Saturday, September 26, 2009

Regarding the Sept. 20 Outlook commentary "He Trashes the Ladies. They Love Him for It":

It's troubling that the upcoming movie "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" and its creator, Tucker Max, who cracks jokes at the expense of women, have such a large female fan base.

A 2007 American Psychological Association study sheds some light on why women may enjoy such a film, finding that sexualization of girls and women is so common that audiences may think that sexist antics and rape jokes are normal. Our 2006 research report, "Drawing the Line," found that many college students who had sexually harassed others claimed that they did it to be "funny."

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, one in six women will experience attempted or actual rape, with college-age women most at risk. The real question is not only why women are entertained by Mr. Max, but also why some campuses give tacit approval by screening this movie, given this stark reality for women.

LINDA D. HALLMAN

Executive Director

American Association of University Women

Washington