Does sex in advertising lead to higher incidences of sex crimes?

[Mia]

This was brought up in another forum, and I contend that it does not. I used the example of Western European nations having more sex in ads and other media than the US, and more relaxed attitudes about sex in general, and they do not have higher incidents of sex crimes.

Someone countered that the laws toward sex crimes are more lenient there too. Age of consent, a difference there would up the number of statutory rape cases.

But crimes like rape - that is defined the same is it not?

So, those of you who live in some other Western Nation with more relaxed attitudes about sex. More sex crimes? Less, the same?

Is your country also more lenient when it comes to defining sex crimes and prosecuting them?

[Nono]

Quote by: Mia Is your country also more lenient when it comes to defining sex crimes and prosecuting them?

To answer this question seriously would take a great deal of research which I'm unfortunately too lazy to carry out. So I'll eyeball it.

I think Switzerland is fairly typical of Western Europe in general. Yes, society here is "more relaxed" about sex, meaning less absolutely-racked-by-it than the US. But everything is relative -- the whole world is hung up about sex.*

We have more "sex" (suggestiveness, nudity, whatever) on TV. Do we have more sex crime? I hardly think so. And do we define it differently? That would amaze me. Though it's possible that sex offenders here stand a better chance of getting some sort of therapy, instead of being burned at the stake or whatever happens to them in the US (those that can't afford a slick enough lawyer to away with it, I mean).

The US sure is a weird mix of Protestant prudishness and absolute sexual obsession/depravity. And this whole business of six-year-old boys being expelled from school for embracing a teacher -- I mean really.

(*I have a great photo of a rude drawing on a wall I took in Hanoi 20 years ago, when the place was still a closed, ultra-uptight society.)

[Mia]

Well, something as small as a difference in the age of consent could greatly alter the number of sex crimes. Also whether they prosecute for 18 year olds with 16 year olds.

I didn't mean any place in Western Europe would be lenient on anything the majority of the world considers a sex crime. But here the list of what is considered a sex crime seems to keep growing.

Recently, a prosecutor tried to charge a 12 and 13 year old for consensual sex, but the judge ruled on the female that she could not be both a perp and a victim. The boy had pled out so he has a sex charge on his record now, and those aren't sealed for juveniles.

We have a 17 year old that received oral sex from a 15 year old. He is in for ten years. Under GA statutes, intercourse would have been less of a penalty.

[Nono]

Quote by: MIa He is in for ten years.

Absolutely appalling! So immoderate, so stupid, so sure to backfire completely. Well, I rest my case (for the moment).

[Osborn F Enready]

To alledge things like this is to alledge using pencils or other writing instruments constitutes an intent to commit fraud, since some people who have comitted fraud used writing implements.

Silly.

[smallpox]

Sexual offenses virtually all require the offender to have some sort of paraphilia. These can be made evident in the behaviour of teens rather than what they watch. It tends to start with criminal deviance at a young age, then moves on to classic masterbatory conditioning of committing these offences and associating this with masturbation. This is usually sparked by a paraphilia that the youngster encounters while committing the deviance in the first place.

[The Bacon Guy]

Quote by: Mia Does sex in advertising lead to higher incidences of sex crimes?

There doesn't exist any evidence pointing either way on this issue. However, there are some interesting facts to consider. In addition to your point about the low sex crime rates in European countries, it has also been observed that the number of sex crimes actually tends to decrease in correlation with the increase in sexualized images and availability of pornography. This has been observed most strongly in Denmark, West Germany and Japan.

[Ibn_Sina]

Quote by: Mia This was brought up in another forum, and I contend that it does not. I used the example of Western European nations having more sex in ads and other media than the US, and more relaxed attitudes about sex in general, and they do not have higher incidents of sex crimes.

Well, there is no absolutely causal relationship between sex ads (MAY BE pornography or sexual violence on TV) and sexual crimes. Although some media effects researchers suggested there is, no theory suggests that is the case. People that are prone to sexual violence mostly suffer from personal problems. Check out Gauntlet (can't remember his first name) and what he has to say on this specific topic.

Someone countered that the laws toward sex crimes are more lenient there too. Age of consent, a difference there would up the number of statutory rape cases.

In Belgium, there is an open Paedophile Party that also attends parliament (if I remember correctly). Bizarre...!!! Where is our morals? That party should be banned.

[Nono]

Quote by: Ibn In Belgium, there is an open Paedophile Party that also attends parliament (if I remember correctly).

I don't think you do.
http://www.lachambre.be/kvvcr/pdf_se...i2007jun28.pdf

It probably isn't healthy to flood society with pornography since people are so addiction-prone. But repression doesn't work either -- things leak out, as it were, anyway.

[Mia]

Quote by: Nono Absolutely appalling! So immoderate, so stupid, so sure to backfire completely. Well, I rest my case (for the moment).

Due to this case, the law has been changed, but it does not apply retro-actively to almost 200 people prosecuted under it.

[Mia]

Quote by: The Bacon Guy There doesn't exist any evidence pointing either way on this issue. However, there are some interesting facts to consider. In addition to your point about the low sex crime rates in European countries, it has also been observed that the number of sex crimes actually tends to decrease in correlation with the increase in sexualized images and availability of pornography. This has been observed most strongly in Denmark, West Germany and Japan.

I think that those three countries are actually examples for the other end, or even out at least, due to more permissive laws with regard to sex crimes. Age of consent is 14 in Germany, for instance. That's a large difference from the 16-18 that we have int he US.

That's a lot more cases that would be called statutory rape or indecent conduct with a minor in the US but not there.

I do not think that sex in advertising leads to more sex crimes, but to compare countries they would need to have similarities in what is considered a sex crime.

[Mia]

Quote by: Osborn F Enready To alledge things like this is to alledge using pencils or other writing instruments constitutes an intent to commit fraud, since some people who have comitted fraud used writing implements. Silly.

I think so too, however a point was made that the objectification of women plays into mens perception of, and attitude toward women. This could play a role.

[Osborn F Enready]

Mia said: I think so too, however a point was made that the objectification of women plays into mens perception of, and attitude toward women. This could play a role.

I am not saying people can't be affected by what they take in through their senses, or how it interplays with their fetishes and or intrests. It is however, silly to me to attempt to use this argument as a means of regulation, which is what it will end up.

What other things objectify women in television, radio, movies, marketing in general? Could marketing exist without some forms of objectification?

I always feel like in these situations you give an inch, special intrest groups and lobbyists will make it a square mile, and it would be giving, since the directly provable science here is doubtful at best I am betting.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: Mia This was brought up in another forum, and I contend that it does not. I used the example of Western European nations having more sex in ads and other media than the US, and more relaxed attitudes about sex in general, and they do not have higher incidents of sex crimes. Someone countered that the laws toward sex crimes are more lenient there too. Age of consent, a difference there would up the number of statutory rape cases. But crimes like rape - that is defined the same is it not? So, those of you who live in some other Western Nation with more relaxed attitudes about sex. More sex crimes? Less, the same? Is your country also more lenient when it comes to defining sex crimes and prosecuting them?

If the same forien nation is more open also about social sex and allows prositution and if sex is not taboo, then sex crimes would be less. In other words if it was easy to pick up a "one night stand" then fewer men would resort to rape because of the larger supply of women who consent.

Girls that are younger are more apt to consent, but I am not sure if I can support that with any facts.

Also does the other country allow "consent by intimidation" to be legal and not classed as rape? (re - the work place).

And so comparing them with us is too complex.