Myths about myths? A commentary on Thomas (2020) and the question of jury rape myth acceptance

Daly, E. et al. (2023) Myths about myths? A commentary on Thomas (2020) and the question of jury rape myth acceptance. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 7(1), pp. 189-200. (doi: 10.1332/239868021X16371459419254)

Abstract

This commentary responds to claims that research by Cheryl Thomas ‘shows’ no problem with rape myths in English and Welsh juries. We critique the claim on the basis of ambiguous survey design, a false distinction between ‘real’ jurors and other research participants, the conflation of attitudes in relation to abstract versus applied rape myths, and misleading interpretation of the data. Ultimately, we call for a balanced appraisal of individual studies by contextualising them against the wider literature.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Chalmers, Professor James and Leverick, Professor Fiona
• Authors: Daly, E., Smith, O., Bows, H., Brown, J., Chalmers, J., Cowan, S., Horvath, M., Leverick, F., Lovett, J., Munro, V., and Willmott, D.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Law
• Journal Name: Journal of Gender-Based Violence
• Publisher: Policy Press
• ISSN: 2398-6808
• ISSN (Online): 2398-6816
• Published Online: 06 January 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 Policy Press
• First Published: First published in Journal of Gender-Based Violence 7(1): 189-200
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher