Why don't women know how to ski?
Because it doesn't snow between the kitchen and the bedroom.
This joke (as some may call it), is what many people call sexist, hurtful, and demeaning to women. I, on the other hand call it Hilarious. I love sexist jokes. Now mind you, I would like to call myself a feminist. I wholeheartedly believe that in the right of women to have equality in all endeavors just like men. However, I often take some flak for using them. Personally, I hold the belief that in the right context and used appropriately, a sexist joke can be a good source of humor.
I do not believe that a single blog post can explain why I hold this to be true, so for this post, I am going to list my reasoning and thoughts and explain them throughout other posts. So please, if you criticize or wish to know about any of my points, I will probably address them throughout the semester.
Point 1: Jokes are used in a non-serious manner and are not meant to reflect a person's point of view.
Point 2: A very large portion of humor uses exaggerations and stereotypes about individuals and groups of people.
Point 3: Jokes that play off of stereotypes and exaggerations do have the capability of hurting someone else's feelings or character. Therefore I only use the jokes with people I think will understand that they are only in jest.
I will discuss these reasons later. However, I am curious to hear others' opinions on the matter.
Point 3: Jokes that play off of stereotypes and exaggerations do have the capability of hurting someone else's feelings or character. Therefore I only use the jokes with people I think will understand that they are only in jest.
I will discuss these reasons later. However, I am curious to hear others' opinions on the matter.
Perhaps the issue is that these jokes require the presence of stereotypes that are hurtful and disrespectful. I understand that when you tell such a joke, you are doing so comically and not because it reflects a position that you hold. But these stereotypes ought to be eradicated, I think, and jokes, while seemingly harmless may serve as nothing but another avenue in which the stereotypes persist.
ReplyDeleteI have a relatively radical view on humor. I think that anything can be and should be used as the basis for humor. For if it is successful, if the worst possible situation can be used for humor, even for a moment, it becomes more than just that horrible thing. It has been used for good. That being said, while I, as a consequent, invite people to make light of any situation I am in, I respect that people do not share my sense of humor, and thus I must respect that there are topics they will not find funny. This speaks to your 3rd point, but I do think my first paragraph hits on the main problem.
I will politely disagree here.
ReplyDeleteI find sexist jokes to be just that, sexist. Every time a man tells a sexist joke, he is implying that he still sees a difference between himself and females. He is keeping these sexist notions alive and pretending like they were never very serious issues. It undermines what women have gone through for centuries and more. Just like every joke about the word "feminism" perpetuates the negative stereotype.
I also find that some light-hearted sexist jokes are even worse than the one you mention. I think I hear some joke or another about PMS at least once a day. Such jokes are horrible and sexist because they make it okay to disregard what a woman is saying because she doesn't actually mean it, she's just hysterical, not in control, and a victim of her hormones. Sounds very Victorian to me.
You may be making a joke and trying to relieve tension around an issue through jokes, but every single joke you make brings the issue to mind and keeps perpetuating the problem.
I take the same approach to sexist jokes as I do to racist jokes - it's only okay if it subverts or twists the stereotype, thereby mocking it rather than reinforcing it. For instance:
ReplyDeleteWhy do women live longer than men?
Because the kitchen is where all the knives are.
I don't see how that's funny, but I take your point about subverting stereotypes. Regarding humor generally, what about crafting jokes that don't demean anybody? I don't think there's really a shortage of things to laugh at...
ReplyDeleteNicole, to respond to your point, particularly about how by making the joke, the man implies he sees a difference between men and women, I disagree with that entirely. Sarcasm is a form of humor that I love that is capable of pointing out things and how wrong they are by pretending to agree with the point. Phrases like "Oh yeah that will work," or "Good work" used in a sarcastic context can show the flaws of such ideas. People often say things they don't believe in.
ReplyDeleteNow, Applying this to sexist jokes, by saying such a joke as above is in no way implying that I believe a woman actually belongs in the kitchen or the bedroom exclusively. I believe the value of the humor originates in the idea that somebody actually could believe it. The idea of someone actually believing that is so absurd to my mind that I laugh, since that is what the mind does when confronted by absurdity.
I think you may be conflating sarcasm with irony. The former often uses irony, but with a nasty edge.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how that jokes was funny, but I get it. Its hard for me to believe that people use jokes in a non-serious manner all the time. I believe that there is always a little seriousness to "Just kidding". I, however, agree with point 3. I think that it is easier to make jokes with people who you are comfortable with and people who you know won't take it so seriously to the point of feeling offended. I'm not an angel when it comes to jokes that span the realms of being racist, sexist, stereotypical etc. I've said things and laughed at things but at a point in time I realize it only adds to the problem and I must find other things to joke about.
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