MANY FEMINISTS, AS well as others, believe that violence against women, particularly sexual assault, is related to the way women are shown in popular culture. They feel that movies, television, advertising, and popular music all influence the way people think about men and women. By portraying powerful men controlling weak women, and by making the use of force look glamorous, many media producers help shape the way men and women view their roles in society.

Although many people agree that the media play a role in how men and women see themselves and each other, widespread disagreement exists about whether media images of sex and violence lead men to abuse women. Studies on the relationship between watching images of sex and violence and actual crime show differing results and lack enough evidence to draw solid conclusions...