Roses are red
Violets are blue
We’re engaging in intercourse
Because I’m more powerful than you
Ha! Hilarious, right? Wrong. This kind of humor is far from funny. Rape jokes are not amusing at all, and it astounds me that there are people who genuinely think they are.
In a world where one in five women will experience rape in her lifetime, it’s shocking to see a society that allows such humor to persist. Moreover, the fact that millions of Americans supported a leader who either openly acknowledged or joked about sexual assault is a grim reminder of the reality we face.
I appreciate good comedy, and I believe it has the potential to challenge societal norms. However, I cannot stand when it gets co-opted by those who perpetuate misogyny or by comedians lacking the talent to create meaningful content.
Enter the talented female comedians and a few enlightened male allies who cleverly subvert the narrative by making jokes about rape culture itself.
You might wonder how this differs from standard rape jokes. The distinction is monumental. Making fun of the culture that enables perpetrators is vastly different from mocking the victims. Smart comedy should always punch up, targeting those in positions of power rather than those who are marginalized.
Rape culture jokes serve an anti-rape purpose; they aim to dismantle the very framework that facilitates such violence. Jokes that trivialize rape, even if they aren’t intentionally pro-rape, contribute to a harmful narrative. Those who share them often fail to grasp why they’re offensive. These jokes normalize attitudes that embolden rapists and alienate survivors.
Conversely, jokes about rape culture function as satire, exposing the absurdity of the societal norms that allow individuals like Brock Turner to evade justice. They reclaim power from those who misuse it, shifting conversations from “What were you wearing?” to “Why are you committing rape?” and from “Don’t get raped,” to “Don’t rape.”
Last summer, the website Reductress filled its platform with satirical pieces on rape culture, featuring headlines like “I Anonymously Reported My Assault for the Anonymous Attention” and “‘Most Women Lie About Assault,’ Says Man Lying About Assault.” Now that’s humor worth appreciating. If you understand satire, you’ll find these articles resonant.
Yet, the comedy landscape remains challenging. Take, for example, Dave Chapelle’s recent Netflix special, which included troubling references to rape. Many defended his approach, claiming, “It’s 2023; everyone makes rape jokes.”
No, they don’t. This mentality only fuels rape culture. Why is this concept so difficult to grasp?
If you think that coercing someone into a sexual act is a suitable subject for humor, you need to reevaluate your perspective immediately. Some topics are simply too grave for jest, and rape should unequivocally be one of them.
However, the absurdities of rape culture, filled with justifications and trivializations? That’s fair game for comedy, especially when executed skillfully. Comedians, keep dismantling rape culture, one clever joke at a time.
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In summary, while jokes about rape are never acceptable, humor that critiques and challenges rape culture can be transformative. It allows us to confront difficult truths while reclaiming power and fostering change.