The objectification of women is the primary mechanism of oppression. Women's objectification is exemplified by, but not confined to, pornography. There is a continuity between hard core porn, soft core porn, and mainstream advertisements. Pornography is the theory and rape is the practice. Pornography shapes men's expectations and beliefs about women.
Pornography is an act as well as a representation.
The production of pornography subjects women models to objectification and violence. Objectification is an inevitable aspect of representation. Pornography is not reducible to a single message or effect. The causal links between pornography and sexual violence cited by anti-porn activists are mostly anecdotal or from poorly designed studies.