Sexual Violence in the Media

Sexual Violence in the Media

Introduction

The past several decades have seen a significant increase in the number of movies and other TV programs with some sort of violence. This is true for both children and adult TV programs with violence being depicted even in cartoons. Violence may be in the form of assault, murder, kidnapping, robbery or sexual violence (Intons-Peterson et al., 1989). Among all these forms of violence, sexual violence, by far, has raised the most concerns. According to the World Health Organization, sexual violence is defined as any attempt to obtain a sexual act through coercion directed against a victim with or without the existence of any relationship and in any setting. Sexual violence also encompasses unwanted sexual comments (WHO, 2007).  Coercion not only focuses on physical force but also on psychological torture and emotional blackmail. In the setting of mass media, sexual violence is a continuum covering physical violence, emotional violence, psychological violence and verbal violence (Bivens & Dawson, 2013). Children, teenagers and the youth bear the brunt of the negative effects of sexual violence in the media. This paper will discuss the forms of sexual violence in the media, its effects on children, teenagers and youth and efforts towards the mitigation of its effects.

Forms of Sexual Violence in the Media

Films, music videos, video games and print media are the most common types of mass media that depict sexual violence. In these types of media, sexual violence is perpetuated in several ways, including cyberbullying, sexting, and virtual sexual assault.

Cyber Bullying

Cyberbullying is a product of technological advancement, especially mobile phones and the internet.  There is no conventional definition for the term cyberbullying, but it refers to bullying through electronic avenues such as email, messages, websites and chat rooms (Kowalsaki, Limber & Agatston, 2012). While parents perceive the internet and mobile phones as crucial tools for enhancing learning, children and youth use them mostly for their social life. Children and teenagers communicate with their friends and peers through cellular phones and over the internet. This makes them easy targets of cyberbullying because they are likely to meet strangers in their social interactions. Cyberbullying can be viewed as a tool for perpetuating sexual violence through defamation, impersonation and cyber stalking (Kowalsaki, Limber & Agatston, 2012).

Defamation entails making comments that belittle an individual. Cyber bullying may be in the form of denigrating information about one’s sexuality. Such information include demeaning remarks about one’s sexuality and photo shopped images portraying someone in a sexualized manner (Kowalsaki, Limber & Agatston, 2012). Impersonation involves posing as someone else by gaining access to their social media platforms and communicating sexualized messages. Girls are more likely to be affected by both defamation and denigration compared to boys (Kowalsaki, Limber & Agatston, 2012). Teenagers belonging to the LGBT group are also vulnerable because of their sexuality. Cyber stalking involves monitoring the digital communication of an individual directly or indirectly through spyware. Cyber stalking not only disrupts communication but is also used by the perpetrator to harass and insult the victim. Cyberstalking is a common form of sexual violence in intimate relationships where one partner employs the use of digital technologies to control the victim through threats and harassment (Bivens & Dawson, 2013).

Sexting

The youth have resorted to sexting in the wake of the digital era. Sexting refers to sexual communication through digital media (Drouin, Ross & Tobin, 2015). Sexual communication may be in the form of images, videos, and messages. Sexting may be unwanted or wanted. It may also be consensual or non-consensual. Unwanted but consensual sexting is more common among young women most of who respond to the coercive behavior of their partners (Drouin, Ross & Tobin, 2015). Coercive behavior may be in the form of repeated asking, making the victim feel obligated to sexting and even threatening to use physical force on the victim if she does not engage in sexting. Sexting may be used as a tool for sexual violence by sharing the digital footprints such as images and videos to third parties. These images and videos may be used to sexually demean the victims and even blackmail them thus causing considerable emotional and psychological damage (Drouin, Ross & Tobin, 2015).

Virtual Sexual Assault

Artificial intelligence has reduced the world to virtual characters thus increasing virtual interactions. Many of these virtual interactions are helpful but some have been used to promote violence, particularly sexual violence. Virtual sexual assault refers to unwanted, non-consensual sexual acts performed through coercion in a virtual environment by virtual characters, to one another (Danaher, 2018). Virtual sexual assault may involve a human perpetrator virtually sexually assaulting a completely virtual character or a virtual character that is controlled by another human being (Danaher, 2018). Virtual sexual assault is common in video games such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and God of War where the character of one player sexually assaults another character.

Effects of Sexual Violence in the Media

Sexual violence in the media has a number of effects on children, teenagers, and the youth. These effects include: sexual arousal, behavioral changes and changes in attitudes.

