MACHISMO IN MEDIA RESEARCH - A CRITICAL REVIEW OF RESEARCH AND VIOLENCE AND PORNOGRAPHY

• NCJ Number: 54707
• Journal: Social Problems Volume: 25 Issue: 5 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 544-555
• Author(s): T MCCORMACK
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Study of Social Problems
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CONCEPTS OF MACHISMO AND SEXISM EMBODIED IN RESEARCH ON PORNOGRAPHY AND MEDIA VIOLENCE ARE EXAMINED FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF A CONFLICT MODEL AND REFERENCE GROUP THEORY.

Abstract

THE FOCUS OF THE ARTICLE IS ON INVESTIGATIONS OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE CAUSE AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE, THE COMMISSION ON OBSCENITY AND PORNOGRAPHY, AND THE SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT ON TELEVISION AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. MACHISMO REFERS TO AN ATTITUDE OF MALE PRIDE IN SEXUAL VIRILITY, A FORM OF NARCISSISM THAT CONDONES THE SEXUAL USE AND ABUSE OF WOMEN AND (IN THE EXTREME) VIOLENCE AS A DIMENSION OF SEXUAL GRATIFICATION. SEXISM IMPLIES ATTITUDES AND SOCIAL PRACTICES BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT SEXUAL INEQUALITY IS A NATURAL, BIOLOGICAL, UNIVERSAL PHENOMENON RATHER THAN A SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL ONE. WHILE MACHISMO TENDS TO BE MOTIVATIONAL AND RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS, SEXISM TENDS TO BE INSTITUTIONAL AND A FORM OF STRUCTURAL INEQUITY LINKED TO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST DISADVANTAGED GROUPS. STUDIES OF PORNOGRAPHY AND MEDIA VIOLENCE HAVE BEEN DOMINATED BY CONTROVERSY OVER THE CARTHARSIS HYPOTHESIS. THIS HYPOTHESIS STATES THAT FANTASY, DREAMS, AND JOKES REVEAL THE TRUE WISHES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, IN TURN, BASED ON INSTINCTS SUBLIMATED FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE AND SOCIAL ORDER. ALTHOUGH STUDIES OF MEDIA VIOLENCE HAVE GENERALLY FAILED TO SUPPORT THE CARTHARSIS HYPOTHESIS, PORNOGRAPHY STUDIES ARE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE HUMILIATION OF WOMEN AND INSECURITY ABOUT SEXUAL IDENTITY ARE CONSISTENT WITH CONCLUSIONS EMERGING FROM RESEARCH. THE TWO MAJOR CONCLUSIONS INVOLVE CONDONING PORNOGRAPHY AS AN INNOCENT PLEASURE WITH NO SERIOUS SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES AND CONDEMNING VIOLENCE AS LEADING TO SENSELESS AND BRUTAL ACTS IN DAILY LIFE. REFERENCE GROUP THEORY IS ONE EXPLANATION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF PORNOGRAPHY AND VIOLENCE. IT POSTULATES THAT PERCEPTIONS OF AND RESPONSES TO INEQUALITY IN LIFE ARE STRUCTURED BY POSITIONS IN THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE. STUDIES OF PORNOGRAPHY AND VIOLENCE ARE LISTED IN TABLES, AND REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)