Shaping Sexual Behaviors & Sexual Scripts

Open Access: No.

Abstract

The relationships among pornography use, sexist ideology and false or stereotypical ideas about rape are controversial. This study specifically examines the associations of problematic pornography use (PPU) with sexism and rape myth acceptance among both male and female participants within the Italian context utilizing a cross-sectional methodology. Based on data from 815 participants collected through an online questionnaire, the study identifies significant gender-based differences, with men typically exhibiting higher scores on sexism, rape myth acceptance, and token resistance beliefs. Correlation analysis revealed that in men, there was a positive relationship between pornography cravings and sexist beliefs but not between pornography cravings and minimizing rape or accusations of lying (rape myth). Women showed significant positive correlations across all problematic pornography use dimensions with sexist ideology, although the relationship with rape myth acceptance varied. These findings underscore the critical need for acknowledging these relationships to enhance strategies for preventing gender-based violence.

Relevance

This study found that “men report higher levels of problematic pornography use and greater adherence to sexist ideologies and to a rape culture normalizing sexual violence against women.”

Additionally, “the results showed positive correlations between problematic use/craving and rape myth adherence (e.g., “She wanted it,” “He didn’t mean to,” “It wasn’t really rape,” “Women usually say ‘no’ to sex when they really mean ‘yes'”, i.e., token resistance to sex) for men, while in the women’s group, these relationships were found only for the beliefs that “She wanted it” and “Women usually say ‘no’ to sex when they really mean ‘yes” (token resistance to sex) and pornography cravings.”

Last, “the results showed a relationship in both the men’s and women’s groups between all dimensions defining problematic pornography use and cravings and benevolent sexism toward women and male sexism, especially in the women’s group. In contrast, hostile sexism showed a positive correlation with excessive pornography use, principally in the men’s group. In the women’s group, this relationship was pronounced, with levels of craving and functional problems resulting from excessive pornography use.”

Citation

Barchielli, B., Cricenti, C., Lausi, G., Quaglieri, A., Mari, E., Rocca, G., Antinori, A., Giannnini, A. M., & Ferracuti, S. (2024). Exploring the interplay of problematic pornography use, sexism, and rape myth acceptance: An Italian study. Heliyon, Article e32981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32981