The Influence Magazines Have on Women’s Attitudes Toward Relationships Essay Example
The influence magazines have on women’s attitudes toward relationships
Abstract The main goal of this study is to understand the influence magazines, specifically Cosmopolitan, have on women. The degree to which sexual scripts in magazines influence women’s heteronormative attitudes toward relationships was examined. It was hypothesized that women who read Cosmopolitan endorse heteronormativity in their romantic relationships. Twenty-two women volunteered to complete a 30 question survey, which was measured using a Likert scale. There were no significant results. A regression showed that magazine reading did not predict the endorsement of heteronormative attitudes in romantic relationships. Sexual scripts were not learned from the reading of Cosmopolitan. Keywords: heteronormativity, relationships, sexual script, media
The Influence Magazines have on Women’s attitudes toward Relationships Media plays an important role in the lives of adolescents (Jordan, Trentacoste, Henderson, Manganello & Fishbein, 2007). Teenagers are constantly watching television, reading magazines and listening to music (Jordan et al., 2007). Jordan, Trentacoste, Henderson, Manganello and Fishbein (2007) found that television is the most frequently used medium followed by listening to music, using the Internet, playing video games, and then reading magazines. Because parents do not always provide adequate information to their children about sex or relationships, adolescents look to other sources for education. The media becomes a source for information; however, it offers an abundance of different stereotypes about the female role in relationships and in society. Television portrays multiple visions of what “ideal” relationships look like, while magazines offer sexual advice and dating tips for women, which usually endorse the sexually assertive female role (Ward, 2002). Evidence from past research shows that learning from media sources, such as television and magazines, leads
Abstract The main goal of this study is to understand the influence magazines, specifically Cosmopolitan, have on women. The degree to which sexual scripts in magazines influence women’s heteronormative attitudes toward relationships was examined. It was hypothesized that women who read Cosmopolitan endorse heteronormativity in their romantic relationships. Twenty-two women volunteered to complete a 30 question survey, which was measured using a Likert scale. There were no significant results. A regression showed that magazine reading did not predict the endorsement of heteronormative attitudes in romantic relationships. Sexual scripts were not learned from the reading of Cosmopolitan. Keywords: heteronormativity, relationships, sexual script, media
The Influence Magazines have on Women’s attitudes toward Relationships Media plays an important role in the lives of adolescents (Jordan, Trentacoste, Henderson, Manganello & Fishbein, 2007). Teenagers are constantly watching television, reading magazines and listening to music (Jordan et al., 2007). Jordan, Trentacoste, Henderson, Manganello and Fishbein (2007) found that television is the most frequently used medium followed by listening to music, using the Internet, playing video games, and then reading magazines. Because parents do not always provide adequate information to their children about sex or relationships, adolescents look to other sources for education. The media becomes a source for information; however, it offers an abundance of different stereotypes about the female role in relationships and in society. Television portrays multiple visions of what “ideal” relationships look like, while magazines offer sexual advice and dating tips for women, which usually endorse the sexually assertive female role (Ward, 2002). Evidence from past research shows that learning from media sources, such as television and magazines, leads