Men's Magazines Objectify Women in the Same Way as Rapists, Psychologists Reveal

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Descriptions of women used in men's magazines are indistinguishable from views expressed by convicted rapists, researchers found in a new study.

When presented with quotes from both, some men actually found themselves identifying more with the views of the sex offender than those espoused by the magazines, it was found.

Psychologists say that the study highlights the danger of the sexualisation of women in the media and called for moves to deal with the issue.

In the study, men aged between 18 and 46 were shown quotes about women from leading lads' mags FHM, Loaded, Nuts and Zoo. They were also given quotes made in interviews with convicted rapists.

They were then asked which comments they identified most with, with the majority choosing those made by the rapists rather than the magazine.

After being told which quotes were from lads' mags the surveyed men said they identified more with these - even when they were misled and the quotes were actually from rapists.

In a separate group, including women, the participants were asked to rank the comments on how derogatory they were.

The results found the magazine descriptions more demeaning than those from the sex offenders, reports the British Psychological Society's British Journal of Psychology.

One of the quotes from the sex offenders list included: 'I think if a law is passed there should be a dress code. When girls dress in those short skirts and things like that they're just asking for it.'

While the lads' mags included: 'Girls love being tied up, it gives them the chance to be the helpless victim.''I think girls are like plasticine, if you warm them up you can do anything you want with them.'

Dr Peter Hegarty, of the University of Surrey, added: 'There is a fundamental concern that the content of such magazines normalises the treatment of women as sexual objects.

'We are not killjoys or prudes who think that there should be no sexual information and media for young people.

'But are teenage boys and young men best prepared for fulfilling love and sex when they normalise views about women that are disturbingly close to those mirrored in the language of sexual offenders?'

Dr Miranda Hovarth, of Middlesex University, added: 'There is clearly something wrong when people feel the sort of language used in a lads' mag could have come from a convicted rapist.

'We were surprised that participants identified more with the rapists' quotes, and we are concerned that the legitimisation strategies that rapists deploy when they talk about women are more familiar to these young men than we had anticipated.'

She said that despite recent moves to place the magazines on the top shelf this didn't address the concerns of the researchers.

'Editors should do more to moderate the content', she said.

She explained: 'A lot of debate around the regulation of lads' mags has been to do with how they affect children but less has been said about the influence they have on their intended audience of young men and the women with whom those men socialise.'These magazines support the legitimisation of sexist attitudes and behaviours and need to be more responsible about their portrayal of women, both in words and images.

'They give the appearance that sexism is acceptable and normal - when really it should be rejected and challenged.

'Rapists try to justify their actions, suggesting that women lead men on, or want sex even when they say no.'

Anna van Heeswijk, Campaigns Manager for OBJECT, a human rights campaign group which campaigns against the objectification of women, said: 'This crucial and chilling piece of research lays bare the hateful messages which seep out of lads' mags and indoctrinate young men's attitudes towards women and girls.

'When the content of magazines aimed at teenage boys mirrors the attitudes of convicted rapists, alarm bells must ring.

'If we are serious about wanting an end to discrimination and violence against women and girls, we must tackle the associated attitudes and behaviours.'

http://www.dailymail...o=feeds-newsxml

(Couple of borderline NSFW pics in that link, though no full nudity)

[Danno 1,228]

Psychologists

is there any more dubious profession out there?

Seriously, these "reports" are akin to reading National Enquire magazine at the check out.

Edited December 13, 2011 by Danno

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I married an FSU woman, I never look at those magazines, so what would I know?

[dalegg 143]

I married an FSU woman, I never look at those magazines, so what would I know?

They don't allow adult magazines at Florida State University?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Psychologists

is there any more dubious profession out there?

Seriously, these "reports" are akin to reading National Enquire magazine at the check out.

[^_^ 5,021]

quotes from mens magazines?

i just look at em i dont read em. maybe that's why im not a rapist!

[slim 1,525]

Psychologists

is there any more dubious profession out there?

Ever heard of attorneys?

Back to the OP - Objectifying women is nothing new. Of course rapists look at "the hunk of meat" the same way men do in magazines. She's a "hunk of meat" nothing more, nothing less. It's amazing to me some mags do interviews with the centerfolds. Like we really give two sh!ts what they have to say.

Show me your stuff.

Make me a sandwich.

Now shut the f'k up.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

+1 to Sandwiches!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

quotes from mens magazines?

i just look at em i dont read em. maybe that's why im not a rapist!

This.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

quotes from mens magazines?

i just look at em i dont read em. maybe that's why im not a rapist!

Just look at them? No tissue box nearby?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Just look at them? No tissue box nearby?

Sometimes there's nothin' like a good old fashioned ####### with a magazine. It's more traditional than internet porn.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sometimes there's nothin' like a good old fashioned ####### with a magazine. It's more traditional than internet porn.

It's definitely old school.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

It's definitely old school.

Kids today don't know what they are missing.

[^_^ 5,021]

Just look at them? No tissue box nearby?

yeah just look at them. j/o to still images is ok if you're 15.

[The_Dude 1,142]

yeah just look at them. j/o to still images is ok if you're 15.

Or you live in some backwards 3rd world country that blocks certain domains.