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Original poster

Always: 61% of young people have felt ashamed for having a period

90 replies

TeenPlusCat · 15/03/2022 14:47

Ad just on TV as above Hmm

That can't be right can it?

Even if every single girl felt ashamed that would still make up only 51% of young people...

(sorry if this has been covered before)

OP posts:
StrawberrySquash · 15/03/2022 16:31

It is easy to interpret correctly when it's something like periods which we know only half the population have, aided by the fact that 61% of people talking about their periods is impossible. But if the number was only 20% I wouldn't know it it meant 20% of girls and 10% of young people, or 40% of girls and 20% of young people.

And yes, the 'old enough to menstruate bit is also implicit; this isn't about the views of four year olds, but that can be logically inferred.

What about if we were talking contraception: something both sexes need, but have very different experiences of. If you say 20% of people are happy with their contraceptive choice what do you really mean? 20% of women? Or did you survey men too? Is it a that 30% of men are happy, but 10% of women are? Or is it 20% of women and you didn't survey men. It quickly gets confusing. Now you always have questions about the sample when interpreting any survey, but this is an extra level of confusion.

anadulthumanfemale · 15/03/2022 16:31

@TeenPlusCat

If I did a survey and then put out results saying e.g. '70% of young people play football weekly' that would be misleading if actually 70% boys play but only 20% of girls. When dealing with statistics you need to be clear not leave it to the audience to decide you were incapable of using correct words.
False equivalence. In your example you are including ALL young people. There is no initial exclusion. This survey obviously was only for anyone who has had a period. Anyone who has not had a period is obviously not included as part of the 100% possible.

If your problem is the accuracy of the group then they would have to fully disclose every part of it and it would end up being "61% of young people who were born female who live in the UK and who have started having periods and who replied to our survey...." for true accuracy. Except we don't do that, because we take it as given that only those relevant to the survey are included.

If you have a problem with young people being used instead of girls that's fine, but don't pretend it's an accuracy issue, when it really isn't in this case.

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 15/03/2022 16:23

anadult Why would they not use the word girls if that's what they mean?

OP posts:
Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 15/03/2022 16:22

If I did a survey and then put out results saying e.g. '70% of young people play football weekly' that would be misleading if actually 70% boys play but only 20% of girls.
When dealing with statistics you need to be clear not leave it to the audience to decide you were incapable of using correct words.

OP posts:
anadulthumanfemale · 15/03/2022 16:22

If it is only relevant to one of the sexes then you don't need to specify do you? It's common knowledge and therefore it doesn't matter if people or girls is used because everyone would know what it meant.

If everyone knows it is only girls why do you need to make it clear? It's already clear, isn't it?

DameHelena · 15/03/2022 16:17

@TeenPlusCat

anadult Are you saying that you know the statistic is only about girls? Then why did they not use that very clear word then, instead of using 'people'? We have sex based words so that if we want to refer to something that is only relevant to one of the sexes we can be clear who we are referring to.
Exactly this. If anyone is being wilfully anything, it's you, anadult.
Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 15/03/2022 16:15

anadult Are you saying that you know the statistic is only about girls? Then why did they not use that very clear word then, instead of using 'people'? We have sex based words so that if we want to refer to something that is only relevant to one of the sexes we can be clear who we are referring to.

OP posts:
anadulthumanfemale · 15/03/2022 15:55

You are all just being wilfully ignorant. You know the 'who have had one' is implied.
This would be the case even if it used 'girls' instead of 'people'. Using basic definitions, a 'girl' would be a female child aged 0-17. So obviously not even 61% of girls would even of had periods yet, let alone felt ashamed of them. Using your logic here using 'girls' would make the statistics just as false.
If it said 'girls' you would inherently understand it, but you pretend not to when they use people?

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 15/03/2022 15:45

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4494640-Always-advert-61-of-young-people-have-felt-ashamed-for-having-a-period
Just seen the earlier thread. Smile

OP posts:
DameHelena · 15/03/2022 15:16

@TeenPlusCat

But if they say people, then their statistic can't be right. You can't use statistics and then change the population you are taking a percentage of.
Yes, exactly. I'm putting in a complaint.
Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 15/03/2022 14:59

Just did. I have never complained about advertising before, but that statistic is just so egregious.

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 15/03/2022 14:57

Complain to the ASA that they are using false statistics. It's laughable.

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 15/03/2022 14:55

But if they say people, then their statistic can't be right.
You can't use statistics and then change the population you are taking a percentage of.

OP posts:
Enough4me · 15/03/2022 14:51

People... I must ask my male partner if he's embarrassed then if it's all people.

Natfemale · 15/03/2022 14:49

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