# Who is the target audience for gratuitous “T and A”; include beefcake here **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377 "2026-03-11T18:54:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/1 "2026-03-11T18:54:54Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Series you’ve recently watched, are now watching or have given up on](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/8475): Comment made about a show I don’t watch but broadly. _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/1))_ I am suspicious that women are more the target demographic then men. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/2 "2026-03-11T19:04:10Z")
I’m a little confused by the poll, but I think you’re asking, when there is gratuitous T&A, who is the target audience, male or female? I’m female and I think the target audience is usually, but not always, male. I’m not sure what “not me” means. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/3 "2026-03-11T19:05:44Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > but I think you’re asking, when there is gratuitous T&A, who is the target audience, male or female? Yes. “Not me” is not me as the target demographic. For whatever reason. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/4 "2026-03-11T19:07:56Z")
I understand now. I voted “not me but I think men more.” ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/5 "2026-03-11T19:08:32Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I am suspicious that women are more the target demographic then men. I think that with respect to this particular show (_Landman_) women are absolutely targeted in addition to men, but in this case I think it’s more a reflection of Taylor Sheridan’s fetishes than a target demographic. He’s a good writer. But I think he’s also a perv. Maybe it’s just my age, but I don’t need to see the outline of the labia of an 18 year old character (I know the actress is 28). ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/6 "2026-03-11T19:12:06Z")
I haven’t seen the show in question. The only show I can think of that seems heavily beefcake to an audience of women is _Supernatural._ It started out targeting men with gratuitous T&A but eventually figured out who was watching it and catered accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/7 "2026-03-11T19:13:07Z")
Reading up I am discovering the concept of “sexposition” - using nudity during exposition dumps to keep bored viewers of either gender from flipping stations. > **[Sexposition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexposition)** > > In visual media such as television and film, sexposition is the technique of providing exposition against a backdrop of sex or nudity. The Financial Times defined sexposition as "keeping viewers hooked by combining complex plot exposition with explicit sexual goings-on". Its purpose, according to James Poniewozik, is to divert the audience and give characters something to do while exposition is being delivered, which is what distinguishes sexposition from merely gratuitous titillation. > The term ... ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/8 "2026-03-11T19:16:52Z")
_Game of Thrones_ did that liberally. At least in the first season, which is the only one I watched. There was a scene where two people were talking while two nude women had sex in the background. There’s another scene featuring a mass orgy in the background in _Peacemaker_ but I think it’s making an eloquent point about where the character’s head is at (he barely notices) while also being very funny. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/9 "2026-03-11T19:17:35Z")
My suspicion is that women at least as much as men can’t look away from naked women on display. My WAG is that female nudity is not exclusively for the male gaze. Apparently _Landman_ (again not a show I’ve seen) is counterpoint against my WAG: its demographic target was adult conservative and suburban men? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/10 "2026-03-11T19:19:14Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > _Peacemaker_ Yeah that was not gratuitous. Over the top yes. But that was its point both as comedy and for where his head was at. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/11 "2026-03-11T19:20:38Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > _Game of Thrones_ did that liberally. The term “sexposition” was actually coined because of Game of Thrones, wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/12 "2026-03-11T19:21:40Z")
My definition of gratuitous is pretty much anything that doesn’t serve the plot or story. Sex scenes often serve the story. Sexposition at least serves the story (I’m thinking _Game of Thrones_ used this a lot). Scenes of cheerleaders exercising and taunting adolescent boys, and scenes of women in the gym contribute nothing to the story being told in _Landman_. They’re just eye candy. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/13 "2026-03-11T19:24:18Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > My suspicion is that women at least as much as men can’t look away from naked women on display. My WAG is that female nudity is not exclusively for the male gaze. This came up recently as a friend and I were discussing how she’s sort of attracted to women but not. Certain women are alluring even to straight women. And my friend was wondering whether she had any latent lesbian tendencies and I said, “Well, maybe, but we’re also socialized from childhood to view women’s bodies as inherently erotic, so maybe it’s just that.” She said, “Oooh, good point.” ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/14 "2026-03-11T19:28:33Z")
Not to hijack my own OP, but similarly: are the women celebrities parading in “naked dressing”, gowns hanging off their nipples and such, getting more clicks from men or women? Who do they perceive they are performing for? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/15 "2026-03-11T19:41:08Z")
I doubt many men care what women wear to awards shows. But I don’t think women are really thinking about those women sexually. They are more into the fashion aspect and I imagine some view it as empowering. There’s a whole school of thought (that I’m sympathetic to) about the importance of women asserting their sexuality. That was the allure of Madonna - even to me. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/16 "2026-03-11T19:50:47Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I don’t think women are really thinking about those women sexually. The question does not require thinking sexually. Just getting and keeping your attention. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/17 "2026-03-11T19:55:34Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > _Game of Thrones_ did that liberally. At least in the first season, It continues throughout. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/18 "2026-03-11T19:56:18Z")
My (possibly shaky) memory is that Sex and the City, Season 1 has lots of gratuitous stuff, because all HBO shows had that back then, but then when they realized who their target demo was, they got rid of most of it and maybe added more beefcake. Apparently, Outlander’s gratuitous stuff is geared to keeping women’s attention, rather than men, but I haven’t watched it. I imagine studies would show that men are more entranced by gratuitous female visuals than women are of men or women visuals, so most gratuitous stuff is probably geared towards men. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/19 "2026-03-11T19:57:33Z")
I found it very annoying. But in fairness, I generally don’t like nudity or sex in film. I find it very distracting. Which might prove @DSeid’s point! ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/20 "2026-03-11T20:00:24Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Apparently, Outlander’s gratuitous stuff is geared to keeping women’s attention, rather than men, but I haven’t watched it I’m not surprised a show based on a romance novel is beefcake! I think I watched some of it. Too, well, gratuitous for me, and not just the sex. Although props to them for showing a woman having an orgasm. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377.md?page=2)