SEX & THE MEDIA
Some of the major sources of information about sex come from media. Everything from the mildest innuendo on a network sitcom to the most explicit pornographic Internet video can contribute to our perceived reality of what sex is all about and what people expect from it.
According to the "Sex Code Book" there are several factors we have to discuss before we can start any research.
What is sexual content?
Sexual content is defined as any behavior that suggests a precursor to or engagement in sexual intercourse or other sexual activity. Furthermore, there are eight categories that must be discussed in order to record our data.
1. Number of Characters Involved
Code for the total number of people involved in any type of sexual activity, including all characters that appear partially or fully naked in the segment (breasts, butt, or genitals for women / butt or genitals for men).
2. Relationship Among Character
If there is only one character involved in the sexual content (i.e., exposed breasts independent of sexual activity) or if there are multiple naked people engaged in no sexual contact, code “No Relationship.” For example, masturbation scenes or scenes in strip clubs.
If there is some type of interaction between characters, code their relationship accordingly: married or engaged characters are coded as “intimate.” Friends, strangers, acquaintances, unknown, etc., are coded as “non-intimate.” A married man having relations with a mistress would be coded as “non-intimate” because their relationship does not include engagement. Keep in mind that relationships between characters may change throughout the movie.
3. Explicitness of Sexual Conduct
Explicitness of sexual content is rated on a scale of 0-4 (adapted from Leone, 2002), where sexual content is defined as any behavior that suggests a precursor to or engagement in sexual intercourse or other sexual activity.
- 0. No Sexual Content – Coded only if no sex occurs in the segment.
- 1. Somewhat – Includes three types of portrayal: (a) Kissing (on the lips) but no other sexual contact, or seductive dancing with clothing, or removal of clothing without visible nudity; (b) Or a female character’s exposed breasts without other sexual activity; (c) Or scenes in which there is an indication, through visual cues, that intercourse occurred, but no sexual contact shown.
- 2. More – In addition to or instead of kissing (level 1), involves groping, fondling, rubbing, or grinding (behavior considered foreplay) while clothed or partially clothed (female breasts may be visible but no genital areas are visible). No penetration vaginally, orally, anally or any masturbation.
- 3. Very – Includes three types of portrayal: (a) In addition to level 2, characters are visibly naked, which can include some clothing, such as garter belts; (b) Or sexual intercourse, sexual penetration, or masturbation while clothed; (c) Or display of female or male genital areas but without any sexual activity.
- 4. Most – Includes two types of portrayal: (a) Sexual intercourse or any other sexual penetration or masturbation while naked; (b) Or any sexual activity with genitals of character(s) shown.
4. Intercourse Shown or Implied
Characters shown having sex, or displaying behavior and movement indicating that they are having sex would be “shown.” Nudity is not necessary for sex to be considered “shown.” “Implied” sex would be a scene where two characters go into a bedroom together and wake up next to each other naked or partially clothed the next morning.
5. Protection Used
Before sexual intercourse, character is shown using or preparing to use a condom, or dialogue implies that this is the case if it is not directly depicted.
6. Rape or Forced Sex
“Forced vaginal or anal penetration or forced oral sex” – force defined as: “physical and verbal threats… or the inability on the part of the victim to give consent because of alcohol or drug intoxication, unconsciousness, sleep, or youth” – from Bufkin and Eschholz (2000).
7. Mention of Pregnancy Risk / STD / Safer Sex
Pregnancy or STD risk is mentioned before, during, or immediately after the act of intercourse takes place. Mentions of safe sex or safer sex occur during or immediately before or after sexual content is depicted.
8. Sexual Content Location
Code for sexual content in a dwelling or non-dwelling location.
For this assignment I chose the movie "Sorority Row." It horror/thriller film about a group of sorority sisters that try to cover up the death of their house-mate after a prank gone wrong, only to be stalked by a serial killer. According to the MPAA, the movie is rated "R" for strong bloody violence, language, some sexuality/nudity and partying.
Opening scene:
The following is a content analysis of the sexual explicitness of the opening scene of "Sorority Row." The running time of this scene is 3 minutes and 35 seconds of a 101 minute film.
As we can see from the graph, there were eight instances of a level one explicitness and six instances of level 2 explicitness. We can deduce that the film is trying to draw the viewer in by the portrayal of sex in the opening scene.
Violence:- Frequent and prolonged portrayals of graphic violence.
- Brief, visually explicit portrayals of violence, including gruesome deaths.
- Frequent disturbing scenes and gory images.
- Frequent weapons violence, including shootings, stabbings and fighting are depicted (blood and detail
- Brief, visually explicit portrayals of violence, including gruesome deaths.
- Frequent disturbing scenes and gory images.
- Frequent weapons violence, including shootings, stabbings and fighting are depicted (blood and detail
shown).
- Mutilated corpses are depicted.
