For some, this may look like an angry feminist complaint with an 'oh-shut-up-already' attitude mulling in your head. If you're thinking that while you're reading this, then I insist that you of all people read further. This is not a lecture for individuals, this is a lecture for society. So in essence I'm also lecturing myself.
So why the rant? Because enough is enough. I'm sick and tired of hearing rape jokes, wife-beater jokes, anti-feminist jokes, a-woman-belongs-in-the-kitchen jokes, and hateful jokes. Trust me, I DO have a great sense of humor and (ask anyone who knows me) I laugh all the time. I laugh at well-constructed jokes and animals doing silly things. I laugh at Vine video compilations and funny movies like Anchorman. But I REFUSE to laugh at jokes that belittle, demean, and otherwise dehumanize women. I would hope that we all know by now that women are capable enough to do a lot more than make a sandwich for their husband. It is time we say ENOUGH. NO MORE.
I could easily say, as a feminist, that this is a man's problem and men are responsible for these jokes and they say them because they feel intimidated by the growing success of women today. But I'd be wrong. This is not just a man's problem. This is my problem, and your problem.
This is everyone's problem.
None of us are immune to it and it's time we speak up instead of staying silent out of politeness. It is unfortunate enough that educated adults use language that perpetuates violence against women (sometimes without even realizing they are doing so), but now it's in the language of our youth."frape" = Facebook raped (as in, someone went on someone else's profile without them knowing and wrote things on their profile)
#rapeface = a tag that CHILDREN were using to describe someone's face as creepy or "rape-y"
These are just a couple specific terms, but I hear rape jokes, domestic violence jokes, and 50's women jokes all the time. These jokes and terms are not acceptable. They are not appropriate. They are not funny. They are despicable. And I'm saying something about it.
If you are someone who's read my blog before, you've seen my "What's So Funny?" post from months ago. I wrote about a rape joke I overheard and scolded the strangers as I drove away. That's one example of speaking up, but it's not enough. I know that most people (especially the ones reading this post) do not want violence against women to continue. I'm sure that some of you reading this actually do a lot to speak up already and work to end this violence. So it is our job to educate those making these jokes and using these terms. That does not require yelling or scolding, but rather simple education. This is especially important when it comes to youth. In one of the articles I read about #rapeface, the mother writing the article was appalled that her 12 year old son would use such a term when he lives in such a strong feminist household. He told her he didn't mean anything by it. This may be entirely true, which is exactly why education is so important here. We cannot let this language become so normal and innocent that children do not even understand the gravity of their meanings. I'm not suggesting we give children explicit details about rape or domestic violence, but there needs to be some understanding that these are serious issues that should not be joked about. The same goes for educating the adults who use similar language. Some people will not care if you try to tell them why a rape joke isn't funny. Some people will roll their eyes and tell you to get a sense of humor. But some people will listen...
Part of the reason this violence still persists is because of the type of culture it thrives in. If we live in a culture that encourages language so nonchalant about violence against women that it becomes engrained and normalized, we are then supporting a culture that encourages violence. So enough is enough.
Do your part and stop the hurt.
