A Missouri State University professor is soliciting pictures of men’s penises for research, according to a Monday report.
Sociology professor Alicia Walker wants to examine the relationship between the size of men’s penises and their self-esteem, approaches toward safe sex and sexual competence, reported The College Fix. The school’s institutional review board has approved her project.
“The purpose is to investigate how men feel about their bodies in a culture where we place emphasis on size, including size of penises,” Walker told The Fix. “The men I’ve talked to thus far are in a great deal of distress because of how we view penis size at present. And how they feel is absolutely impacting their condom use, their willingness to even attempt to approach potential sexual partners, and even going to the doctor for a physical exam.”
“Their physical health is actually impacted by how they feel about their penis,” she said. “This isn’t a frivolous study.”
Walker is advertising her study on Reddit and some of the social media network’s users have asked her why she needs what they call “dick pics.” Photographs are necessary to ensure “data validity and uniform measurement,” the professor replied. (RELATED: Feminist Scholar Analyzes History Of Pelicans And ‘Racialized, Sexual Violence’)
Walker’s online study description includes very detailed instructions on how men should measure their penises in both erect and flaccid states. The professor ensures anonymity to study participants, but if men want to take part without sending photos of their penises, they can be interviewed by Walker.
Editor’s note: The study has since ended after publication of this news story, according to a statement from Dr. Walker.
“I made this decision voluntarily,” Walker said. “I continue to believe the relationship between penis size and self-esteem is an important site of scientific inquiry, but the public reaction to the project threatens the reliability of the survey responses. The reliability of the study as a whole has been compromised.”
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