The Facts :
The infiltration of the media by the sex industry is filling the gap of sex education and shaping how sexual identities are formed :

66% of young people say that they find out about sex, love and relationships through the media [Institute of Education, 2003].

Whilst OFSTED has cited lad's mags as a useful form of sex education.

As pornography infiltrates mainstream culture, the 'rape narrative' which originated from porn has become increasingly acceptable :

For instance, 'lad's mag' Maxim (2006) tells readers that 'a lot of women fantasise about things like being raped' and that 'it's a myth that women like soft stuff'.

The media's portrayal of women as sex objects harms girls' mental and physical health leading to a lack of confidence with their bodies as well as eating disorders (American Psychological Association, 2007). We would suggest that 'sex object culture' also harms boys who are pressurised to act out a version of masculinity in which power over women is normal.

Putting It In Context :
This is happening in a society where almost half of all adult women in England and Wales have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking (British Crime Survey, 2004). A society where nearly 1 in 3 people think that women are at least partially to blame for being raped, if they 'dressed provocatively' or 'were flirting' (Amnesty International, 2005).

A society where only 8% of rapes are stranger rapes, meaning that it is ordinary boys and men who are committing sexually violent crimes on their wives, girlfriends and partners. In other words, forced sex is 'normal' in a great many relationships. Where 50% of women and girls have such poor body image that the say their bodies actually 'disgust' them (Dove Internal Study, 2002 ).