Bangkok Post - June 12, 2003
Alongkorn Parivudhiphongs

A) She had a broken heart.

B) She had a difficult life.

C) She had a work problem.

If you choose A, you're with the majority of readers who have fallen prey to media construction of myths about women, said Asst Prof Dr Kitti Gunpai of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communication Arts, who conducted research on "Sex and Communication in Thai Society".

"For decades, local media have created myths on sex and gender issues as an instant formula to explain sex-related phenomena," said Dr Kitti.

When there is a case of a woman "falling off" a tower, it's easier for most media sources to say that she "jumped". "But it could have been murder, right? Or just an accident?"

Dr Kitti conducted an analysis of the content of newspaper coverage of sex crimes and related news between the years 1997 and 2002. His research found that most Thai-language dailies were rather biased and one-dimensional.

Popular topics among the vernacular press about women included prostitution, pornography, unwanted pregnancies and abortion, premature and premarital sex, beauty, love and romance, and homosexuality. Topping the list were sexual violence and sexual experiences, especially those of public figures.

"Such reporting panders to a narrow view of sex," Dr Kitti said.

When the press reports on rape cases, for example, the rapist is automatically labelled a psychopath. But is it necessary for rapists to be mentally ill to commit such a heinous crime?

"Such labelling perpetuates a stereotype and doesn't help the public to comprehend the crime of rape properly," said Dr Vilasinee Pipitthakul, a co-researcher.

She said newspapers ran stories on sexual violence almost daily. Most tended to be critical of women even though they were the victims. As victims, women were usually portrayed as passive, vulnerable persons.

Worse, they were often viewed as having "asked for it".

"This doesn't help society understand the issue of sexual violence. The media could do more to explore the gender aspects of the problem," she said.

Due to lack of gender education, the media treat domestic violence as a personal matter, she added. For example, when a wife chops off her husband's penis, the media generally give sympathetic coverage to the man, and the wife becomes the villain, though she might have resorted to the violent act to defend herself after long-standing physical and emotional abuse.

"Reporters usually concentrate on whether or not the doctor will be able to reconnect the man's package. No one cares to find out what happened before or what will happen to the woman after the incident," she said.

Sexual harassment is still taken for granted by a macho, male-dominated society. Crime normally doesn't draw media attention unless it involves very high-profile public figures. Even then, their crimes are sometimes tacitly condoned.

The press was also blamed for promoting misinformation, such as the belief that a man's sexual prowess depends on the size of his penis. The promotion of beauty products or beauty pageants endorses the cultural value of women as sex objects. The press also perpetuate ideas of what good women should or should not do.

"When there is news about sex-related problems, the press tend to criticise both sexes without trying to understand the why of it," she said.

The researchers found that over the past three years more newspapers have increased their coverage of teenage sex. But news presentation was repetitive, associating teen sex with lust or simply a fad.

Last week, for example, the news that teenagers were visiting special beauty salons to have their pubic hair "styled" made headlines. While playing up the oddity, the coverage did not attempt to explain or understand the sexual culture of teenagers.

"If we treat sex as a taboo subject laden with moral judgements, how can we begin to understand others?" Dr Vilasinee asked. The public as well as the media often blame problems on the invasion of Western culture. "But blaming outsiders is the easy way out. It doesn't help us to understand or solve the problems," Dr Vilasinee said. "We should look within ourselves as to why we are so vulnerable when it comes to sex-related issues."

Young people know that if they bring up the subject of sex, they will be condemned as sexually obsessed, so they keep it to themselves. "Sex is narrowly defined as only intercourse. When it is talked about publicly, it is about diseases that stem from sex. Sex then becomes a nasty, dirty subject, not something about relationships or gender relations," said Dr Kitti.

The good news, he said, was that Thai society was in the process of leaving this "hush-hush" era behind as more people increasingly bring sexual topics out into the open. Will this lead to constructive change that will foster greater understanding of sexual matters?

Parents and teachers, although they play an important role in sex education, normally force-feed moral-heavy information to youngsters, rather than allowing for two-way communication on sexual matters. Most youngsters prefer to talk about sex with their friends who, more often than not, consider sex to be only intercourse. Their discussions revolve around ways to find sexual partners.

The media? Although there is abundant information on sexual activities in the media, they mostly cultivate misconceptions about sex, he said. "It's very rare to find well-informed communicators, although it is the media's duty to communicate accurately," he said.

"Sexual phenomenon is fast changing but social values on sex remain deeply rooted," said Dr Panpimol Lotrakul, who hosts a TV programme on sex called Chu Rak Chu Rod on TV Channel 3.

