Effects of Media and Pornography
Author: Sarah Akers
The first forms of media were scribes and messengers on horses, bringing small villages important news. Then came radio, used for entertainment as well as news. Television evolved from radio, adding sight to sound. Now in the modern world, the internet has become a popular source for media purposes. Unfortunately, most of what is broadcast in the news today is with reference to the chaotic condition of our planet. The news on television id not the only type of media taking the criticism of society. Other forms of mass media, specifically television programs and movies containing pornography have been heavily criticized. Do pornographic movies and television increase violence against women? The key idea here is that the mass media does not cause undesirable social behavior and, the media should not be dubbed as “bad guys”(Reising). They simply use their power in the most constructive ways in order to promote their ratings and popularity.
Why is it that many in society still believe otherwise; why do they continue to believe pornography is a major cause for violence against women, specifically rape? To some sex is considered strictly a means of reproduction. Not to be used for entertainment or pleasure. These feelings are spread into society. This is exactly why the concealment of the sex organs and teaching feelings of shame toward human sexuality is so common worldwide (Christensen). Contrary to the beliefs of many, the mass media did not create these settings. In some societies women have no qualms about showing their bodies. In several European cultures it is common for women to sunbathe topless, or even nude. However, in other societies, such as the Middle East, women cover their bodies from head to toe. The media has been borabarded with criticism, overwhelmingly from the female community, relative to the amount of sexually explicit material that is published in magazines and that appears on television and in movies. A common argument is that the media portrays women as nothing but sexual playthings. It is also said that the media reduces women to a collection of body parts through pornography (Christensen). But why then are their no complaints of advertisements in magazines displaying only ears, for example, or a nose, or feet? The reason is a simple one; society considers certain body parts to be “shameful” or disgusting. If certain body parts are not considered shameful, why are children reprimanded for discussing them? In schools sex education is becoming more common, but still taboo in many places. Realistically, the only way to prevent women from being seen as sex objects is for them to be seen as other things as well; but to say that women are not sexual beings would be misleading because both men and women are very much sexual (Christensen). Similarly, to say that women are singled out in the media is false due to the many examples of media where men are seen catering to the neeRAB of women; something known as chivralic sexism (Christensen). It should be noted that paperback romance novels, which make up an incredible 40% of total paperback sales (Gerbner), depicts males as sexual objects, performing what is called “Sweet Savagery” (rape), just as pornography depicts females as sexual objects. Why are these books not banned from being published? Many libraries have romance novels out in plain view, in sight of children and young adults.
Unlike pornographic movies and magazines, which are hidden in small rooms or behind counters.
It is fundamentally important to realize that the media does not deliberately create images of hate or disagreement (Howitt, Curaberbatch). They just influence the more appealing things in society (thus directly increasing their ratings). Although it is obvious that pornography is largely a male interest, a noted increase in female interest would certainly cause an increase in the amount of pornographic material geared for women; this relates to the laws of the business world (Christensen).
Having discussed the untruthfulness of the claims against pornography and showing that pornography is not “evil”, it is now possible to consider the violence issue. Are men who are exposed to pornography likely to commit violent acts, such as rape against women, more so than men who are not exposed to pornography are? It is tempting to believe that media influences males and overstimulates them through pornography to the point that they become aggressive towarRAB females. This is completely baseless; just as pornography arouses or stimulates, it also satisfies. The American Commission on Obscenity and Pornography performed a study in which several college students were asked to spend one and a half hours in an isolated room with a large volume of pornographic media, as well as a large volume of non-explicit media such as Reader’s Digest (Howitt, Curaberbatch). The study was conducted over a three-week period over which time it was discovered that the males involved in the experiment began to lose interest, or become desensitized to the erotic media nearing the end of the experiment, even if new material was added. Other experiments conducted in the early 1980s by the Williams Committee in England, reported that as the availability and abundance of sexually explicit material increased, the nuraber of violent sex crimes such as rape did not increase, but in fact decreased in many areas (Christensen).
