Correlation is not Causation, #243: "Fairy tales linked to violent relationships"

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1540&ncid=1540&e=2&u=/afp/20050422/sc_afp/sciencebritainwomen_050422114707

Fairy tales linked to violent relationships
Fri Apr 22, 7:47 AM ET Science - AFP
LONDON (AFP) - Young girls who enjoy classic romantic fairy tales like "Cinderella" and "Beauty and the Beast" are at greater risk of becoming victims of violent relationships in later life, a British researcher says.

A study of both parents of primary school children and women who have been involved in domestic abuse claims than those who grew up reading fairy tales are likely to be more submissive as adults.
Susan Darker-Smith, a graduate student who wrote the academic paper, said she found many abuse victims identified with characters in famous children's literature and claimed the stories provide "templates" of dominated women.
A more senior academic at the University of Derby said the topic was sure to spark debate but merited further research.
"They believe if their love is strong enough they can change their partner's behaviour," Darker-Smith said. "Girls who have listened to such stories as children tend to become more submissive in their future relationships."
[...]
Darker-Smith said she believed younger generations exposed to television and other entertainment media may react differently and be less submissive than those weaned solely on literature.
Her work found the most popular bedtime stories for girls were "Cinderella" and "Rapunzel", while boys were more likely to hanker for "Paddington Bear" or "Thomas the Tank Engine"...

I wouldn't have as many problems with this story if it didn't somehow have the vibe of "Readin' for Girls--> Bad News"

― kingfish, Friday, 22 April 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

or that the article was written before the first paper was even presented to peer-review, much less followed-up...

― kingfish, Friday, 22 April 2005 19:45 (twenty years ago)

better stick to the film version, girls:
http://www.gwu.edu/~folktale/GERM232/sleepingb/maleficent.jpeg

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Friday, 22 April 2005 19:50 (twenty years ago)

What puritanical horseshit.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:02 (twenty years ago)

My daughter's really into Power Rangers. Will she grow up to kick alien ass?

― Failin Huxley (noodle vague), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:04 (twenty years ago)

I'm sick of these phony feminist academics milking 'abuse victims' for all their worth.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:04 (twenty years ago)

"Darker-Smith said she believed younger generations exposed to television and other entertainment media may react differently* and be less submissive than those weaned solely on literature. "

*see follow-up paper "Girls Weaned Solely on TV and Entertainment More Likely to Suffer From Eating Disorders"

― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 22 April 2005 20:05 (twenty years ago)

"Girls Weaned on Tom and Jerry More Likely to Hit Abusive Partners in the Face with an Iron/Frying Pan/Bowling Ball."

― Failin Huxley (noodle vague), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

That's bullshit, if my experiences in higher education are indicative of anything.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:09 (twenty years ago)

sorry, x-post.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:09 (twenty years ago)

"Girls Weaned Solely on Internet Porn More Likely to Enjoy Hot All Anal Action"

― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 22 April 2005 20:09 (twenty years ago)

(um, I apologize for that last post.)

― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 22 April 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

Girls like 'Cinderella' because it's about female jealousy, and how some women abuse power over other women. I love how these sheltered academics only focus on the 'handsome prince' part.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

As if 'literature' (wtf) has no misogyny or exploitation in it. (sorry for posting so much)

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

"Girls Weaned on Ayn Rand More Likely To Be Lonely Virgins. Also Boys."

― Failin Huxley (noodle vague), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

Actually, I know quite a few people who read Ayn Rand when they were younger, and who later rejected it. So, I guess Ayn Rand is just an adolescent thing. I'd be more wary of 45-year-olds who still take it seriously.

FWIW, I've read some Rand and found it to be enjoyable trash, even if I don't agree with it.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

I always feel kind of sorry for people I see on the bus/train reading Ayn Rand.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 22 April 2005 20:17 (twenty years ago)

See I'm a Jacqueline Susann fella myself.

― Failin Huxley (noodle vague), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:17 (twenty years ago)

"Girls Weaned Solely on Internet Porn More Likely to Enjoy Hot All Anal Action"

Just thinking about this family made me laugh.

Mom - "Ok Brittany, it's time to go surf the net for porn."
Brittany - "But Mom!! I wanna watch TV."
Mom - "What and end up a fat anal virgin!? Not in this house, young lady!"
Brittany - "But..."
Mom - "That's right. No go turn the computer on and I'll get your Dad to help out."
Dad (from other room) - "Honey!! I'm watching the game, dammit!"

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

I agree, Shakey. So depressing.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:19 (twenty years ago)

But Ayn Rand does have historical value, so there are other reasons for reading her.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

I like the movie of The Fountainhead, I figure I'll stick there.

― Failin Huxley (noodle vague), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:21 (twenty years ago)

I'm happy to debate the merits of Ayn Rand and yes I read her in aforementioned adolescent phase, but I don't get how she's of "historical value"... beyond being an unfortunate influence on Alan Greenspan, I can't think of a single movement/trend that she influenced.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 22 April 2005 20:24 (twenty years ago)

Influencing movements is Communist.

― Failin Huxley (noodle vague), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:25 (twenty years ago)

(my little joke about people on the bus is that I always get the feeling - probably totally inaccurate, I'm sure - that someone handed these people an Ayn Rand book and told them they had to read it, it would change their lives, a work of genius, etc. and then they decided the person must be right cuz, after all, its 900 pages and won't they look smart and rebellious while reading it)

― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 22 April 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

OTM

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

Ayn Rand is good to read because it gives insight into a certain mentality.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:43 (twenty years ago)

Doesn't everything give insight into a certain mentality?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

only if its well-written (something which is debatable about Ayn Rand - as a polemicist, yes; as an author of fiction, uh....)

― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 22 April 2005 20:47 (twenty years ago)

So didactic and wooden...

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 22 April 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

If you take it seriously, yes.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 21:00 (twenty years ago)

I did when I read her 'cause I assumed she was writing seriously.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 22 April 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

Post your favorite anti-liberal cartoons

Should it matter whether the author was serious or not? I enjoy 700 Club as well.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 21:07 (twenty years ago)

Uh yeah, it should.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 22 April 2005 21:07 (twenty years ago)

You're no phun.

I'm sorry that this is so terribly important to you.

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

So, back to fairy tales....

http://mydivx.lihoman.ru/order/ani/bur/Dumbo.jpg

― Shatterproof Glass (dymaxia), Friday, 22 April 2005 21:18 (twenty years ago)

http://roselyne.ranc.chez.tiscali.fr/Vignette%20GM/chat_botte_2jpg.jpg

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 22 April 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

so wait, all this time Ayn Rand was JOKING? Would that it were so...

― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 22 April 2005 21:26 (twenty years ago)

dumbo was truly a progressive film. who else at the time was putting out such films where a young elephant learned to fly thanks to wise & worldly negroes?

― kingfish, Friday, 22 April 2005 21:28 (twenty years ago)

(x-post)Such a kidder.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 22 April 2005 21:28 (twenty years ago)

nine years pass...

http://www.tylervigen.com/correlation_project/correlation_images/divorce-rate-in-new-york_deaths-caused-by-inhalation-of-gastric-contents.png
Make your own!
http://www.tylervigen.com/discover.php

― sitting on a claud all day gotta make your butt numb (forksclovetofu), Monday, 12 May 2014 05:41 (eleven years ago)

one year passes...

^Missed this original post. Just discovered that website. Very funny, also good ammo for arguing against BS correlations.

― Evan, Friday, 20 November 2015 17:28 (ten years ago)

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