Week 6- Statistics

Statistics are perceived to be cut and dry facts, because numbers are objective, duh!  Except this is not always the case.  Numbers tell a story, but the kind of story they tell is not as objective as we like to think.  The information we extrapolate from data may depend on the answer we're actively looking for.

I find that statistical data is often taken at face value by the general public, which is alarming because not all data is created equal and there are cases of misleading or straight up fabricated statistics we see every day.

Did you know that 80% of dentists recommend Rosebrugh brand toothpaste?  Well, who are these dentists?  How did we find them?  Who did the research?  What wording was used in the questions that led us to this stat? (Obviously a fake stat, I do not own a toothpaste brand...yet...)

I felt I had to get that little rant out of the way before addressed the actual questions this week.

The truth is that I rely on statistics and find them very effective and illuminating.  The stories told in numbers that are the most impactful for me are ones that quantify inequality and oppression.  I think that's because it gives me a sort of tangible tool when discussing issues like racism, that can be invisible to those who are privileged enough for it to not be a part of their life experience.  For example, someone might argue that racism is no longer an issue.  Which is impossible to believe if you look at the statistical breakdown of how race impacts rates of incarceration, police violence, poverty etc.  (The lesson here is, don't try to argue with me unless you've done your research.)

One story around statistics that really taught me about the human story behind the numbers was shared with my first year sociology class.  My professor informed us that 18 years after Roe v. Wade, rates of crime in the United States had dropped significantly.  It wasn't because police were doing such an amazing job or people just didn't want to break the law anymore.
It was because children who are unwanted or who have parents unable to provide them with proper care have an increased likelihood of being involved in criminal activity, which tends to be around 18 years of age.  Because women had the right to choose, their unwanted children weren't born and weren't exposed to the risk factors leading to criminal activity.
The crime rate data 18 years after Roe v. Wade had a very interesting human story behind the numbers that has stuck with me 10 years later.