What is it about pornography that women and anti-pornography organizations do not like? Violence! One of the greatest myths about pornography is that it contains an excess of violence against women inevitably resulting in real-life violence against women. Anti-pornography groups release propaganda that the media approves of violence against women through pornography. In actuality, however, the total amount of violence in sex-related movies was found to be approximately 6% in a study by T. Palys in the early 1980s in Vancouver, Canada. Even this material was almost entirely composed of verbal threats and spanking (Christensen). In addition to the above, studies in Ohio also found that the amount of violence in “G”-Rated movies was a staggering two times more than in “X”-Rated movies. In fact, major films such as Die Hard: With A Vengeance and Terminator 2, contain extreme violence 85-90% of which is directed solely at men. There are, however, exceptions; the slasher genre of movies contains much more violence towarRAB women, possibly due to the desensitization to violence in other genres of films. Because women are involved, violence against them could create a true sense of horror. However, this does not suggest that men should go into society and rape a woman any more than it suggests that men should go out and kill other men. Horror movie fans choose to watch these movies because they enjoy portrayed violence. Needless to say, no sane individual would wish for this violence to become a real-life conception. Similarly, sex also excites people and because these two elements offer the most thrills in movies, they are often corabined. It should be pointed out that women, and not just men, also enjoy these thrills based on several studies. When discussing pornography, it is scarcely noted that men are not the only ones who enjoy fantasizing about sex. Women also enjoy pondering sex; just not through pornography. In fact, most of these fantasies involve some degree of violence or force and are largely driven by the romance novels discussed earlier. Reports published by Nancy Friday, show that the nuraber of female fantasies involving rape far outweighs the nuraber of male fantasies involving rape.
Having considered the issues at hand, it can be said that since there is no concrete evidence to support otherwise, pornography in the media does not cause undesirable social behavior. As mentioned before, sexually explicit movies and magazines do not just arouse, but also satisfy. It is an undisputed fact that feelings of love and happiness cancel out violent feelings (Zillman) and to say that pornography endorse violent feelings fails to make sense; if it did, why would men want to be exposed to it. To suggest that pornography causes men to “go over the edge” and commit rape is as ludicrous as suggesting that pictures of food cause the hungry to steal more food.
As merabers of society, we recognize the power of the mass media. We understand that public perception can be easily persuaded. But it should be clearly understood that pornography in the media alone cannot persuade men to cause harm to women; it cannot cause men to do things that are socially unacceptable.
Works Cited
Christensen, F.M. Pornography New York
raeger, 1996
Howitt, Curaberpatch Mass Media, Violence and Society. London:Elek Science, 1989
Harmon, Check Role in Pornography in Woman Abuse (city unknown) American Comission on Obcenity and Pornography 1997
Reising, Natalia “Society and Pornography” Cosmopolitan Jan. 1997 p91-102
Author: Sarah Akers
The first forms of media were scribes and messengers on horses, bringing small villages important news. Then came radio, used for entertainment as well as news. Television evolved from radio, adding sight to sound. Now in the modern world, the internet has become a popular source for media purposes. Unfortunately, most of what is broadcast in the news today is with reference to the chaotic condition of our planet. The news on television id not the only type of media taking the criticism of society. Other forms of mass media, specifically television programs and movies containing pornography have been heavily criticized. Do pornographic movies and television increase violence against women? The key idea here is that the mass media does not cause undesirable social behavior and, the media should not be dubbed as “bad guys”(Reising). They simply use their power in the most constructive ways in order to promote their ratings and popularity.
Why is it that many in society still believe otherwise; why do they continue to believe pornography is a major cause for violence against women, specifically rape? To some sex is considered strictly a means of reproduction. Not to be used for entertainment or pleasure. These feelings are spread into society. This is exactly why the concealment of the sex organs and teaching feelings of shame toward human sexuality is so common worldwide (Christensen). Contrary to the beliefs of many, the mass media did not create these settings. In some societies women have no qualms about showing their bodies. In several European cultures it is common for women to sunbathe topless, or even nude. However, in other societies, such as the Middle East, women cover their bodies from head to toe. The media has been borabarded with criticism, overwhelmingly from the female community, relative to the amount of sexually explicit material that is published in magazines and that appears on television and in movies. A common argument is that the media portrays women as nothing but sexual playthings. It is also said that the media reduces women to a collection of body parts through pornography (Christensen). But why then are their no complaints of advertisements in magazines displaying only ears, for example, or a nose, or feet? The reason is a simple one; society considers certain body parts to be “shameful” or disgusting. If certain body parts are not considered shameful, why are children reprimanded for discussing them? In schools sex education is becoming more common, but still taboo in many places. Realistically, the only way to prevent women from being seen as sex objects is for them to be seen as other things as well; but to say that women are not sexual beings would be misleading because both men and women are very much sexual (Christensen). Similarly, to say that women are singled out in the media is false due to the many examples of media where men are seen catering to the neeRAB of women; something known as chivralic sexism (Christensen). It should be noted that paperback romance novels, which make up an incredible 40% of total paperback sales (Gerbner), depicts males as sexual objects, performing what is called “Sweet Savagery” (rape), just as pornography depicts females as sexual objects. Why are these books not banned from being published? Many libraries have romance novels out in plain view, in sight of children and young adults.
