Survey reveals disturbing attitudes towards violence against women among men in Finland

Social media has been buzzing with criticism regarding a recently published survey that examines men’s attitudes toward violence against women. Notably, one assertion within the survey has drawn significant backlash. Participants were asked if they agree with the statement, “Women may deserve violence directed at them due to their clothing, behavior, or appearance.” Alarmingly, one in four men under 35 expressed agreement with this notion.

Critics have highlighted the ambiguity of the term “behavior,” pointing out that it can encompass various interpretations, including violent actions. Jari Pajunen, the CEO of Taloustutkimus, which conducted the study, supports this view. He stresses that merging multiple concepts into a single question can confuse respondents, as it’s unclear which aspect they are addressing. This uncertainty could lead to misleading interpretations of the results.

Juho Rahkonen, a research and client director at Iro Research, concurs regarding the problematic phrasing of the assertion, suggesting it could have been more clear-cut. However, he maintains that the study’s intent is understandable and dismisses the critique as overly nitpicky. He does express concern over why the more complex finding was highlighted when the same study also revealed that 90% of men condemn violence against women.

Addressing the criticism, Silla Kakkola, Secretary General of the organization behind the survey, acknowledges the issues raised but refrains from commenting on whether the behavior aspect should have been addressed separately. She affirms that the statements reflect perceptions of women’s characteristics and emphasizes that the notion of deserving violence is indicative of a troubling culture. Kakkola is satisfied that the survey has sparked significant dialogue and suggests exploring these themes in future research to gain deeper insights.