During each programme, she receives phone-in questions that the public stereotypes as "deviant" or "perverted". Some viewers even ask whether such questions are genuine or simply made up in an effort to hike the show's ratings.

She recalled that a middle-aged mother found a sex toy in her 27-year-old daughter's room, and called to say that she was worried that her daughter was mentally ill.

"This shows that there are still large gaps among family members, as well as between reality and myth regarding today's sexual behaviours," she said.

Whose job is it to unravel these long-perpetuated myths? "This must be done in a holistic and integrated manner on all levels and dimensions within society," said Prof Dr Nikorn Dusitsin at the Sex Education Centre, Chulalongkorn University.

Sex education should not be restricted to schools, he said. All family members should be educated so as to free themselves from sexual misconceptions. "Sex education should start at home and involve all family members," he stressed.

At school, meanwhile, sex education should be encouraged. According to Kamol Rodklai, director of the Education Ministry's Children and Family Protection Centre, students often seek counselling on sex-related matters rather than their academic studies.

Based on three years of data, he added that at least one school teacher sexually abused one student each week. Most cases involved rape. "This points out the urgent need to improve sex and gender education, not only with students but also with teachers."

According to Dr Nikorn, providing information on sex was not adequate. The education system should also include a consulting centre and complaint services. Better still, rehabilitation centres for victims of sexual abuse should be established.

Meanwhile, anthropologist Usasinee Rewthong at Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (Path) noted that policymakers on sex education for the family should be aware of the new definition and new reality of "family". "Today we have single parents, homosexual parents as well as HIV orphans and other types of family groups. The policy should embrace the diversity of today's lifestyles," she said.

She said the media must be more gender sensitive when reporting on sex-related matters. Stereotypes, she said, do not foster understanding and tolerance.

For example, there are many types of teens - urban and rural, rich and poor, students or workers. Each group has its unique nature. Understanding their differences is the key to understanding their needs better.

Some believe that the elderly require no sex education. That was also a myth, said Dr. Nikorn.

The rate of HIV infection among those 55 and over is rising - proof that they, too, need safe sex education. "The elderly have limited resources. The media can help by providing information," he said.

Besides school and family, other social institutions, such as religious communities, as well as the legal and political systems, must be involved to make society less prejudiced, said Thicha Na Nakorn from the Women Network for Constitution.

"The legal procedures must be revamped, and the red tape should be reduced," she said.

Last year, she reported, a female student was gang-raped by seven of her classmates. The court scheduled the first hearing in March 2005 - two years into the future. "By then, the girl's psychological wounds would have been much healed but the hearings will destroy her again," she said.

After an appeal, the hearing was rescheduled for next month.

"The girl's family would not have had to go through the appeal problems had the legal system been more sensitive to victims of sexual violence," she said. Gender violence, added Dr Vilasinee, was not isolated from the unequal social and power structures. "These systems need to be examined and questioned."

It is the duty of the media to understand these structures so that they can help their readers to understand the social and political context of the social phenomena they are reporting, said Dr Vilasinee. "If not, the media will merely perpetuate sexual myths that prevent both the public and themselves from fully understanding human sexuality," she said.

Guide for the media

Some advice for the media from research on "Sex and Communication in Thai Society", sponsored by the Thailand Research Fund:

MYTHS AND STEREOTYPES THAT THE MEDIA SHOULD AVOID:

- The discussion of sex is the exclusive reserve of adults, men, in particular.

- "Good women" must remain sexually suppressed.

- Sex is a dirty and nasty topic.

- Sex is a matter for medical - not public - discussion.

- Homosexuals are psychologically deviant and aggressive.

- Only heterosexuality and sex within marriage are legitimate issues for public discussion.

- Keeping one's virginity is the major duty of a "good girl".

- Unwanted pregnancies and abortions are for wayward teens.

- The value of a woman lies in her sexual propriety.

- Only those who misbehave contract diseases like HIV-Aids.

- Sexual violence stems from psychological problems.

- Domestic violence is common for any couple.

VALUES THAT THE MEDIA SHOULD CULTIVATE:

- Sex comes with responsibilities.

- Domestic violence is not a personal matter.

- Decisions on pregnancy and abortion belong to women.

- Abstinence is not the only topic for sex education.

- Monogamy and loyalty are not the instant answer to Aids prevention.

- Everyone has control over his/her own body.

- Pornography does not always lead to sexual satisfaction.

PUBLIC DEBATES/DISCUSSIONS THAT THE MEDIA SHOULD PROMOTE:

- Human rights issues involving sex and gender matters.

- The media construction of reality and myths about sex.

- Polarisation of sexual issues into "normal" and "deviant" behaviours.

- Sexual violence and social dysfunction.

- Sexual diseases, a matter of life and death.

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