Posted on 01/13/2015 7:36:25 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Headlines citing a study finding one in three college men would rape a women if they could get away with it are splashed all over Feminist Internet — despite the fact that this stat is based on a survey of just 73 guys at the University of North Dakota.
These headlines seem like a pretty big jump: “Study: 1 in 3 Men Would Rape if They Wouldn’t Get Caught or Face Consequences” (Cosmopolitan), “Study Finds That a Third of College Men Would Rape if They Could Get Away With It (Feministing), “1 in 3 Male University Students Would Sexually Assault a Woman “If They Could Get Away With It” (Crave Online), and “1 in 3 College Men Admit They Would Rape If We Don’t Call it ‘Rape’” (Jezebel).
As the Jezebel headline suggests, the details of the study reveal that while 31.7 percent of respondents said they would act on “intentions to force a woman to sexual intercourse” if they could get away with it, only 13.6 percent of them said they would act on “intentions to rape a woman” under the same circumstances. This means that 23 guys said they would force sex on someone if they could, and 13 guys perhaps did not realize that this would be rape.
The fact that anyone would say these things is obviously disturbing — but so is representing something so serious disingenuously. Seventy-three men from a single college do not accurately represent the views of “college men.” A survey at one school is of course not representative, and such a small sample size statistically means the 31.7 percent number could probably be off by double digits.
Sure, the outlets eventually explain how small the study was in the body of their posts. But we live in an age where most people don’t read beyond headlines or tweets. This is how false information spreads. Many people will see this “news” and assume that it represents the views of college men in general, because that is what these headlines (falsely) assert.
This movement’s repeated use of these tactics, like the debunked one-in-five-sexually-assaulted statistic, will eventually discredit it — something that is particularly devastating when we’re talking about an issue as serious as rape.
— Katherine Timpf is a reporter at National Review Online.
It might be interesting to see what she’ll look like once she hits menopause...wait, no it won’t. She might be worse than Helen Thomas.
I suspect 1 out of three people, male or female, would do all sorts of heinous things if they could get away with it. That’s why we have a justice system, not simply an honor system.
Good point.
Have we found our Helen Thomas replacement?
That's a valid method when the sample is randomly selected and sizable - neither of which was the case here.
Picture Helen Thomas with ugly tattoos.
The rate of women being raped on a college campus is lower than the rate that they are raped in the general population.
One is too many, of course, but there’s no “campus rape epidemic” out there, despite what the social-jusitce warriors want us to believe.
Don't forget that the sample needs to be representative as well.
Lena really should cover up otherwise some “Save the Whales” people may try to drag her back into the water.
Poll results are employed in accordance with the unspoken motives that triggered the exercise in the first place:
Namely, to confer moral authority for their usage as a legitimate tool of cultural intimidation against those whom the results have shown to be one’s adversaries.
I wonder what Helen looked like when she was 28.
Ugh; name your price, but PUH LEEZE, never again !!
The definition of rape is shape shifting so the statistics now, compared to years ago looks awful to the layperson.
I have known a lot of men in my time. Some were lewd, crude, and frankly abusive towards women in many ways.
But 1 in 3 a willing rapist? Sorry, that does not pass ANY smell test.
Pray tell, are you one of the three?
Your statement is without any serious thought.
You think 1 out of 3 would do such things...does that include all of your friends?
What hogwash.
FMCDH(BITS)
Let me guess -
The survey was given to drunken fraternity dudes right after a party, and answered by the ones that didn’t pick up dates at the party...
No, I’m not one of the three. But what society exists without law enforcement? When, in history? Why, pray tell?
Where is George Costanza, Marine Biologist when you need him?
Isn’t it just another variation of this...
Milgram Experiment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment
The pictures of Dunham just get worse and yet more repulsive. That one is the best worst one yet! Beached whale alert!
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