A friend posts this status:
“It has been statistically proven that women are 3 times more likely to have car accidents than men, try not to drive beside one”
but wait a minute, what if you ask yourself few questions before you share this:
1.Who said that?
2.What is meant by ‘women’? what age bracket, where in the world?
3.What is meant by ‘accidents’? Is it possible that women are more likely to scratch their cars while parking, while men are much more likely to kill or get killed while driving on the highway?
4.What is meant by ‘statistically proven’: how did someone measure that? What’s the margin of error on that statement?
5.Who said that ‘number of accidents’ is a good measure of driving?
6.Do women drive mostly in peak hours, when it’s more likely to make accidents or in less busier times?
Is this enough to make you doubt? Think again:
7.When do girls get their driving licenses compared to boys?
8.Who teaches girls to drive? Who teaches boys? What kind of attention parents give to make each drive well?
9.What kind of cars women drive versus men? Can it affect the probability to have accidents?
10.Are cars designed equally for the physical abilities of men and women? Who tests and approves cars, men or women?
11.How does a society shape boys/girls confidence in their ability to drive?
12.How do male drivers react to a woman driving on the highway? Do they harass her? Ignore her? Or follow the same rules they follow with other male drivers?
Now, do you really believe that it’s fair to say women are bad drivers?
So next time, when someone posts some ‘scientific’ statement, think first, then share …
Recent Comments