Princeton University psychologist Susan Fiske took brain scans of heterosexual men while they looked at sexualised images of women wearing bikinis. She found that the part of their brains that became activated was pre-motor - areas that usually light up when people anticipate using tools. The men were reacting to the images as if the women were objects they were going to act on. Particularly shocking was the discovery that the participants who scored highest on tests of hostile sexism were those most likely to deactivate the part of the brain that considers other people’s intentions (the medial prefrontal cortex) while looking at the pictures. These men were responding to images of the women as if they were non-human.
The Equality Illusion, Kay Banyard (via bangbangblonde)
This is interesting, is the implication that this response is hardwired in the brain or learned? Though, looking at a picture is not the same as interacting with an actual person. I would be very interested in seeing the results of brain scans of those hetero men interacting with live women wearing bikinis and if they match up with these findings.
(via owlsandelephants)
01.07.11
