Mathematical Proof That The Media is Sexist and Bad at Math

In summary, the article on Cracked.com discusses the media's lack of understanding of basic math principles and how it contributes to sexist ideas. It also highlights the different definitions of "sex" between men and women, and how this affects studies on sexual behavior. Additionally, the article touches on the idea of men exaggerating their sexual experiences while women downplay theirs, and how this is viewed differently in society. The conversation also brings up the issue of prostitutes not being accounted for in some studies and the audience's lack of knowledge in basic construction math.
  • #1
AnTiFreeze3
246
9
"Mathematical Proof That The Media is Sexist and Bad at Math"

Here's is a link to my favorite comedy website: Cracked.com (The website itself may be NSFW, but this particular article doesn't get vulgar).

I thought that this was an interesting article that points out what is too obvious for the media to pick up on: For every male partner, there needs to be a female partner; and also that men lie, as do women, for different reasons. It also has the word "math" in the title, and uses some basic calculations, so maybe it'll be attractive to read for those of you who consider literature to be math books.

I just felt like sharing something that points out another lack of thinking on the part of the media.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
  • #2


The only way it would be possible, of what the article discusses, is if there were tons of guys acting in homosexual ways, which i presume is false
 
  • #3


There's the issue of what a person considers "sex", to consider. Things that wouldn't count as 'having sex" among your guy friends would be grounds for divorce for sexual infidelity if you were married, or impeachment if you were a U.S. President.
 
  • #4


In other words, guys consider more things to be sex than women do - which is true.

And articles citing studies where men have more sexual partners than women are truthful reporting, with the mathematical impossibility of that prompting people to find better ways of conducting their studies, more ways of making sure the participants know not even the anonymous test giver will know their answers, etc.

And studies asking just what do people consider "sex", with those results also differing by gender.

But there's a definite feeling males find ways to boost their numbers, either through outright lying or more liberal definitions of what constitutes sex, while females find ways to reduce their number, either through outright lying or a more restrictive definition of what constitutes sex.
 
  • #5


BobG said:
But there's a definite feeling males find ways to boost their numbers, either through outright lying or more liberal definitions of what constitutes sex, while females find ways to reduce their number, either through outright lying or a more restrictive definition of what constitutes sex.
Absolutely. A notch on the bedpost is considered a badge of honor for a guy while for a girl it's a potential liability. Girls are afraid of the "s" word in a way you could never induce men to be.
 
  • #6


zoobyshoe said:
Absolutely. A notch on the bedpost is considered a badge of honor for a guy while for a girl it's a potential liability. Girls are afraid of the "s" word in a way you could never induce men to be.

That's a big part of the article. For guys, it's a bragging right to say that you've slept with someone, whereas with women, it's socially "indecent" to have slept with a high number of guys.
 
  • #7


I saw those "studies" and thought the same thing. "Then who are those guys sleeping with, each other?"
 
  • #8


You should also pay attention to whether they're talking about "average" or "median".

Seeing as how the overwhelming majority of prostitutes are female, the median for males could be higher than females even though their average number has to be equal. Plus, there's always the possibility that a random sample doesn't pick up prostitutes, since I don't think a very high percentage of the female population chooses that for an extra side job.
 
  • #9


Proof that media viewers are bad at math!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbX44YSsQ2I

Obviously the audience wasn't packed with construction workers, since knowing how to square the corners of a basement, a house's walls, etc, are pretty important. But, then again, I guess most just know
3, 4, and 5
and might have never actually squared them. (Just in case anybody wanted to solve this themselves :smile:)
 
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Related to Mathematical Proof That The Media is Sexist and Bad at Math

1. What is the definition of a mathematical proof?

A mathematical proof is a rigorous and logical argument that uses mathematical concepts and principles to demonstrate the truth or validity of a mathematical statement or theorem.

2. How can mathematical concepts be applied to prove sexism in media?

By analyzing statistical data and using mathematical models, we can demonstrate patterns and trends in media that support the existence of sexism and gender bias. This provides evidence for the argument that the media is inherently sexist.

3. What are some examples of mathematical models used to analyze media and gender bias?

One example is the Bechdel test, which uses a simple mathematical formula to determine whether a film or TV show features at least two female characters who have a conversation about something other than a man. Another example is the Geena Davis Institute's Gender Bias Without Borders tool, which uses statistical analysis to track the representation of female characters in media.

4. How does mathematical proof strengthen the argument for sexism in media?

Mathematical proof provides objective and quantitative evidence for the existence of gender bias in media. This strengthens the argument by removing subjective opinions and biases and presenting data-driven results that are difficult to dispute.

5. What are some potential limitations of using mathematical proof to demonstrate sexism in media?

Some limitations include the potential for data to be skewed or misrepresented, the inability to capture the full extent of gender bias in media, and the possibility of overlooking other factors that may contribute to sexism. It is important to approach mathematical proof with a critical and nuanced perspective.

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