We assessed ratings of nine themes in commercial pornography to test feminist theory about what is degrading to women in pornography. Ninety-four female and 89 male college student volunteers rated nine brief excerpts of sexually explicit material. Seven of the nine themes depicted two types of inequalities--actiue subordination and status inequality; one theme depicted female indiscriminate availability; and one theme depicted equal sex. Participants viewed the themes either with or without accompanying definitions. Consistent with feminist theory, both men and women who viewed the excerpts rated active subordination more degrading than status inequalities and both types of inequalities more degrading than sexually explicit material with equality, with one qualification. Women rated all inequalities and availability more degrading than equal sex, whereas men rated active subordination themes and status inequalities more degrading than nonreciprocated sex, female availability, and equal sex. In general, video clips without the definitions were rated as degrading as those presented with definitions, with some variations in ratings of status inequality themes. Suggestions for future research to assess degrading aspects of pornography are provided.
Social influence strategies among Japanese and American college women. Kerri F. Dunn, Gloria Cowan.
Psychology of Women Quarterly March 1993 v17 n1 p39(14)
Social influence strategies of 40 Japanese and 41 American college women were compared. With the use of a free-response format, respondents were asked to describe how they get their way with their mother, father, male teacher/boss, female teacher/boss, male friends, and female friends. Contrary to expectations, content analysis indicated that Japanese women reported using strong and neutral strategies more frequently and weak strategies less frequently than American women. American women used manipulation (especially sexual manipulation) more frequently and reasoning less frequently than Japanese women. Analyses by target of influence indicated that these differences were not found when the target was a female friend but were demonstrated across most of the other targets.
Psychology of Women Quarterly March 1993 v17 n1 p39(14)
Social influence strategies of 40 Japanese and 41 American college women were compared. With the use of a free-response format, respondents were asked to describe how they get their way with their mother, father, male teacher/boss, female teacher/boss, male friends, and female friends. Contrary to expectations, content analysis indicated that Japanese women reported using strong and neutral strategies more frequently and weak strategies less frequently than American women. American women used manipulation (especially sexual manipulation) more frequently and reasoning less frequently than Japanese women. Analyses by target of influence indicated that these differences were not found when the target was a female friend but were demonstrated across most of the other targets.
Now this actually sounds like an interesting piece of research where the writers were honest enough to report what they found even though it didn't conform to their prejudices. Maybe it was the influence of Dunn's co-author.