Young women in college have joked for decades about “working their way through school” via pornography. And as with every tired old joke, there’s some truth behind it. The Duke Chronicle profiled a first-year student named “Lauren,” a woman who identifies as a feminist, libertarian, and porn star as “Aurora.” The student who wrote the piece, Katie Fernelius, opted not to go with a straight profile and instead made the story just as much about her as she did about Laura. The article reads more like an essay, as Fernelius struggles not only with reconciling what Laura does, but also articulating her own reaction. It also critically examines the sexual culture at Duke, which is similar to other schools (Duke just gets more press.). Consequently, the piece at times veers into a reaction paper for Women’s Studies 101. But that’s what college, and college media, gives you: the time to think about the big stuff, and a platform to express it.
Portrait of a Porn Star
Katie Fernelius | The Duke Chronicle | February 14, 2014 | (3,526 words)
I’m The Duke University Freshman Porn Star And For The First Time I’m Telling The Story In My Words
Lauren A. | xoJane | February 21, 2014 | (1,701 words)
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