Hate Speech Toward Women on Network Television Increases During Primetime Hours
These are the hours when the largest number of Americans traditionally watch television. The results show that the overwhelming majority of these negative references and remarks are directed toward women. This finding is reflected in the survey's name. It is being called the Primetime Misogyny 2007 Media Survey.
Occurrences of all hateful language were up by approximately 69 percent during this time period, from 590 recorded remarks in the 2000 study to 1,864 in the 2007 version. Of the overall reported 1,874 bias and hate speech incidents recorded during the six week project, 1,111 are directed at females. Thus, women and girls received almost 41 percent of the studied derogatory language, the lions' share.
Men placed second for this dubious honor. In the 2000 report, they were the targets of 84 hateful remarks, while they got the same treatment 193 times in the updated survey. This is an increase of more than 56 percent, but the men still trail the women by a whopping 918 remarks.
Currently, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) does not regulate hate speech used on network television. This independent government agency focuses on laws regarding obscenity and indecency. The decisions regarding programming are up to cable providers.
Mimi Yahn, the study's author, wants her findings to result in action, such as fueling campaigns to change primetime television's verbal contempt for females. She would also like to see FCC regulations changed to pressure advertisers who sponsor programs that routinely use gender epithets and slurs. Why does the author feel this way? Yahn says, "No matter how you look at it, the findings show an extraordinary bias and contempt for women and girls on network television -- in the disparity between how much targets females compared to all other groups, in the frequent use of the most derogatory terms to describe females, and in the sheer volume of language that degrades and dehumanizes women and girls."
The Thomas Merton Center, a peace and social justice organization, sponsored the survey. The funding for the study was provided by the Women and Girls Foundation, a group dedicated to winning equity for females.
Published by neonola
- Sally Kern and the Power of Hate SpeechSally Kern's recent remarks regarding homosexuality, plus some personal experiences on the damages such comments do
Scientology's Hate Site - Religious Freedom WatchHow Scientology hides behind other religion's to attact people.- What to Watch Now that Lost is on Hiatus: The Best Exciting Non-Network Television...If you still need that action thrill of television, here are the best shows on today.
The 5 Ways to Save Network TVThe 4 big networks need to take a look at the HBO and Showtime models for a better understanding of how to be respected by viewers- Fall TV: Disney Channel and Cartoon Network's Television for Tweens and TeensFall television is packed with a spooktacular line up of new shows and old favorites for kids.
- Network Television's Wounds Are Largely Self-Inflicted
- Hate Crimes - Why Does the Issue Divide Us?
- Chef Robert Irvine Fired from Food Network's Dinner: Impossible
- Michael Savage's Free Speech Fight!
- Writers and Hate Speech
- Should We Tolerate Hate Speech?
- Is Hip Hop an Art Form or Hate Speech?
- There's been an overall increase in hate language on tv in the last 7 years.
- A shocking amount of hateful speech is directed at women.
15 Comments
Post a CommentThe people in the media are people who grew up listening to music that promoted misogyny. They don't see it as hate, they see it as entertainment.
Examples please? I think your average sitcom has as many negative stereotypes about women as it does about men. A big reason why most sitcoms suck. Without specifics, I'm inclined to doubt this study.
I wonder if the study's methodology isn't selective enough. For instance, Category 2 language ("dork") don't seem to be gender specific so including them in the study without looking at the context (i.e are other people being called "dorks," is it a kids show about a brainy heroine and she triumphs over those who called her dorks?) seems to skew the results a bit. I think the Category 3 need to also be reconsidered in light of this -- "trailer trash" (and even "moron") for instance is offensive, but not necessarily gendered while calling a woman a "heifer" is clearly doing something different. But this is a critique of the study's methodology, not your article which I found quite interesting.
Congrats on making feture page for arts and entertainment. This is a great article and yes, hate speech against women seems to have increased lately. I wonder if Rosie O'Donnell is the reason why? (kidding)
I have just noticed an increase in hate speech all around. I have seen it targeted at everyone, not just men or women.
I've noticed an increase in hate speech towards women on TV. Unfortunately, I think it is reflective of society though.
I watch more television than I should, and I've seen the increase of hateful, rude speech as well as behavior. Mimi Yahn's figures really brought it into sharp focus. Thanks for doing research on this! T.V. doesn't kill people, but it does influence our attitudes and the standards of what is acceptable speech in society.
Lately, I'm also noticing a lot more 'dumbing down Daddy' themes, where the father figure is portrayed as a hopeless but loveable space cadet, but hey, he pays the mortgage.
Thanks for reading this article =)
As long as women keep watching the shows and buying the products that promote such things, it will continue.
Interesting. Frankly, I don't see it but I don't watch a lot of TV anyway. Besides, entertainment is supposed to be make believe. You're not supposed to take any of it that seriously. People kill people. Movies and TV don't kill people. But that's just my opinion. Well written article though.
I agree. I don't watch a lot of TV as it is and I don't like my children watching prime time programmin but what I have seen while bored and browsing only reminds me of why I don't watch TV in the first place. Good to know that someone is trying to do something about it, though.