• Sexist Humor No Laughing Matter, Psychologist Says
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[url]http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071106083038.htm[/url] [B]ScienceDaily (Nov. 6, 2007) — A research project led by a Western Carolina University psychology professor indicates that jokes about blondes and women drivers are not just harmless fun and games; instead, exposure to sexist humor can lead to toleration of hostile feelings and discrimination against women.[/B] “Sexist humor is not simply benign amusement. It can affect men’s perceptions of their immediate social surroundings and allow them to feel comfortable with behavioral expressions of sexism without the fear of disapproval of their peers,” said Thomas E. Ford, a new faculty member in the psychology department at WCU. “Specifically, we propose that sexist humor acts as a ‘releaser’ of prejudice.” In their research article*, Ford and the graduate student co-authors describe two research projects designed to test the theory that “disparagement humor” has negative social consequences and plays an important role in shaping social interaction. “Our research demonstrates that exposure to sexist humor can create conditions that allow men – especially those who have antagonistic attitudes toward women – to express those attitudes in their behavior,” he said. “The acceptance of sexist humor leads men to believe that sexist behavior falls within the bounds of social acceptability.” In one experiment, Ford and his student colleagues asked male participants to imagine that they were members of a work group in an organization. In that context, they either read sexist jokes, comparable non-humorous sexist statements, or neutral (non-sexist) jokes. They were then asked to report how much money they would be willing to donate to help a women’s organization. “We found that men with a high level of sexism were less likely to donate to the women’s organization after reading sexist jokes, but not after reading either sexist statements or neutral jokes,” Ford said. In the second experiment, researchers showed a selection of video clips of sexist or non-sexist comedy skits to a group of male participants. In the sexist humor setting, four of the clips contained humor depicting women in stereotypical or demeaning roles, while the fifth clip was neutral. The men were then asked to participate in a project designed to determine how funding cuts should be allocated among select student organizations. “We found that, upon exposure to sexist humor, men higher in sexism discriminated against women by allocating larger funding cuts to a women’s organization than they did to other organizations,” Ford said. “We also found that, in the presence of sexist humor, participants believed the other participants would approve of the funding cuts to women’s organizations. We believe this shows that humorous disparagement creates the perception of a shared standard of tolerance of discrimination that may guide behavior when people believe others feel the same way.” The research indicates that people should be aware of the prevalence of disparaging humor in popular culture, and that the guise of benign amusement or “it’s just a joke” gives it the potential to be a powerful and widespread force that can legitimize prejudice in our society, he said. *Ford, who conducted research into sexist humor with three graduate students at his previous institution of Western Michigan University, presents their findings in an article accepted for publication in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. The article, “More Than Just a Joke: The Prejudice-Releasing Function of Sexist Humor,” is scheduled for publication in February 2008.
Sexist jokes are funny End of story
The obvious fix to this is just to ban either men or women, so they can't make jokes directed towards either party.
You know what's funny? An article talking about the negative effects of sexism that only highlights sexism against women and doesn't say a word about sexism against men.
"ScienceDaily (Nov. 6, 2007)" [QUOTE=Lufttygger306;36054703]Sexist jokes are funny End of story[/QUOTE] Did you actually read it? It says that sexist humour makes people think of sexism as being more acceptable, not that it makes it less funny.
God damn, people need to grow some thicker skin. Pretty soon you're not going to be allowed to say anything even slightly edgy for fear of offending someone. [editline]22nd May 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Rents;36054730] Did you actually read it? It says that sexist humour makes people think of sexism as being more acceptable, not that it makes it less funny.[/QUOTE] I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Plenty of people I know occasionally crack a joke that is sexist or otherwise in bad taste, but I don't see that reflecting on their personality.
[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;36054708]You know what's funny? An article talking about the negative effects of sexism that only highlights sexism against women and doesn't say a word about sexism against men.[/QUOTE] that is because sexism against men isn't a vast social prejudice which has ensconced itself in every aspect of our society
[QUOTE=SigmaLambda;36054798]that is because sexism against men isn't a vast social ill which has ensconced itself in every aspect of our society[/QUOTE] Oh god, here we go. Sir Whoopsalot vs Sigma Lambda, the internet "debate" of the century.
Womans rights
[QUOTE=SigmaLambda;36054798]that is because sexism against men isn't a vast social prejudice which has ensconced itself in every aspect of our society[/QUOTE] This poster speaks the truth. Really irritates me how people think it's all just a joke and shouldn't be taken seriously.
