BAGGAGE CHECK

Baggage Check: Bikini Bottom

Dr. Andrea Bonior dives into the world of psychology.

Dr. Andrea BoniorNEW RESEARCH SHOWS that heterosexual men tend to view women in bikinis the same way they view certain inanimate things — as objects that bring about the intent to perform actions.

All joking about "tools" aside, it's important to pay attention to this, as part of a larger issue of how unconscious forces flavor perceptions and interactions.

Additional findings showed that men with more hostile forms of sexism were less likely to be concerned with the interpretation of thoughts, feelings, and intentions — in other words, less likely care about someone as a human being — when viewing scantily clad women. And other research shows that after viewing sexualized images of women, men still tend to retain that sexualized frame of mind when encountering women shortly afterward, in different settings like boardrooms.

The breakdown of respect — and perhaps empathy — is nothing to ignore. On the contrary, it's something to explore and try to understand. In a world where there actually exists a video game that glorifies sexual assault as its only objective — and how I wish I were making that up, though I don't dare link to it — this study is not just fluff for late-night monologues.

ALSO IN BAGGAGE CHECK
COMMENTS (2)

  • I think it similar with women to male popstars.
    ..Like the time when one of the link382 guy had an affair with his ex and then the ex rejected boys.

    By junkgum , Posted February 26, 2009 10:15 AM

  • A concluding statement taken from the article in question, "Taken together, the research suggests that viewing certain images is not appropriate in the workplace, Fiske said." Wow. I'm almost without words. I'm pretty sure my 7 year old niece could come up with such sage advice.

    I hate to be a stickler for detail, but Dr. Bonoir paraphrased incorrectly a finding in the article. Dr. Bonoir made the statement, "Additional findings showed that men with more hostile forms of sexism were less likely to be concerned with the interpretation of thoughts, feelings, and intentions — in other words, less likely care about someone as a human being", when the article only made the statement, "In the men who scored highest on hostile sexism, the part of the brain associated with analyzing another person's thoughts, feelings and intentions was inactive while viewing scantily clad women." Does that part of the brain being inactive mean men are not concerned at all about a woman's thoughts or feelings? Dr. Bonoir is probably right, but she should at least make it clear what is stated and what is her expert opinion. Although here is a hypothetical situation, a scantily clad woman has a flat tire and has a look of distress on her face... will a guy register the woman's thoughts in his head or not? I contend he probably would recognize the woman's feelings and would offer to help (granted, motivated by the thought of a sexual reward).

    By Tony , Posted March 9, 2009 3:51 PM
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