Male television viewers show little curiosity about characters’ motivations for violence in films and TV programmes and are inclined to be dismissive about violent acts, according to new research from the Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC).
The report includes an analysis of the reaction of men and women to the portrayal of domestic violence on television. It follows earlier research conducted by the BSC which found that women were more likely to identify with an abused women and were apt to speculate on the motives for men’s violence.
In the new research amongst men they were shown extracts from Trip Trap, a programme which deals with domestic violence and rape. The women who watched the programme did not endorse rape under any circumstances; men, however, appeared to want to justify it: “[Maggie] was a very deceitful woman… [she] learnt the hard way… she deserved what she got,” were the views of one respondent.
Women believed that men’s violence against women should be treated as a special broadcasting consideration. Men, on the other hand, were more likely to not consider violence to men or women of particular concern.
In terms of censorship and policy making, men generally prefer to have clear ‘signposts’ to what is being broadcast, along with the watershed, than to have censorship or scenes cut. The previous study, with women, wanted stricter controls over male violence against women.
Commenting on the report, Lady Howe, chairman of the BSC, said: “The Commission’s research projects help us all to understand better how the consumers of broadcasting react to what they see… This particular research gives us an insight into what men make of the violence they see on the screen.
“Once again it highlights the difference between the sexes… The challenge for broadcasters is to reconcile these very different approaches.”
Broadcasting Standards Commission: 0171 233 0544
