Establishing and Adhering to Sexual Consent: The Association between Reading Magazines and College Students’ Sexual Consent Negotiation

Abstract

Content analyses have cataloged the sexual scripts present in magazines largely because of their perceived value to readers and their potential role as sex educators. Although it is generally agreed that magazines have the potential to influence sexual attitudes and behavioral intentions, the effects of this medium are not as frequently researched as are other forms of media. The current study tested whether exposure to magazines was associated with intentions related to sexual consent negotiation. A survey of 313 college students indicated that exposure to men's magazines was significantly associated with lower intentions to seek sexual consent and lower intentions to adhere to decisions about sexual consent. In contrast, exposure to women's magazines was significantly associated with greater intentions to refuse unwanted sexual activity. Overall, the findings of this study further reinforce the critical need for responsible and realistic portrayals of sex in entertainment media, specifically magazines.

Scripting Sexual Consent: Internalized Traditional Sexual Scripts and Sexual Consent Expectancies Among College Students

“…Participants' sexual consent expectancies were measured with a scale that comprised three subscales (see Hust et al, ): expectancies to seek sexual consent from a partner (four items; α = .87 women and .82 men in the present study), expectancies to adhere to sexual consent decisions (three items; α = .93 women and .91 men ), and expectancies to refuse unwanted sexual activity (three items; α = .82 women and .88 men ). Example items for each subscale are: “I would not have sex when my partner and I are too intoxicated to give consent” (seek consent), “I would rather have no sex than force myself on someone” (adherence), and “I would feel confident refusing someone's sexual advances” (refuse).…”

“…Sexual Consent-related Expectancies. Participants' sexual consent expectancies were measured with a scale that comprised three subscales (see Hust et al, 2014): expectancies to seek sexual consent from a partner (four items;…”

Law & Order, CSI, andNCIS: The Association Between Exposure to Crime Drama Franchises, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Sexual Consent Negotiation Among College Students

“…This scale was found to be reliable in previous research (Hust et al, 2014). Responses to these items were averaged to form an overall measure of intentions to refuse unwanted sexual activity (M ¼ 6.28, SD ¼ 1.03, a ¼ .87).…”

“…Intentions to seek consent for sexual activity was assessed using four items, including items such as ''I would stop and ask if everything is okay if my partner doesn't respond to my sexual advances'' rated on a 7-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), that have proved reliable in previous research (Hust et al, 2014). Responses to these items were averaged to form an overall measure of intentions to seek consent (M ¼ 6.02, SD ¼ 1.21, a ¼ .80).…”

Considérations éthiques sur le consentement comme noyau de la sexualité

“…Par ailleurs, le consentement doit s'exprimer de telle manière que l'interlocuteur comprenne sa portée. En schématisant : il est fondamental de communiquer le consentement, pour l'un, et de le comprendre, pour l'autre (Hall, 1998 ;Jozkowski et Peterson, 2014 ;Hust et al, 2013). Nous ajouterons que ceci est valable dans le cas des « rencontres » entre deux personnes.…”