I keep getting asked about former adult film star Jenna Jameson’s new reality show – not because I know a lot about Jameson, or her profession, but because the show chronicles her conversion to Judaism.
Jenna Jameson was one of the leading porn stars (I think now they call them “adult film stars,” presumably more politically correct) from 1993-2008, and built a large and profitable empire from her success (is that how you describe it?). Jameson has two children with her ex-husband, former MMA fighter Tito Ortiz. (Ortiz has full custody of their children.) Jameson is engaged to be married to an Israeli diamond dealer, Lior Bitton, and apparently she is converting to Judaism. And according to Bitton, they are making a reality show out of it for Israeli television’s Channel 2. The show is reportedly in the early stages of production, with no executive producers or production companies attached.
I know. There’s a lot going on here. I’ll try to break it down.
The porn industry is very problematic. While there are conflicting reports over whether there’s a higher incidence of women turning to porn as a way to make a living after coming from abuse, Jameson did say in a 2004 interview with Anderson Cooper that “It’s something that I’ve thought about a lot, and I can’t really say for sure if that is reasoning behind why I’ve gotten into the adult industry.”
Also, the treatment of women in particular in the porn industry is incredibly fraught (for a rundown of some of the topics and issues involved, see this article on ABC.net.au), and the images portrayed in porn of women in particular have been accused of everything from desensitizing men to “real” sex, contributing to the denigration and disrespect of women, and contributing to a culture that does not value intimacy.
I believe all of those things to be true, but I also know that especially with the invention of the internet, porn isn’t going anywhere.
Converting
I think it is tremendous when anyone decides to convert to Judaism. My ex did it, and so did his mother after our wedding. Joining a tribe of people who make up such a tiny percentage of the population but have such a large voice and presence and who have a homeland that is under global scrutiny for existing and whose politics are constantly challenged is no small task.
