Brain Scans and Bikinis
Just in time for the annual SI swimsuit issue:
Brain scans revealed that when men are shown pictures of scantily clad women, the region of the brain associated with tool use lights up.
via National Geographic: Bikinis Make Men See Women as Objects, Scans Confirm.
The story goes on to relate that the “I wonder what that person is thinking?” areas of the men’s brains don’t light up at all during this same test. Any woman who has ever said “My eyes are up here.” already knows this.
I’m a little hesitant that a brain scan is being used as a proxy for a human sentiment and even intentions.
I’m also a little troubled that a picture of a bikini clad woman is being used to show that men see women in bikinis as objects when the picture (of a woman in a bikini) really is an object. There was a control group of pictures more fully clothed women as well, these got different results.
Mostly, I’m bothered that this empirical evidence in support of the ages-old wisdom of modesty in public dress is being construed as a dig against men. Men look at scantily clad women differently, they just do.
Perhaps this evidence will encourage some modesty on the part of women, if not, you’ll have to ask yourself why that might be.
Mathew 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’28 But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
