ABSTRACT
While reading a political magazine that occasionally writes about domestic violence, I come across the following image. On page 139, there is a woman sitting on a fur rug completely naked—except for the high heels and a collar around her neck attached to a leash. She is running her hands through her hair while seemingly growling at the viewer. Do you think I am describing a picture from Playboy or National Review? It may seem obvious that the pornographic picture I described belongs to Playboy and not National Review, but you cannot tell the difference between these magazines when reading their articles on domestic violence. It is an old joke to say that people get Playboy and Penthouse “for the articles.” Although best known for their nude pictures, both of these popular men’s magazines do contain articles on social problems, such as domestic violence, that reach millions of readers. Though these men’s magazines are usually categorized as “entertainment” rather than “political,” they certainly play a role in the politics of framing domestic violence. Because politics, rather than entertainment, shapes their domestic violence articles, I include the men’s magazines in the category of political media.