[QUOTE=Rents;36054730] Did you actually read it? It says that sexist humour makes people think of sexism as being more acceptable, not that it makes it less funny.[/QUOTE] I guess whoever wrote the title hadn't read it either
[QUOTE=yawmwen;36054822]Oh god, here we go. Sir Whoopsalot vs Sigma Lambda, the internet "debate" of the century.[/QUOTE] hehe bunch of nerds arguing on the internet.. what a bunch of losers, not like i would ever do something as stupid as that..
[QUOTE=JeanLuc761;36054735]I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Plenty of people I know occasionally crack a joke that is sexist or otherwise in bad taste, but I don't see that reflecting on their personality.[/QUOTE] It's linked to it, it's not a "if A, then B" thing.
[QUOTE=JeanLuc761;36054735]God damn, people need to grow some thicker skin. Pretty soon you're not going to be allowed to say anything even slightly edgy for fear of offending someone.[/QUOTE] isn't not wanting to be an insensitive shit to your fellow human beings a good thing, though? it is genuine insensitivity btw. [QUOTE=JeanLuc761;36054735]I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Plenty of people I know occasionally crack a joke that is sexist or otherwise in bad taste, but I don't see that reflecting on their personality.[/QUOTE] i do.
[QUOTE=koeniginator;36054847]I guess whoever wrote the title hadn't read it either[/QUOTE] that or you're having trouble understanding basic wordplay
[QUOTE=Lufttygger306;36054703]Sexist jokes are funny End of story[/QUOTE] BUT IT'S JUST A JOKE! IT'S FUNNY, IT'S NOT SERIOUS! I'M NOT HURTING ANYONE! But yeah, you are. Sure, you're not hitting anyone, but you're helping to perpetuate the climate of discrimination. I'm going to guess you're male. The problem with the "It's just a joke!" defense is that [I]you are part of the dominant group telling those with less power how they should respond[/I], when they are telling you they are being hurt or uncomfortable with what you consider humor. It is easy for you to say it's just a joke or you don't mean it and are just kidding because you're not the target and don't have to live in a society where you're the target of discrimination every day. It just upholds the climate of demeaning and belittlement — as this article scientifically links it. Attitudes like yours also make it signficantly harder for minorities to speak up. No one wants to be "that guy/girl" who can't take a joke, and women, especially online, are already in a weaker position socially and so there is extra pressure to not say anything so you can fit in.
[QUOTE=Kopimi;36054852]hehe bunch of nerds arguing on the internet.. what a bunch of losers, not like i would ever do something as stupid as that..[/QUOTE] Not just arguing on the internet, arguing about sex and sexism. Also, not saying it's wrong or anything, just that Sigma Lambda doesn't really argue as much as throw insults and sarcastic comments. [editline]22nd May 2012[/editline] Which makes for an incredibly entertaining argument, but it's not really much for intellectual discourse.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;36054889]Not just arguing on the internet, arguing about sex and sexism. Also, not saying it's wrong or anything, just that Sigma Lambda doesn't really argue as much as throw insults and sarcastic comments.[/QUOTE] dont forget that I am also a "confirmed sexist"!
[QUOTE=SigmaLambda;36054915]dont forget that I am also a "confirmed sexist"![/QUOTE] You are a sexist, as is Sir Whoopsalot, but I won't go into that. [editline]22nd May 2012[/editline] Hell, I'm probably a sexist too.
-dumb post sorry-
[QUOTE=yawmwen;36054889]Not just arguing on the internet, arguing about sex and sexism. Also, not saying it's wrong or anything, just that Sigma Lambda doesn't really argue as much as throw insults and sarcastic comments. [editline]22nd May 2012[/editline] Which makes for an incredibly entertaining argument, but it's not really much for intellectual discourse.[/QUOTE] literally 100% of the time so far sigmalambda has constantly been right about everything and does a good job of proving his point, the fact that he's sarcastic in response to stupid shit like this doesn't invalidate that. i have a hard time seeing how it's somehow any less "intellectual" just because hes witty
[QUOTE=SigmaLambda;36054859]isn't not wanting to be an insensitive shit to your fellow human beings a good thing, though? it is genuine insensitivity btw.[/QUOTE] I guess from my perspective I see the situation a little differently. I'm a straight, white male in his 20s, so I'm about as "generic" as you could get. I've always more or less adhered to one of George Carlin's philosophies: "I believe you can joke about anything. It all depends on how you construct the joke: what the exaggeration is. Every joke needs one exaggeration, one thing blown waaaaaay out of proportion." That's not to say that I mean to be insensitive, far from it. If I told a joke and the person I was telling it to found it in bad taste and asked me to stop, I would absolutely do so. But I still think that those jokes should be allowed to be told. Maybe that's wrong, I don't know.
