Pleasure Reading: Associations Between Young Women's Sexual Attitudes and their Reading of Contemporary Women's Magazines

Abstract

Associations between magazine use and sexual attitudes were explored among 205 female college students. Measures assessed reading levels of adult-focused (e.g., Cosmopolitan) and teen-focused (e.g., Seventeen) contemporary women's magazines, reading motivations, sexual attitudes, and femininity ideologies. Frequent reading of adult-focused magazines was associated with weaker support of sexual stereotypes about men, of a view that equates sex with risk, and of women's reports of self-censorship. In contrast, frequent reading of teen-focused magazines was associated with stronger endorsement of male sexual stereotypes. In addition, reading women's magazines intently for sex advice was associated with stronger support of both male sexual stereotypes and a sexually assertive female role. Implications are discussed in terms of both relevant media theories and of magazines as sources of sexual scripts.

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