A series of 1988 studies of prisoners reveals that "86% of rapists admit to regular use of pornography, with 57% admitting actual imitation of pornographic scenes in commission of sex crimes"(Linz, and Donnerstein). A number of studies have also shown that violent pornography has a numbing effect, allowing men to commit sexual assaults without recognizing the pain suffered by their female victims. Furthermore, studies where pornographic films are shown to students disclose that in the end, "male students are more hostile toward women's rights and to their struggle for equality."(Zillmann, D. and J Bryant).
However, studies show that mainstream films and magazines are often more violent than pornography. In fact, the American public considers many movies demeaning to women; a survey found that "68% of the public believes sexual portrayals of women in American movies "often" amount to exploitation." (Los Angeles Times Poll) "Slasher" films further distort reality by sending out the message that sexual violence is normal or acceptable. Popular slasher films such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre , Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street regularly portray scenes of graphic violence against passive female victims. Recent studies have found that college men exposed to just a few of these films tend to lack empathy towards female victims of rape, believing she "deserved what she got."(Dines, G. and J.M. Humez.) In addition, these men often do not believe the rapist should be punished. .
On television, a disproportionate amount of violence is directed toward female victims. For every 10 male characters on primetime network TV who commit violence, 11 other male characters fall to violence, but for every 10 women who inflict violence, 16 women become victims (Gerbner, G). Viewers who strongly associate with the victims (i.e., women) feel more susceptible to violence in the real world. More often than not, these viewers become the "real life" victims.