Senior English major
While most people presumably enjoy laughing at good jokes, there are some “comedians” out there who feel the need to step over the line. And though some people try to deny it, that line is drawn pretty solidly before rape jokes, gay jokes and racist jokes. So why do people keep telling them?
There’s one school of thought that establishes these derogatory jokes as “easy,” or ones that will inevitably create a laugh.
Then there’s the idea that rape, racism and homophobia are such serious issues that they need to be joked about so people can cope with their prevalence in society.
Another way of thinking is that these jokes are prevalent because they challenge authority — they go against what’s expected in society, giving comedians an “edge.”
Of course, raise this issue with some “professional” comedians and they’ll likely complain about censorship and how they should be able to say what they want.
But the real question is: Why do people want to tell these jokes? They are degrading and help perpetuate stereotypes about all types of people.
Rape jokes typically belittle rape victims. The jokes mock them, their experience and their reactions. Frankly, it’s just disgusting. Now, there are exceptions of comedians who are attempting to desensitize their viewers to the issue so it’s easier for victims to speak out about their experiences. However, using comedy to do this unfortunately runs the risk of not achieving this goal, because desensitizing people to rape might make it a less deplorable crime in the listener’s minds.
Gay jokes are likewise meant to diminish a person’s experience or sense of self. It seems people who make jokes targeting gay individuals simply poke fun at stereotypical LGBT lifestyles. But people don’t make jokes about people having consensual heterosexual intercourse. And if America (along with other countries around the world) is really progressing as far as it seems to be in laws promoting equality for members of the LGBT community, it’s important to realize we need to collectively change the social atmosphere around the issue. Failing to do so will simply set us back in terms of taking steps toward eradicating homophobia and will prevent LGBT individuals from embracing the equality they deserve as human beings.
I can’t seem to find any sort of justification for racist jokes other than their propensity to elicit shock. Some even go as far to say because they aren’t racist, it’s OK to make racist jokes. And, let me be clear — racist jokes are not perpetuated solely by one race. There are people of all skin colors and ethnic denominations who go out of their way to make fun of “the other” — namely, someone who has different attributes than they do. This is just absurd. Everyone is different. Everyone has different features and shapes and sizes and languages and cultures and personalities. Does any one of those differences give you a right to make fun of a person, solely because he or she is different? It just doesn’t make sense.
There are plenty of things you can joke about that don’t traumatize other people. Sure, maybe everyone can “handle” this bigoted, derogatory and unsolicited humor, but they shouldn’t have to. There is no reason to take aim at people when trying to make others laugh. That’s the exact thing that hurts people, drives down self-confidence and rewards those who don’t deserve a laugh at the expense of another.
When you hear a joke about someone’s race, sexuality or experience with rape, don’t laugh. Don’t give the jokester the satisfaction of your joy. It’s wrong and can potentially really hurt someone who’s listening.
Maria Romas is a senior English major. She can be reached at mromasdbk@gmail.com.