Sexual Content:- Breast and buttock nudity is seen in a non-sexual context.
- Partial or full nudity is seen in a brief sexual situation.
- Sexual activity is implied.
- Frequent use of crude sexual references, sexual slurs and innuendo.
- Embracing and kissing.
Language:- Frequent use of the sexual expletive, sometimes in a sexual context.
- Use of expletives, coarse language and slurs.
Drugs and Alcohol:- Substance abuse.
- Mutilated corpses are depicted.
Sexual Content:- Breast and buttock nudity is seen in a non-sexual context.
- Partial or full nudity is seen in a brief sexual situation.
- Sexual activity is implied.
- Frequent use of crude sexual references, sexual slurs and innuendo.
- Embracing and kissing.
Language:- Frequent use of the sexual expletive, sometimes in a sexual context.
- Use of expletives, coarse language and slurs.
Drugs and Alcohol:- Substance abuse.
Sorority Sisters | Implied/Shown Sex | Discussed Prior Sex | Neither |
Cassidy | X | ||
Chugs | X | ||
Megan | X | ||
Jessica | X | ||
Ellie | X | ||
Claire | X |
According to the above chart, Cassidy and Claire were the only two characters that were portrayed as having had sex during the movie. Chugs, Megan and Jessica, although, were only portrayed as having had sex prior to the movie. Ellie is the only character that admitted to never having/had sex during or prior to the movie. Therefore, more than 83 percent of the main cast was portrayed as being sexually active with no mention to the risks or responsibilities associated with sex.
I am shocked at this statistic because I believe it could have a behavioral effect on adolescents and young adults. Richard Jackson Harris, author of "A Cognitive Psychology of Mass Communication," states, "erotic material may also disinhibit previously learned behaviors, as when the viewing of a movie's treatment of premarital sex disinhibits a viewer's inhibition against engaging in such behavior." Furthermore, Harris contends, "teenagers who watch a heavy diet of television with sexual content were twice as likely to engage in sexual intercourse over the following year as teens who were light viewers of sexual content, even after controlling for other possible factors." This is frightening because the teen pregnancy rate is higher in the United States than in any other industrialized country.
Language | Sexual Innuendo | Sexual Talk | Derogatory Term |
80 | 29 | 31 | 20 |
In the movie there were a total of 80 sexual references. Of those 80, 20 were derogatory terms directed at females. To be specific the terms used were "bitch," "slut" and "whore." Therefore, of the 80 sexual references 25 percent were demeaning to women.
This is one statistic that shows the attitudes toward women are changing in media.
This is one statistic that shows the attitudes toward women are changing in media.
"One of the major criticisms of traditional pornography is that it is antiwomen in an ideological sense. It is usually women, not men, who are the playthings or victims of the opposite sex," states Harris. Furthermore, "several studies have shown effects on attitudes and values about sex as a result of exposure to nonviolent sexually explicit materials. After seeing slides and movies of beautiful female nudes engaged in sexual activity, men rated their own partners as being less physically endowed, although they reported undiminished sexual satisfaction."
One of the major concerns I found in this movie was it's attitude toward date-rape. In the opening scene we are introduced to "Megan" who is making-out with another male character, Garrett. One of Megan's friends comments that she looks like a "zombie" because she is barely responsive to the sexual activity. Chugs, states she gave Garrett a few "pills" to slip into Megan's drink while she wasn't looking. The group of friends stare stunned at Chugs. She defends herself with,
"Hey guys, 'ruffie-sex' isn't so bad. I mean, you get laid and you get a good night's sleep."
That quote terrified me because I could not believe how a female character could rationalize date-rape, and then same something positive about it! Furthermore, how a topic as serious as rape is portrayed, in a comedic sense, five percent of the way through the movie.
WHAT IS A RUFFIE?
Street name for Rohypnol, a sleeping pill reportedly quickly becoming the date rape drug of choice because when taken in combination with alcohol it causes disinhibition and blackouts lasting eight to 24 hours. It is marketed in Mexico, South America, Europe and Asia by Roche Pharmaceuticals. It is also known on the street as: Forget Pill, La Roche, Lunch Money, Mexican Valium, Pappas, R-2, Rib, Roaches, Roche, Roffies, Rope, Rophies, Ruffies, RZ; in Australia it is sold as Stupefi; journalists have called it The Quaalude of the '90s.
That quote terrified me because I could not believe how a female character could rationalize date-rape, and then same something positive about it! Furthermore, how a topic as serious as rape is portrayed, in a comedic sense, five percent of the way through the movie.
According to our class text, "Men who see films with scenes of sexual violence later showed a more callous attitude toward rape and women in general, especially if the women victims are portrayed as being aroused by the assault." This media portrayal of women as being turned on by rape is not only a highly unrealistic and distasteful deviation from reality, but also a potentially dangerous one.
