Graffiti vandalism: Frequency and context differences between the sexes

Little, R. E.; Sheble, Mary Ann

doi:10.1007/bf02885658

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, we used the proxy of sex-specific bathrooms, with the assumption that graffiti in men's bathrooms would be primarily (or exclusively) written by men, while that in women's bathrooms would be created by women. Previously, Little and Sheble (1987) documented that the sexes did not differ in the amount of graffiti they produced, so we did not predict any sex difference in quantity, but rather, predicted differences due to content.…”

Section: The Current Studycontrasting

confidence: 69%

“…We also had not predicted that women would create graffiti about sexual activity with other women. Compared to Little and Sheble (1987; see also Matthews et al 2012) who found that men generated more homosexual graffiti, mostly in a derogatory manner, than women, our results suggest the opposite, as we found women wrote more about same sex behavior than men. Women did not accuse others of being lesbian but instead expressed positive experiences about lesbian sex, while there were few examples of men writing positively about same-sex behavior.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Sex Differences in the Topics of Bathroom Graffiti

Fisher,

Radtke

2014

Human Ethology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Several researchers have reported their attempts to document and analyze graffiti that appears in relatively private locations, such as public bathrooms. However, most reports have been sociological or descriptive in nature, and none have seemingly examined Canadian bathrooms. Given that graffiti have existed throughout human history and is readily apparent across cultures, we propose that an evolutionary perspective may be advantageous for understanding the content of graffiti. To explore this possibility, we examined the themes that emerge in the graffiti of men’s versus women’s bathrooms in order to investigate evolved sex differences, as evidenced in content. We propose that the sex differences in graffiti reflect those that may be expected due to intrasexual competition and mate preferences. The graffiti in men’s bathrooms included far more “tagging” (i.e., signatures or personal logos), potentially indicating territoriality or self-proclamation of status, while the graffiti in women’s bathrooms focused on love and relationships. We conclude with directions for future research based on an evolutionary perspective that may further contribute towards an understanding of graffiti.

show abstract

Section: The Current Studycontrasting

confidence: 69%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Sex Differences in the Topics of Bathroom Graffiti

Fisher,

Radtke

2014

Human Ethology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Graffiti is regarded as a way of expressing "unspeakable" messages to the public (Abel & Buckley, 1977;Obeng, 2000aObeng, , 2000b and sometimes as a form of art (Robinson, 1990;Varnedoe & Gopnik, 1991). However, it is illegal in many societies and involves property destruction (Little & Sheble, 1987). In the U.S., approximately $4 billion are spent annually in removing graffiti (Brewer, 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Three Contingency-Nonspecific Stimuli on Bathroom Graffiti Prevention in a College Setting

Liu

Chung

2013

Psychol Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An A-B-A design was adopted to test the effectiveness of different types of contingency-nonspecific stimuli in the prevention of bathroom graffiti in a college setting. The three stimuli examined in this study have been frequently used to prevent bathroom graffiti in South Korea and they were: (a) "Please do not write, draw, or mark on these walls;" (b) a mirror; and (c) "Courteous people keep public places clean." No graffiti was observed when the first and second stimuli were presented. In contrast, a notable increase in bathroom graffiti was observed when the third sign was presented. The results suggest that a contingency non-specific stimuli posting intervention can be effective in the prevention of bathroom graffiti only when appropriate stimuli are used. The practical implications, including cost-effectiveness, are discussed.

show abstract

“…Methods for doing graffiti include spray-paint, markers, paper, stickers, and paint, which can be used in different styles such as stencil, tagging, and piecing. Additionally, the messages and content of graffiti can be philosophical, political, humorous, pornographic, or nonsensical (Little & Sheble, 1987). Thus, graffiti "should not be considered as if it were a unitary, homogenous category" (Young, 2004, p. 51).…”

Section: Definition Of Graffitimentioning

confidence: 99%

Marking Space and Making Place: Geographies of Graffiti in Wellington, New Zealand

Forges¹

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

<p>Contemporary graffiti dates from the 1960s when hip-hop style graffiti grew in popularity amongst youth in Philadelphia and New York. It has since spread throughout the world and its various forms and styles are considered both art and vandalism. In Aotearoa New Zealand, graffiti is seen in most urban areas and is regarded as a major problem for local authorities. Despite this, research concerning graffiti in New Zealand is sparse. This research contributes to emerging work on graffiti in Wellington and New Zealand. It aims to provide an insight into the geographies of graffiti in Wellington by exploring the visual, spatial, and temporal aspects of graffiti, as well as the social dynamics informing its production and distribution. Using this information I investigate parallels between what is happening locally and what has been documented in international research. To carry out the research aims, I employed qualitative observations of selected sites around the city over time and used photographs to interpret and document graffiti. I also carried out semi-structured interviews with some graffitists, in addition to people involved in city safety and efforts to stop graffiti. In framing the research I specifically draw from critical geography writing on discourse, power, resistance, place, and space which are particularly salient in regards to graffiti. The research documents similarities with international research in regards to the motivations, rules, and visual, temporal, and spatial aspects. However, Wellington graffitists interact with, and utilise, the city’s space in unique and multifaceted ways which reflect and exhibit localised differences worthy of consideration internationally. For instance, graffitists use, view, and read the urban environment in ways that result in them having an intimacy with the urban environment. Additionally, graffitists think about where they place their graffiti with regards to property, location, intended audiences, and observance to subculture rules.</p>

show abstract

Graffiti vandalism: Frequency and context differences between the sexes

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

Sex Differences in the Topics of Bathroom Graffiti

Sex Differences in the Topics of Bathroom Graffiti

Effectiveness of Three Contingency-Nonspecific Stimuli on Bathroom Graffiti Prevention in a College Setting

Marking Space and Making Place: Geographies of Graffiti in Wellington, New Zealand

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About