They'll tell you to go back to the kitchen when you voice an opinion or ask you if you're on your period when you're rightfully upset. Comments like these infuriate and discourage us feminists because laughing feels like surrendering and yelling seems dramatic. But I think I found a solution. Keep reading to kill this "comedy."
First of all, let me just say: sexist jokes are pathetic. I genuinely feel like even if I were sexist (A TRULY TRAGIC IDEA TO EVEN THINK ABOUT), I still wouldn't laugh. They're sort of like fat jokes in the way that it's okay to be fat, so making jokes about it is just sort of like, ".. Okay? That's it?"
Really, sexist humor just acts as a distraction from the real issues: gender inequality and unfair stereotypes. It's like sexists realize their opinions offend the entire world and just make snide comments to press our buttons. I MEAN THERE IS JUST NO WAY THAT A WOMAN'S PERIOD IS FUNNY. Not because it's offensive to ridicule women for natural bodily functions, but mainly because it really is not funny. Again, it's just like, ".. Okay? Yes, this is a thing that happens sometimes."
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Really, sexist humor just acts as a distraction from the real issues: gender inequality and unfair stereotypes. It's like sexists realize their opinions offend the entire world and just make snide comments to press our buttons. I MEAN THERE IS JUST NO WAY THAT A WOMAN'S PERIOD IS FUNNY. Not because it's offensive to ridicule women for natural bodily functions, but mainly because it really is not funny. Again, it's just like, ".. Okay? Yes, this is a thing that happens sometimes."
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Most of the time, we try to shut these jokes down in two ways:
Laughing
However, laughing at these jokes to avoid fighting back is wrong. Sure, going along with it feels easy, but it's not fair to the fight for gender equality.
In the words of Desmond Tutu, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."
In this case, laughing is an act of neutrality, the elephant is the silly kid who has zero respect for the same gender that biRTHED THEM, and the mouse is the entire female gender. Let's stop laughing.
Yelling
If the jokes enrage you to an unbelievable level (like they do for me), you might yell. Of course, this comes with the backfire of, "WHOA, NO NEED TO TAKE IT THAT WAY." (THEY LITERALLY MEANT FOR YOU TO TAKE IT THAT WAY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR ANGER AT ALL.)
While I love ranting and "telling people how it is", this never helps. Sure, they deserve our wrath 100%. But yelling just informs them of our weak spots and confrontation never really teaches them. They'll walk away with fedora on head, Doritos in one hand, Mountain Dew in the other, and come back tomorrow with a more repulsive joke.
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Laughing
However, laughing at these jokes to avoid fighting back is wrong. Sure, going along with it feels easy, but it's not fair to the fight for gender equality.
In the words of Desmond Tutu, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."
In this case, laughing is an act of neutrality, the elephant is the silly kid who has zero respect for the same gender that biRTHED THEM, and the mouse is the entire female gender. Let's stop laughing.
Yelling
If the jokes enrage you to an unbelievable level (like they do for me), you might yell. Of course, this comes with the backfire of, "WHOA, NO NEED TO TAKE IT THAT WAY." (THEY LITERALLY MEANT FOR YOU TO TAKE IT THAT WAY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR ANGER AT ALL.)
While I love ranting and "telling people how it is", this never helps. Sure, they deserve our wrath 100%. But yelling just informs them of our weak spots and confrontation never really teaches them. They'll walk away with fedora on head, Doritos in one hand, Mountain Dew in the other, and come back tomorrow with a more repulsive joke.
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So, here's how we fight back (Minus the violence. Keep it peaceful.)
Make them explain their jokes. Sexist humor comes from a place of pure ignorance, complete disrespect, and utter laziness. When asked to explain their jokes, their reasoning will trap them into explaining women's supposed inferiority, a topic most people soon realize isn't funny and is actually offensive. Here's an example I made up:
Make them explain their jokes. Sexist humor comes from a place of pure ignorance, complete disrespect, and utter laziness. When asked to explain their jokes, their reasoning will trap them into explaining women's supposed inferiority, a topic most people soon realize isn't funny and is actually offensive. Here's an example I made up:
Of course, we can't turn all sexists into "less mean" people. Helpless sexists are generally identified by their cruel laughter or need for attention. This plan will not work on them. When you come into contact with a helpless sexist (and unfortunately, you will), simply walk away. I have learned that it's best to just let their sexism get the best of them and allow feminist karma to do its work. I believe it was Justin Timberlake who once said, "What goes around, goes around, goes around, comes all the way back around."
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The feminist fight is extremely difficult; there's no doubt about it. And these jokes only further crush our arguments. Let's take these insults and treat them like fuel to the feminist fire. Let these jokes encourage us to continue defeating sexism, so the "comedy" can finally die.
GOOD LUCK, FELLOW FEMINISTS.
KILL THE JOKES.
GOOD LUCK, FELLOW FEMINISTS.
KILL THE JOKES.