General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: LUV capitalism!!! Study shows hyper-sexualization of women by the media has increased 10 fold... [View all]maggiesfarmer
(297 posts)first, I don't want to sound like I'm suggesting violence toward women isn't a problem. it is, it's a huge problem and as a father and husband of females I find it abhorrent.
with all due respect, I have to point out a few issues that you didn't clear up. The assertion you made that I questioned your source of, was regarding a correlation between the trend over the last 'several decades' of increasing 'hyper-sexualization' of women and a 'startling increase in misoynistic crimes towards women.' you responded with a number of links and excerpts that fall short of explaining your assertion. here's my concerns:
1. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/15/violence-against-women-increases/
This article and misleading headline remind me of tactics commonly employed by Fox. the headline states "Study finds violence against women increases" but the article doesn't discuss trends at all, only absolute data. the article further casts doubt on the study's ability to gauge trends by stating "The surveyors elicited information on types of aggression not previously studied in national surveys, including sexual violence other than rape, psychological aggression, coercion and control of reproductive and sexual health." Given the discrepancy between the headline and the content, I checked the study itself and it explicity mentions that to compile trend data, the study would have to be repeated and call out that "Research is necessary to identify new trends in violence as well as strategies for prevention and intervention."
2. http://www.hrw.org/news/2008/12/18/us-soaring-rates-rape-and-violence-against-women
This article spefically calls out data collected over a TWO YEAR PERIOD, 2005 to 2007. this is not supportive of claims to a 50 year trend. Note my source shows the same 50 year trend as claimed by Sarah's original article shows these two data points in the context of 1949-2009 data -- not to be argumentative but what is the logic that led you to conclude the two year study you reference is more indicative of a 50 year trend the data from the DOJ?
3. http://www.mediafreedominternational.org/2011/08/27/sexual-violence-against-women-soldiers-on-the-rise-and-under-wraps/
This article describes a horrible situation that happened to a particular woman and goes on to describe that as the number of women in the military has grown since 1970, so has the number of assaults on those women. This is a horrible situation that has gained increasing national exposure in recent months. I hope the military does something about it. However, nothing in the article supports your claim of a 50 trend of 'startling increase in misoynistic crimes towards women'. the article actually suggests the correlating factor is an increase of female population in the military.
To be clear, I'm not questioning that violence toward women persists as an issue, I'm questioning whether or not there is data over a 50 year period that shows a correlation between violence toward women and increased 'hyper-sexualization' in the media.