Scientific research has consistently demonstrated that the consumption of misogynistic media content is associated with increased hostility towards women. While it was previously unclear whether men and women exhibit similar negative reactions, recent findings indicate that when media content contains explicit violence against women, it is primarily men – rather than women – who display negative responses. These conclusions are based on a comprehensive international study led by the University of Bern.

The stereotypical, condescending, or degrading portrayal of women is repeatedly observed across various media formats, including advertisements, online forums, films, music videos by misogynistic artists, advertisements featuring oversexualized women, and video games that objectify women. A representative survey conducted by the European Commission in 2017 revealed that over half of respondents consider the portrayal of women in various media to be problematic.

In a recently published study, Dr. Christa Nater from the Institute of Psychology at the University of Bern, together with an international research team, conducted a meta-analysis – an overarching statistical evaluation of previously published studies – to systematically examine the relationship between misogynistic media content, across diverse media forms, and misogynistic reactions. The research team, comprising members from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and the United States, systematically reviewed scientific literature spanning approximately 47 years and included 257 studies with a total of 132,933 participants.