The Portrayal of Sexual Intercourse on Prime-Time Programming

Abstract

This study examines portrayals of acts and consequences of sexual intercourse on prime-time television programs. Results indicate that few types of consequences of intercourse are presented, headed by emotional outcomes. Both acts of intercourse and their consequences receive only minimal focus within programs. Consequences are nearly equally positively and negatively valenced, but have a slight leaning toward being portrayed as transient and emotionally insignificant. Movies include the greatest number of acts of sexual intercourse and the most consequences for this behavior. Generic differences are also identified in the contextual presentation of consequences. Findings are discussed in light of effects on viewers.Characterizing the patterns of portrayals of sexual messages on television is a crucial task facing communication scholars, especially considering the scientific evidence regarding the effects of such messages on audience members. This study reports on a content analysis of sexual intercourse portrayals on prime-time television shows. It examines the consequences portrayed for this behavior as well as important contextual elements in these portrayals, including the consequences' valence, duration of impact, extent of emotional impact, and emphasis placed on them within shows.A growing body of research has established that exposure to high amounts of televised sexual content contributes to viewers' perceptions about sex and sexual behaviors (e.g.,

Representaciones de la sexualidad femenina en la ficción televisiva española

“…Content analyses of sex representations reinforce the idea that television fiction offers a distorted image of sexuality (Al-Sayed and Gunter, 2012;Fisher et al, 2004;Kunkel et al, 1999Kunkel et al, , 2001Kunkel et al, , 2003Kunkel et al, , 2005Signorielli, 2000), which plays an important role in the construction and reinforcement of gender stereotypes (Behm-Morawitz and Mastro, 2008;Eyal and Finnerty, 2007;Lauzen et al, 2008;Merskin, 2007;Ward, 1995). On the other hand, some of the research works carried out by Signorielli and Bacue (1999), and Signorielli and Kalhenberg (2001) stress the didactic potential of television fiction in relation to sex and stereotypes, despite cultivation theory scholars tend to perceive television as a conservative medium.…”

“…Most of the representations of sexuality are incidental to the story (Eyal and Finnerty, 2007), particularly infidelities and unwanted pregnancies, and portray it as a kind of "truth" waiting to be discovered (Plummer, 1995: 132). Sexual intercourses are more common between unmarried couples (Al-Sayed and Gunter, 2012) and their representation tends to be very stereotypical (Eyal and Finnerty, 2009).…”

“…The drama genre and the soap opera format pay closer attention to the didactic aspect of sexuality than the rest of the analyzed television fiction series (Al-Sayed & Gunter, 2012;Lacalle, 2013), especially the series set in the past and broadcast by the public channels La 1 and TV3. In general, Spanish television fiction tends to ignore the unintended consequences of sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies (Aubrey, 2004;Aubrey and Gamble, 2014;Eyal and Finnerty, 2007;Kunkel et al, 2005). On the contrary, sex seems to be portrayed as the culmination of women's empowerment.…”

“…Representations of sexuality can play a decisive role in both the processes of socialization and learning (Collins et al, 2003;Farrar et al, 2003) on the basis of reproduction of scenarios and scripts (Brown, 2002). Therefore, representations of sexuality are important in the perceptions of sexuality and sexual behaviors among viewers (Eyal and Finnerty, 2007), especially young ones (Eyal and Finnerty, 2007;Masanet et al, 2012;Plummer, 1995).…”

“…On the other hand, some of the research works carried out by Signorielli and Bacue (1999), and Signorielli and Kalhenberg (2001) stress the didactic potential of television fiction in relation to sex and stereotypes, despite cultivation theory scholars tend to perceive television as a conservative medium. In general, it is considered that information on such relevant issues as abstinence, social responsibility and sexual protection constitutes a reduced part of the representations of sexuality (Berridge, 2014;Kelly, 2010;Kunkel et al, 1999;Strasburger, 2010;Ward, 1995), just like the consequences of sexual relations (Aubrey, 2004;Aubrey and Gamble, 2014;Eyal and Finnerty, 2007;Kunkel et al, 2005).…”