komote Study Says Porn Magazines Children As Sexual Objects Dr. Judith A.

Reisman, a study in fundedby the JusticeDepartment, has reported that Playboy, Penthouse, and Hustler magazines-the country's three top-sellingmagazines erotic of literature-are responsiblefor promoting children as sexualobjects. "From the very beginning,since 1954(whenPlayboyreleased first its issue), childrenhaveappearedin sexual contextswith adults in thesemagazines,"Dr. Reismanreported. As a whole,the magazines typically beginby usingcartoons childrenin of sexualor violent situations. The number of cartoonsdepicting childrenas either the recipientsor initiators of sex or violencetotal 1,854 illustrationsamongthe threemagazines. magazines. Aftera periodof timethemagazines use "pseudo-children"-nude models over l8-yearsof age-to portray young children in sexualcontexts. A "pseudo-child" designated is as such if the photo spreaddepictsthe child in pigtails, oversizeshoes,sucking her thumb,with babydollsor teddy bearsby her side,wearingbobbysocks, sitting on an oversize chair,or wearing diapers,amonga variety of other props depictingchildhood. (32 Overthe pastthreedecades years for Playboy, yearsfor Penthouse, 16 and 1l yearsfor Hustler), magazines have the photo carried 681 pseudo-children spreads. "In summary," Dr. Reisman reported, "over 6,000 depictions of children were found in these three alonefrom 1954-1984;' magazines