Like most people, I appreciate a good joke. Sometimes I appreciate bad jokes too. And I hold a strange sort of respect for puns.
But comedy can so quickly cross into the realm of the offensive, which raises a series of questions. A sexist joke should make you uncomfortable, but if it's really good, is it okay to find it funny? Is it okay if it's a woman telling the joke? Is it okay to appreciate the comedic skill necessary to turn a depressing topic into something that can make you laugh? Is it okay to go around sharing the joke, again and again?
Well, no surprises here, I find the answer complicated. Although some would just say no to all, I will admit, I do sometimes find humor in jokes that stereotype or demean men. I know they're not fair, but I also know no one is taking them seriously. Sexist jokes about women, on the other hand, can be a little more dangerous.
We can't help our reflexes. Sometimes we laugh at inappropriate things. And sometimes someone did a really good job crafting a joke, even if it is inappropriate. But we have to remember what these jokes represent. They represent outdated social ideals, which some people still subscribe to and take seriously - way more people than anyone should be okay with, in fact. Even harmless jokes told by people who don't actually believe them make it seem like spouting sexist platitudes is okay.
The gender of the person telling the joke doesn't matter. A woman telling a sexist joke about women is almost worse than a man telling the joke, because women who are sexist against women are degrading themselves, as well. A woman who doesn't believe in gender equality is a woman who doesn't believe in herself. Telling a sexist joke doesn't necessarily mean that the teller is sexist, but it does suggest that they don't take the plight of sexism seriously, which means sexist jokes told on a regular basis should always be a cause for concern, if not a red flag.
Sometimes the jokes are really elegantly crafted. Although the degradation of women is hardly a funny topic - despite what some people unfortunately think - you can appreciate the skill put into something even if you don't agree with the message. Sort of the same way you can appreciate a well-written article from an opposing political viewpoint. It is important to note, however, that sexism is not a political ideology to be respected. In no way is sexism a valid belief.
Therefore it's probably best to avoid sharing sexist jokes, even if they're somehow funny. No matter how carefully you explain that this joke is completely awful and degrading to women, you're still passing on sexist propaganda.
There are a lot of terrible topics that have become popular for jokes, and I find myself unsure about where to draw the line. Some things are obviously not okay, but sometimes comedy ends up in that grey area, between almost okay and not at all acceptable. In the end, it's up to you where you draw the line. But even if something doesn't make you uncomfortable, if it's kind of racy then take a moment to think about whether it would make anyone else uncomfortable. Because the ultimate goal here is equality, and demeaning women, no matter what the forum, is not the way to get there.
Anastasia Korolov is a freshman who has not declared a major. She can be reached at Anastasia.Trombly@tufts.edu.