[QUOTE=SigmaLambda;36054798]that is because sexism against men isn't a vast social prejudice which has ensconced itself in every aspect of our society[/QUOTE] Except it is? Men are taught to be heroes, to be masculine, to not cry and to not be gay. Society will look down if you're lacking one of these features. Sure it's more accepted today than it was some years ago, but sexism against women is not nearly as big as it was some years ago too. Anyone who thinks sexism is a problem only for women is a fool.
go back 2 the kicthen and make me a sammich har har har har
[QUOTE=JeanLuc761;36054953]I guess from my perspective I see the situation a little differently. I'm a straight, white male in his 20s, so I'm about as "generic" as you could get. I've always more or less adhered to one of George Carlin's philosophies: "I believe you can joke about anything. It all depends on how you construct the joke: what the exaggeration is. Every joke needs one exaggeration, one thing blown waaaaaay out of proportion." That's not to say that I mean to be insensitive, far from it. If I told a joke and the person I was telling it to found it in bad taste and asked me to stop, I would absolutely do so. But I still think that those jokes should be allowed to be told. Maybe that's wrong, I don't know.[/QUOTE] You can still make sexist jokes. It's just that they may be more harmful than what you originally thought. It's like telling a racist joke, they are pretty much insensitive and shouldn't be told. Also, there's a difference between making fun of sexism and making fun of women. Just like there is a difference between making fun of racism and making fun of a black guy.
[QUOTE=AceOfDivine;36054969]Except it is? Men are taught to be heroes, to be masculine, to not cry and to not be gay. Society will look down if you're lacking one of these features. Sure it's more accepted today than it was some years ago, but sexism against women is not nearly as big as it was some years ago too. Anyone who thinks sexism is a problem only for women is a fool.[/QUOTE] wow you're so close to connecting the dots it hurts yes patriarchy effects men adversely but that isn't *sexism*
[QUOTE=JeanLuc761;36054953]I guess from my perspective I see the situation a little differently. I'm a straight, white male in his 20s, so I'm about as "generic" as you could get. I've always more or less adhered to one of George Carlin's philosophies: "I believe you can joke about anything. It all depends on how you construct the joke: what the exaggeration is. Every joke needs one exaggeration, one thing blown waaaaaay out of proportion." [/QUOTE] sure. but how about the thing you milk for laughs isn't the social discrimination of 51 percent of the world's population, though? [QUOTE=JeanLuc761;36054953]That's not to say that I mean to be insensitive, far from it. If I told a joke and the person I was telling it to found it in bad taste and asked me to stop, I would absolutely do so. But I still think that those jokes should be allowed to be told. Maybe that's wrong, I don't know.[/QUOTE] no one is saying sexist jokes should be banned. "they want to ban x" is an assumption that a lot of people seem to make in cases like this when its almost never valid what I, and this article are saying is that jokes like these are both indicative and of and serve to further reinforce genuine sexist attitudes, and that people [i]who know that sexism is a serious issue[/i] should choose not to reinforce sexism by engaging in that sort of behavior.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;36054988]You can still make sexist jokes. It's just that they may be more harmful than what you originally thought. It's like telling a racist joke, they are pretty much insensitive and shouldn't be told. Also, there's a difference between making fun of sexism and making fun of women. Just like there is a difference between making fun of racism and making fun of a black guy.[/QUOTE] A joke is a joke. People who take shit too seriously is why we can't have nice things. If everyone was a bit more chill the world would be a much nicer place and you wouldn't have to be 100% political if you don't want to get screamed at.
[QUOTE=JeanLuc761;36054953]I guess from my perspective I see the situation a little differently. I'm a straight, white male in his 20s, so I'm about as "generic" as you could get. I've always more or less adhered to one of George Carlin's philosophies: "I believe you can joke about anything. It all depends on how you construct the joke: what the exaggeration is. Every joke needs one exaggeration, one thing blown waaaaaay out of proportion." That's not to say that I mean to be insensitive, far from it. If I told a joke and the person I was telling it to found it in bad taste and asked me to stop, I would absolutely do so. But I still think that those jokes should be allowed to be told. Maybe that's wrong, I don't know.[/QUOTE] hey did you know there's a difference between "allowed to do" and "ethically should do"
[QUOTE=AceOfDivine;36054969]Except it is? Men are taught to be heroes, to be masculine, to not cry and to not be gay. Society will look down if you're lacking one of these features. Sure it's more accepted today than it was some years ago, but sexism against women is not nearly as big as it was some years ago too. Anyone who thinks sexism is a problem only for women is a fool.[/QUOTE] hey dude, guess what: sexism against women is what is responsible for those attitudes about men
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