Violence Against Women On TV Concerns Parents Television Council

NEW YORK — A group that monitors violence in prime-time television says it's concerned about women being more frequent targets.

The Parents Television Council released its report Wednesday. It says it counted more than 400 violent acts against women in prime time on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox shows in February and May this year. There were just under 200 during those months in 2004.

The council notes that acts against women are a small percentage of violence in prime time.

The report shows there were more than 3,900 total violent acts in prime-time during those two months this year, a 2 percent increase from five years ago.

Council president Tim Winter says he worries that violence on TV encourages violence in real life.

(This version CORRECTS SUBS 4th graf to correct more than 3,900 violent acts encompasses everyone.)

Comments

[Caru]

So the majority of violence is committed against men, but women are at risk. That makes perfect sense.

[itolduso]

Many of the violent acts against women that are depicted on primetime television shows are based on actual crimes that are occuring all across this country. If you want to protest- start with the real thing, not the reinactment. Simply 'turning off' the television or stopping these shows is not the answer. (for one thing, few young people even watch these programs- most prefer cable or movie channels where the violence is much more graphic & prevailent) While agreeing whole-heartedly that this nation's young people are being sold violence on a daily basis, I'm much more concerned about the fairly new 'trend' of rewarding them for their participation in violent acts....'b­onus points' for bashing homeless people in video games, for shooting realistic looking people on their games screens, 'winning' by racking up high-kill scores. Games, movies, and song lyrics that objectify women, glorify torture, and promote a notion that certain people 'deserve' to be victims, and that the biggest, baddest, most powerful person is the using, abusing, psychotic slasher - 'good guys' no longer win - only the bad guy gets a sequel. Heros are the ones that stand up, speak out, and fight against violence and abuse in real life - when we find them again in the real world, maybe they'll start turning up again in the movies.

[laaambchop]

What's with the catFight pic?

[maxfax]

I'm sorry, but where was the council for the last 30 years?

[singermuse]

It is interesting that the picture in this article showed two women in a violent situation, when the truth is that the vast majority of violence against women is perpetrated by men. It is not enough that we just "turn off the TV" though that is a good idea. We have to change the whole paradigm. We currently live in a society where violence against women is not only tolerated, it is "winked" at. It is then no wonder that TV and Movies and Music reflect this attitude. No wonder that women soldiers in the line of fire have more to fear from their rapacious "comrades in arms" than the enemy. This misogyny is everywhere and so pervasive as to seem invisible for its ubiquity. We stop this by teaching our young boys that violence against their sisters/mo­thers/daug­hters/love­rs is unacceptable. We follow through on the laws already on the books and make SURE they are enforced. We increase the penalties and jail time (with no parole for good?! behavior) for rapists and abusers. We do this with a lot of hard work, and we make sure our daughters know how to defend themselves if they must.

[singermuse]

with lethal force if necessary. I am not a violent person; I abhor violence and war and the degradation of anyone, but in the case of a possible rape/murder, I'd prefer there be one less rapist/abu­ser/murder­er on the street or in the "system" to clog up our justice and take taxpayers' money.

[pixiemate]

Ok, for all of you rocket scientists who suggest turning off the tv; what if my daughter goes to school with some bratty little boy whose parents watch with him, or let him watch a crime show where a woman is raped and strangled. What if he starts talking about what he saw at school or, God forbid, tries to imitate it? The fact that I am a responsible parent won't count for anything as long as there are other irresponsible parents out there who don't care and will let their kids watch anything. Furthermore, the study is a commentary on how sick our society is when watching murders and rapes of women is considered entertainment.

[JoeBlough]

I'm concerned over their lack of concern for my viewing pleasure.

[jalowe1957]

Just when did violence against women become such a pressing concern for them at this point, given that they were deafingly silent on the issue for ages?

[RightWingMarine]

I believe their complaint is the increase in graphic depictions of violent acts against women.

[singermuse]

It has always been a pressing concern for women, but it is only relatively recently we've had the voice to speak out against it.

[RightWingMarine]

I believe TV and video games can influence how children behave to a degree (children imitating wrestling) but that societal and parental conditioning contrains that behaviour (most children that watch violent acts on TV do not commit them, they know the difference between TV violence and real violence.)
You have to wonder about someone that watches another person being harmed for enjoyment. I believe this can lead to a depraved indifference to violence that may occur around us such as the teenager in CA that was gangraped while a crowd watched and took photos to remember the event. For the crowd it was simply entertainment.

[h23154]

Organizations like this need to justify their existence and raise money. They are a dime a dozen and also fulfill a need some have to look for people to blame.

[Cryostatic]

Hundreds of millions of people watch violent television, play violent video games, and never go out and blow up a building, shoot up a school, or rape/pillage/murder their fellow humans. Attempting to blame acts of violence on media fantasy is just sad.

[medicinecat]

Media-generated fantasy has always worked well when it comes to influencing buyer behavior. It's called advertising and people with things to sell pay really big money to reach an audience and change their views and motivate them.

However, when it comes to depictions of violence and sexual assault, Americans immediately snap into denial mode, arguing defensively that such content is merely "entertainment".

[cbvani]

What about the violence against men called football? Did they count sports? I doubt it!

[blackjack19]

If I'm able to watch a violent program or play a violent video game without in turn going out and committing acts of violence, then it must not be that hard to do. In fact most people are able to do it. You can't sanitize the world.

[BigCheese]

Solution: Turn off your TV.

Your welcome.

[jennylynn]

What does the NOW do for women? Worthless organization.

[Xochitl666]

jennylynn-

What, exactly, does The National Organization for Women (NOW) have to do with this?

There are so many misconceptions about NOW, they border on Urban Legends.