Sexual Arousal

Some people, find sexual violence depicted in media very arousing. This is more common among sexual offenders and other violence-prone men (Malamuth &Check, 1983). However, normal people may also experience sexual arousal upon viewing acts of sexual violence such as rape. Sexual arousal has negative impacts because it pushes people into practicing sexual acts. Most of these people take it out on their husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children or even friends who most of the time do not consent to such acts (Malamuth &Check, 1983). The result is further perpetuation of sexual violence. Sexual arousal also encourages people to indulge in pornographic materials. Pornography refers to the representation of sexual behavior in print media and digital media with the intention to cause sexual excitement. Pornographic materials encourage the manipulation of sexual organs through several ways such as masturbation. In addition to this, they increase an individual’s sex drive thus promoting sexual aggression (Malmuth, 2014). Children exposed to acts of sexual violence in the media end up being perverts who view their peers as objects of sexual pleasure. When they become adults, they are more likely to practice infidelity and engage in sexual violence. Sexual arousal that comes from exposure to sexual violence should not be taken lightly as it can lead to very dire consequences if not dealt with in time.

Behavioral Changes

Sexual violence depicted in the media may affect the behavior of children, teenagers and the youth negatively. It inculcates in them new behaviors which are undesirable, disinhibits previously inhibited undesirable behaviors and increases crime rates during adulthood (Malamuth &Check, 1983). Children exposed to sexual violence depicted in the media pick up undesirable behaviors. They start engaging in subtle sexual acts such as deep kissing, fondling and petting at an early age compared to their peers. They also engage in masturbation and may go to the extent of forcing themselves on animals. Such individuals tend to compare themselves to the characters involved in sexual violence and may even attempt to do it with one of their peers non-consensually (Malamuth &Check, 1983). Their previously inhibited desires may become disinhibited. When an individual sees a sexually violent scene, for instance, a rape scene where the victim seems to be enjoying sex rather than agonizing over it, the individual’s self-constraint from engaging in such an act is lifted. The individual begins viewing rape not as an immoral act but an act to take pleasure in doing. Such individuals are more likely to engage in sexual violence (Malamuth &Check, 1983). When they reach adulthood, they are more likely to be sex offenders engaging in rape and other sexually-related crimes. Youth exposed to sexual violence often abuse their partners sexually by forcing them to engage in non-consensual sexual acts. They may use physical force or even practice infidelity on partners who refuse to meet their sexual desires (Malamuth &Check, 1983). It is important to note that sexual violence acts as depicted by the media profoundly impact on how children and teenagers will turn out to be in their adulthood.

Changes in Attitudes

Sexual violence in media convey sexual attitudes and values that differ from societal expectations and teachings (Linz, Wilson & Donnerstein, 1992). Exposure to sexual violence in the media cultivates a worldview replete with moral decadence especially among teenagers and the youth. Watching movies and indulging in other forms of media that promote acts of sexual violence may make the viewer accept such acts as conventional practices (Bivens & Dawson, 2013). This weakens teaches and values instilled by the society and may result in sexual immorality. Increased numbers of digital media depicting social violence against women may make the viewers insensitive to violence towards women. This change in worldview is likely to have a more lasting effect if the viewer has a high regard and admiration for the characters holding these sexually violent values (Linz, Wilson & Donnerstein, 1992). Put, sexual violence by a prostitute or thief is less likely to impact on the values and attitudes of the viewer compared to similar behavior exhibited by a doctor or professor.

Mitigating the Effects of Sexual Violence in the Media

Sexual violence in the media can be mitigated by implementing certain measures. These measures include: legal restrictions, film rating and educational interventions.

Legal Restrictions

A legal approach can be used to address the issue of sexual violence in the media. Enacting laws that prohibit the sale and distribution of materials depicting sexual violence plays a very crucial role in mitigating its effects. Huge fines should be imposed on anyone found perpetuating sexual violence in the media e.g. cyber bullies, vendors of pornographic literature and TV stations that broadcast unrated programs depicting social violence. Arresting and prosecuting the individuals who sell and distribute digital media depicting sexual violence is also a considerable step towards mitigating the effects of sexual violence (Linz, Wilson & Donnerstein, 1992). The challenge facing this measure is the fact that there exists no clear legal definition of the scope of digital media depicting sexual violence.  The office of the Attorney general of the United States established a legal committee on pornography in 1986. This committee published a report concluding that exposure to pornography promotes antisocial behavior. In this context, antisocial behavior entails changes in the perceptions of the perpetrator where he views himself as less responsible for acts of sexual violence and instead blames it on the victim and also thinks that women enjoy sexual violence (Linz, Wilson & Donnerstein, 1992). The committee used films and audiotapes depicting sexual violence as evidence of their findings. This evidence can be considered vague because only a part of it can be classified legally as pornographic material. Furthermore it was based on subjective opinions of the committee members rather than social science data (Linz, Wilson & Donnerstein, 1992). Sexual violence in the media impacts individuals negatively not because of the explicitness of the contents but because of the sexually violent messages being communicated. As such, it is increasingly difficult to prosecute all materials that convey sexually violent messages. Since the time of the Attorney General Committee of 1986, legal restrictions have not been very effective as a measure of mitigating the effects of sexual violence in the media.

