The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 and the ascendance of the New Right offered an important new political context for thinking about anti-pornography efforts. Feminists across the nation looked with grave concern at the growth of right-wing reactionism and the emergence of a power structure and a grassroots political culture openly hostile to liberal and feminist ideas. Reagan made it clear that his administration would launch an assault on the liberal state, challenging the New Deal principle that government has an obligation to help its citizens meet basic economic and social needs. Within months of taking office, the president had recommended more than $9 billion in budget cuts, taking aim at programs that provided money for day care, welfare, Medicaid and foster care, among other social services. Grant money from federal agencies that had previously funded local rape crisis centers, battered women's shelters and other anti-violence initiatives dried up. Feminist activists used to a more supportive climate under Carter's administration looked on with dismay, fear, and anger as the budgets for government-sponsored initiatives to support poor people and women were slashed.

Connected to this attack on liberalism and social welfare was an equally virulent popular backlash aimed at abortion rights, sexual freedom, gay rights, sex education, and all visible aspects of sexuality in U.S. culture that fell outside of traditional heterosexual marriage.