concerning topics discussed is the growing normalization of strangulation during sexual encounters. Jackson distinguishes between the language of “choking” and the reality of strangulation, emphasizing that it is a form of violence that studies show can cause serious injury or death.

“I refuse to call it choking. It’s strangulation, and choking is a euphemism that makes it seem like it’s less serious,” said Jackson.

He connects the increasing visibility of strangulation in pornography to the experiences of women who report being subjected to it by male partners. The conversation also challenges the idea that this behavior is simply a sexual preference or expression of freedom, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the violence and power dynamics involved.

Why Men Must Take Responsibility and Lead Change

The episode closes with a discussion about the responsibility that men have to challenge violence against women. Jackson argues that preventing gender-based violence cannot be left to women or a small group of male advocates. Instead, men must recognize their role in changing the cultural conditions that allow violence to persist.

He calls for preventing violence against women to become a leadership expectation across political, cultural, and institutional spaces. By educating themselves, challenging harmful behavior among peers, and recognizing their responsibility to protect young people, men can help create a different environment for future generations. As Jackson emphasizes, gender equality isn’t optional; it’s essential to the future of society.

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