The term “believe women” was popularized during the #MeToo movement. Sadly, the term has fanned confusion and paranoia with critics assuming the mantra demands that one always believe women no matter what. But as Jude Ellison Sady Doyle points out in the 2017 article “Despite What You May Have Heard, ‘Believe Women’ Has Never Meant ‘Ignore Facts’,” the term never meant that.
There is a close analogy here between “Believe women” and “Black lives matter.” The term “Black lives matter” has never meant that Black lives matter more, as its critics tendentiously claimed. Rather, it means black lives matter as much as other lives. In short, it was seeking to redress a systemic pattern of devaluing black people.
Similarly, “Believe women” never meant believe women at the expense of critical thinking. Rather, it means when a woman makes an allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment, you give them the benefit of the doubt in recognition that they are probably not lying or delusional.
This general deference to the testimony of women as regards sexual harassment and assault is borne out by the statistical evidence. For example, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center cites several studies that identify false reporting of sexual assault as ranging between 2.1 percent-7.1 percent. In other words, more than 90 percent of the time, the allegation is true.
While it is true that women sometimes make fales reports out of delusion, malice, or simple error, such cases are relatively rare. “Believe women” does not ask us to set aside critical thinking lest we uncritically accept one of those relatively uncommon false reports. But it does challenge us to begin to shift broad societal attitudes that have long perpetuated abuse against women.
If I were to summarize the gist of the concept, it would be this: “LISTEN to women.” While it is true that there are false allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault, we should always carefully evaluate the testimony and supporting evidence of those who claim they have been subjected to that kind of abuse. As Doyle simply puts it, “when a normally trustworthy woman gives us an ordinary-sounding account of assault or harassment, she is probably not making it up.”