Unlike pornographic movies and magazines, which are hidden in small rooms or behind counters.
It is fundamentally important to realize that the media does not deliberately create images of hate or disagreement (Howitt, Curaberbatch). They just influence the more appealing things in society (thus directly increasing their ratings). Although it is obvious that pornography is largely a male interest, a noted increase in female interest would certainly cause an increase in the amount of pornographic material geared for women; this relates to the laws of the business world (Christensen).
Having discussed the untruthfulness of the claims against pornography and showing that pornography is not “evil”, it is now possible to consider the violence issue. Are men who are exposed to pornography likely to commit violent acts, such as rape against women, more so than men who are not exposed to pornography are? It is tempting to believe that media influences males and overstimulates them through pornography to the point that they become aggressive towarRAB females. This is completely baseless; just as pornography arouses or stimulates, it also satisfies. The American Commission on Obscenity and Pornography performed a study in which several college students were asked to spend one and a half hours in an isolated room with a large volume of pornographic media, as well as a large volume of non-explicit media such as Reader’s Digest (Howitt, Curaberbatch). The study was conducted over a three-week period over which time it was discovered that the males involved in the experiment began to lose interest, or become desensitized to the erotic media nearing the end of the experiment, even if new material was added. Other experiments conducted in the early 1980s by the Williams Committee in England, reported that as the availability and abundance of sexually explicit material increased, the nuraber of violent sex crimes such as rape did not increase, but in fact decreased in many areas (Christensen).
What is it about pornography that women and anti-pornography organizations do not like? Violence! One of the greatest myths about pornography is that it contains an excess of violence against women inevitably resulting in real-life violence against women. Anti-pornography groups release propaganda that the media approves of violence against women through pornography. In actuality, however, the total amount of violence in sex-related movies was found to be approximately 6% in a study by T. Palys in the early 1980s in Vancouver, Canada. Even this material was almost entirely composed of verbal threats and spanking (Christensen). In addition to the above, studies in Ohio also found that the amount of violence in “G”-Rated movies was a staggering two times more than in “X”-Rated movies. In fact, major films such as Die Hard: With A Vengeance and Terminator 2, contain extreme violence 85-90% of which is directed solely at men. There are, however, exceptions; the slasher genre of movies contains much more violence towarRAB women, possibly due to the desensitization to violence in other genres of films. Because women are involved, violence against them could create a true sense of horror. However, this does not suggest that men should go into society and rape a woman any more than it suggests that men should go out and kill other men. Horror movie fans choose to watch these movies because they enjoy portrayed violence. Needless to say, no sane individual would wish for this violence to become a real-life conception. Similarly, sex also excites people and because these two elements offer the most thrills in movies, they are often corabined. It should be pointed out that women, and not just men, also enjoy these thrills based on several studies. When discussing pornography, it is scarcely noted that men are not the only ones who enjoy fantasizing about sex. Women also enjoy pondering sex; just not through pornography. In fact, most of these fantasies involve some degree of violence or force and are largely driven by the romance novels discussed earlier. Reports published by Nancy Friday, show that the nuraber of female fantasies involving rape far outweighs the nuraber of male fantasies involving rape.
Having considered the issues at hand, it can be said that since there is no concrete evidence to support otherwise, pornography in the media does not cause undesirable social behavior. As mentioned before, sexually explicit movies and magazines do not just arouse, but also satisfy. It is an undisputed fact that feelings of love and happiness cancel out violent feelings (Zillman) and to say that pornography endorse violent feelings fails to make sense; if it did, why would men want to be exposed to it. To suggest that pornography causes men to “go over the edge” and commit rape is as ludicrous as suggesting that pictures of food cause the hungry to steal more food.
As merabers of society, we recognize the power of the mass media. We understand that public perception can be easily persuaded. But it should be clearly understood that pornography in the media alone cannot persuade men to cause harm to women; it cannot cause men to do things that are socially unacceptable.
Works Cited
Christensen, F.M. Pornography New York
raeger, 1996Howitt, Curaberpatch Mass Media, Violence and Society. London:Elek Science, 1989
Harmon, Check Role in Pornography in Woman Abuse (city unknown) American Comission on Obcenity and Pornography 1997
Reising, Natalia “Society and Pornography” Cosmopolitan Jan. 1997 p91-102