Myths about myths? A commentary on Thomas (2020) and the question of jury rape myth acceptance

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Ellen Daly Anglia Ruskin University, UK

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Olivia Smith Loughborough University, UK

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Hannah Bows Durham University, UK

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Jennifer Brown London School of Economics, UK

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James Chalmers Glasgow University, UK

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Sharon Cowan University of Edinburgh, UK

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Miranda Horvath Middlesex University, UK

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Fiona Leverick Glasgow University, UK

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Jo Lovett London Metropolitan University, UK

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Vanessa Munro University of Warwick, UK

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Dominic Willmott Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

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This commentary responds to claims that research by Cheryl Thomas ‘shows’ no problem with rape myths in English and Welsh juries. We critique the claim on the basis of ambiguous survey design, a false distinction between ‘real’ jurors and other research participants, the conflation of attitudes in relation to abstract versus applied rape myths, and misleading interpretation of the data. Ultimately, we call for a balanced appraisal of individual studies by contextualising them against the wider literature.

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Ellen Daly Anglia Ruskin University, UK

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Olivia Smith Loughborough University, UK

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Hannah Bows Durham University, UK

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Jennifer Brown London School of Economics, UK

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James Chalmers Glasgow University, UK

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Sharon Cowan University of Edinburgh, UK

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Miranda Horvath Middlesex University, UK

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Fiona Leverick Glasgow University, UK

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Jo Lovett London Metropolitan University, UK

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Vanessa Munro University of Warwick, UK

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Dominic Willmott Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

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