More than a magazine: exploring the links between lads’ mags, rape myth acceptance and rape proclivity

Exposure to some magazines aimed at young male readers – lads’ mags – has recently been associated with behaviors and attitudes that are derogatory towards women, including sexual violence. In the present study, a group of Spanish adult men were exposed to the covers of a lads’ mag while a second group was exposed to the covers of a neutral magazine. Results showed that, compared to participants in the second group, participants who were exposed to covers of lads’ mags who also showed high rape myth acceptance (RMA) and legitimized the consumption of such magazines reported higher rape proclivity in a hypothetical situation. These findings suggest the need to further explore the possible detrimental effects of some sexualized media that are widely accepted in many Western countries