Television Violence, Real-Life Consequences

Culture and Media Institute ^ | October 28, 2009 | Colleen Raezler

[Bean74]

Violence against women has increased on TV programs, according to a new study by the Parents Television Council.

“Women in Peril: A Look at TV’s Disturbing New Storyline Trend” found that incidents of violence against women and teenage girls increased 120 percent on television in the in the past five years, while overall violence on primetime broadcast entertainment programs increased only 2 percent in the same time period. Violent incidents against teen girls on television programs increased 400 percent since 2004. Television programs depicted violence or the “graphic consequences of violence” toward women 92 percent of the time, compared to the 5 percent that it was implied and the 3 percent it was described.

The PTC singled-out Fox for its increased use of violence against women as comedy.

Analysts at the PTC found that beatings were the most frequent type of violence against women depicted on television programs, followed by, in order, threats of violence, shooting, rape, stabbing and torture.

Just one week ago, AP reported that actress Nicole Kidman “conceded that Hollywood has probably contributed to violence against women by portraying them as weak sex objects.”

PTC President Tim Winter noted that with these depictions of violence against women, “the broadcast networks may ultimately be contributing to a desensitized atmosphere in which people view aggression and violence directed at women as normative, even acceptable.”

[C19fan]

The PTC singled-out Fox for its increased use of violence against women as comedy.

So everytime say Lena Hendry, Summer Glau or Mary Lynn Rajskub kicked some arse did the PTC count that as "violence against women".

[gwilhelm56]

Funny, how every tv season, some group ALWAYS has their Panties in a wad ... over some PC BS... If you don’t like it... TURN IT OFF .. if you REally don’t like it.. TELL THE SPONSORS

If you really, really don’t like it... BOYCOTT THE SPONSORS.

Women this season, another season it was Blacks, another it was Gays. The only group that hasn’t complained is WHITE MALES, because if we complain IT’S A HATE CRIME!!!

[A_perfect_lady]

I got rid of my TV three years ago and don’t miss it. A friend of mine watches stuff like Dexter, Californication, and Nurse Jackie... I saw about 5 minutes of a each of them and said, “I can’t watch any of this. Can we just turn it off and go out and get a drink or something??” I mean, it’s disgusting stuff. Truly, crap you just don’t need in your head.

[heartwood]

We don’t really miss it either. There are a very few shows, but you can wait a year and get it on DVD - my husband and I liked the John Adams mini-series and now we’re watching the first season of Mad Men, but that is it for 12 years. Well, he’ll go out to watch the occasional football game or see the World Series.

[A_perfect_lady]

I haven’t really liked anything since Barney Miller. LOL!

[Oztrich Boy]

Really, Peanuts Teletubbie Cancel are so last century on this. Fussbudget Susan Faludi made that same claim in her book Backlash about TV/Cinema in the 80s "revictimizing women".