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"Half of women" sexually harassed at work

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The thing is surveys like this discredit themselves by making implausible claims based on wider definitions than most readers would accept. People need to learn that if you want to make claims and have people listen to you, you need to be careful with things like this. It shouldn't be difficult.

My theory in this case is that the BBC used a very wide definition because they were afraid of being subject to complaints that they were excluding people who thought they had also suffered 'harassment'. The price of this safe, inoffensive approach is that the survey loses credibility with anyone who doesn't already consider himself a dedicated feminist. In other cases wide definitions have been used for the purpose of exaggeration from the outset. In either case the result is the same.

But that is complete nonsense. Of course men who catcall wouldn't include that in the definition of harassment. Fact of the matter is that women are always weary of men. There may be exceptions, those that never experienced it themselves, but if anything the number of women who have suffered harassment or bias simply because they are women, is underestimated.

Reply 61

daario333

Original post by TimmonaPortella

I think the BBC thinks there are enough that it's easier for them to play it safe. This is how small outraged minorities get their way in many cases. Large organisations just want to avoid trouble.

The alternative is they were just sloppy :dontknow:

Well you're simply wrong. People complain for a myriad of reasons but it's never something like this. Radio regulation is even less tight than OFCOM and in terms of complaints, they'll never complain about something so small.

This is just another case of "internet right wingers" thinking everyone to the left of them are sensitive.

Please, just think about what you're saying. You think there's a large enough number of ppl who will complain to the BBC because they did not include jokes and banter as sexual harassment.

That's just plain dumb and you'd have to be extremely stupid to believe that. Or you're just that unaware of society.

Yes, I agree it may be sloppiness. It'd be impractical to exclude certain instances but ultimately what you see as sexual harassment is different. Have you noticed how in this thread the guys are very strict about sexual harassment whereas the women aren't as strict? That's part of the issue.

Original post by TimmonaPortella

Nobody denies that there's an issue, but if you want to draw attention to an issue you need to understand how to address your audience effectively. Claiming that '50% of women are sexually harassed at work' based on such a wide definition isn't the way to do it. You immediately lose a lot of people's attention, and you can't reasonably expect others to not point out the flaws in your claim.

You lost a lot of "internet right wing" attention which isn't a lot. this statistic has been on all major outlets and has stirred of conversation. Because only you "internet right wingers" have been so pedantic about it.

Yes, many believe that what constitutes to sexual harassment is a blurred line. But ultimately if its making women uncomfortable then it needs to stop.

There's a clear change we need in society.

I really think it's disgusting that you and others are undermining sexual harassment and assault like this.

Reply 62

annmerlinjohn27

Original post by Danny Dorito

Half of British women and a fifth of men have been sexually harassed at work or a place of study, a BBC survey says.

Of the women who said they had been harassed, 63% said they didn't report it to anyone, and 79% of the male victims kept it to themselves.

The survey, which was conducted by Radio 5 and spoke to 2,000 people, was commissioned following multiple allegations against Harvey Wienstein and the subsequent #MeToo social media campaign.

You can read more on the story here.

What do you make of this? Does this statistic shock you? What could be done to combat this?

It happens often. I think that stupid. They need to respect women.

Reply 63

Retired_Messiah

More than a quarter of people surveyed had suffered harassment in the form of inappropriate jokes or "banter"

Is that even.... what

Reply 64

the beer

Original post by daario333

Yes, I agree it may be sloppiness. It'd be impractical to exclude certain instances but ultimately what you see as sexual harassment is different. Have you noticed how in this thread the guys are very strict about sexual harassment whereas the women aren't as strict? That's part of the issue.