Film Rating System

The film rating system was founded by Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).It is used in the United States of America to rate the suitability of a film for different audience groups based on the content (Linz, Wilson & Donnerstein, 1992).  However, countries that are not members of the MPAA may also submit their films for rating. Unlike legal, restrictions, the MPAA rating system is not subject to enforcement by the law. This means that rating is not a prerequisite for exhibition of films even though some theaters are reluctant to exhibit films that have not been rated. Other forms of mass media, including TV programs, video games and music are rated by other systems such as the parental guidelines system, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) (Linz, Wilson & Donnerstein, 1992). Film rating by MPAA is based on several components which include violence, language, drug abuse, and sexual content. G-rated films are allowed to have violence to the very minimum. PG-rated films, on the other hand, can have violence as long as it is not intense. Intense violence is comfortable permitted for PG-13 films even though extreme depictions of violence can only be shown in a film that is R-rated. Nudity can only be depicted in PG-rated films with brief nudity requiring PG-13 rating at the very least. Extreme nudity can only be depicted by an R-rated film (Linz, Wilson & Donnerstein, 1992). The film rating system has been successful in many counties especially the United States in mitigating the effects of sexual violence in the media. This rating system not only warns viewers of the contents of a film before they watch it but also reduces the commercial viability of films with extreme depictions of sexual violence (Linz, Wilson & Donnerstein, 1992). A film that has been given an NC-17 rating is less likely to be screened in theatres, marketed and sold because of its sexually explicit contents.

Educational Interventions

Educational interventions have come out as the most effective measures to mitigating the effects of exposure to sexual violence in the media. Educational interventions may be in the form of teaching viewers critical viewing skills, debriefing viewers after exposure to sexual violence in the media and presenting educational materials to viewers before they are exposed to sexual violence (Intons-Peterson et al., 1989). Viewers can be taught critical viewing skills to enable them differentiate between reality and fantasy and stabilize their emotions in such a way that they are less affected by sexual violence. Critical viewing skills are effective in reducing sexual aggressiveness of the viewers (Intons-Peterson et al., 1989). Debriefing viewers who have been exposed to sexual violence in the media through messages from producers, theatres, book authors and television stations may help mitigate the effects of sexual violence. The viewers may be given brief information warning them of the moral implications of the acts of sexual violent in the various media (Intons-Peterson et al., 1989). This is a crucial step because it safeguards and preserves the values and attitudes of the viewers regarding sexual violence. However, it may be very challenging for viewers to completely erase the images they have seen and words they have heard from the media. Presenting viewers with educational material on sexual violence before they indulge in media depicting sexual violence strengthens their judgment and improves their moral compass. They can tell that such acts of sexual violence are retrogressive and should neither be practiced nor promoted (Intons-Peterson et al., 1989). Educational interventions have been employed in the United States of America to mitigate the effects of sexual violence especially in teenagers and the youth. The results are quite commendable with a significant share of teenagers reporting increased awareness of sexual violence.

Conclusion

Mass media continues to perpetuate sexual violence through its contents. The films exhibited in movie theaters, TV programs, music videos, books, and video games are all channels through which sexual violence is depicted. Among the many ways through which sexual violence is depicted in these channels are cyber bullying, sexting and virtual sexual assault. The effects of sexual violence in the media are felt more by teenagers and the youth who experience changes in attitudes and behaviors towards sexually aggressive mannerisms. As a result, many nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have come up with measures to mitigate these effects. Such measures include imposing legal restrictions, coming up with a film rating system and educational interventions. Legal restrictions have continually failed because of lack of a clear legal scope of sexually violent material. The film rating system has succeeded in America but Educational interventions seem to have overtaken this system in achieving better results.

References

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