This Week's Silly Science Study

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When you see this photo, from the online Frederick's of Hollywood catalogue, what do you think of?

Apparently, it is news to science that you did not immediately think of her mind.

This from a new peer-reviewed research paper:
Past research, feminist theory and parental admonishments all have long suggested that when men see a woman wearing little or nothing, they focus on her body and think less of her mind. 

Aren't you glad your tax dollars paid for the research to come to that shocking conclusion?

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 15, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    I don't completely disagree with your sentiment, but I do feel compelled to point out that your critique does not accurately reflect the content of the article. The paragraph that you highlight and suggest is the "shocking" discovery is not that at all. Rather, that paragraph describes the commonly held belief that the researchers feel does not fully describe the situation and on which they have some clarification. Perhaps the most interesting being that the perceptions are not particularly different between men and women. Now, does this rise to the level of good science? Should public money be spend on such research? Well, I don't know, but I do think it is only fair make sure one comments on what is actually being said rather than something taken out of context.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mike SmithNovember 15, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    Your comment is fair, thank you. That is why I provided the link so readers can glean the value of the study for themselves.

    That said, from where I sit, there are FAR higher priorities than spending our tax dollars than studies like this and that sexy anchorwomen distract men: http://meteorologicalmusings.blogspot.com/2011/01/todays-silly-science-study-men.html , etc.

    I only post a few of these that come across my desk. You should see the one about the "brains of conservatives" last week that was so bad I didn't want to post it because I didn't want anyone to possibly believe I am in favor of that nonsense masquerading as "science."

    It appears to me that there is a class of "research" out there that exists because there is funding available rather than gaining knowledge or serving any useful purpose. I try to highlight these in a lighthearted way to gently chide the scientific community to spend our dollars wisely.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousNovember 15, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    "When you see this photo, what do you think of?"

    I think things like "My feet hurt just looking at those shoes!" But I'm a middle-aged woman so obviously, your mileage may vary :-)

    Elaine

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousNovember 16, 2011 at 4:31 AM

    Quite agree Mike. Money spent stating the obvious.

    For the record I looked and though umm, very nice. Not overweight and scruffy, which unfortunately seems the everyday norm. Like Elaine I wonder about those shoes, a high heel can look good but not that high.

    Feel free to post additional lovelies, a good counter to the gloom brought about by tornadoes.

    Barry (UK reader)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mike SmithNovember 16, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    Barry, I do like to treat this and a few other recurring topics ("Global Warming: Is There Anything It Can't Do?") with a light touch.

    Thanks for the suggestion going forward, go back and look at this one about anchorwomen: Three very intelligent and very attractive women that our tax dollars found, shock!, "distract men." http://meteorologicalmusings.blogspot.com/2011/01/todays-silly-science-study-men.html

    ReplyDelete

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