The term "pornography" derives from the Greek language.Our use of it is
- snobbish, since it means "scapegoat-hooker-graphics";
- misleading since it confounds and confuses erotic love with hate;
- loses support of those diverted from the hate part.
In ancient Greece, there were three classes of prostitutes. The Porne were considered to form the lowest class. To attract clients, a Porne would hang a giant phallus outside her hut, and decorate interior walls with crude erotic drawings. The latter were "the graphics of the Porne", hence, "pornogaphy" -- "scapegoat-hooker-graphics".
On the other hand, big museums in North America and in Europe have private rooms where Erotica are displayed for wealthy patrons -- works of many famous painters through the ages. Rembrandt, for example, liked to draw ladies on chamber pots and lovers genderblending in bed. (You'll find an extensive collection in The Complete Book of Erotic Art, Volumes 1 and 2 (1987), Drs. Phyllis and Eberhard Kronhausen, Bell Publishing, Company, New York.)
So, if it's for the poor or nonwealthy, it's "pornography". If it's for the rich, it's "erotica".
What really should be attacked are works of art which showing cruelty and violence directed against girls and women. (Call this, say, "misography" -- "graphics of misogynists (women-haters)". The term "misogynist" derives from two Greek words, "misein": "to hate", and "gyne": "a woman"; that is, "a hater of women". So "misographics" would mean "hate-graphics".)
The leakiness of the label "pornography" misleads. Those in "the middle", remembering only erotica will be misled into defending what sometimes is misographic.
Leaky names lose decision games in "The Gender Gap", unless you seprate erotica from misography!