Happy April Fools Day!
Pranks, laughter, and jokes are all part of the fun of today! With that being said, not all jokes are funny. In fact, some jokes can just be hurtful, inappropriate, and in general, should not be said. Rape jokes and misogynistic humor is something that should bring about negative awareness. When people make rape jokes, it normalizes rape culture. I, myself, have even fallen short of laughing at sexualizing women remarks, or jokes. I’ve found that sometimes when I’m with my guy friends, and they make snide comments, or laugh about women in the kitchen making them a sandwich, it makes me nervous if I don’t laugh along with them.
It makes me sad to think that society is still in the past. Today in present times, I am becoming more attuned to what actual humor is, versus tasteless humor that leaves negative effects. When people say statements like, “Wow, that exam was so hard it raped me,” it makes me feel angry, to know that vicious statements of power over someone, is used to define how poorly someone did on an exam. Rape jokes, that cause laughter, make it seems as if sexual assault and rape is okay, which it obviously is not. One time, I was with my ex-boyfriend, and he told me that his basketball team’s name was the “Poonslayers.” That name really upset me, as it was objectifying of women, seen as objects guys can slay, as in have sex with. He told me to, “chill,” as it was just a joke and a funny name of a team, but I didn’t find it funny at all. I tried explaining to him how that made me feel, but with all that being said, I felt awkward and out of place letting him know my feelings. Rape jokes shouldn’t be said in the first place as it makes women feel uncomfortable, along with them being horribly unfunny. Either we are too scared to tell guys when it makes us angry and hurt, or we are the bitch that “can’t take a joke.”
(Image: “I am not impressed”Website: Flickr)
So the next time you hear someone say a joke that you don’t find funny, but actually makes you feel out of place, say something. It’s time for jokes like that to get shut down. Rape jokes, statements about women being nothing but, housewives, sexists names for brotherhood groups, aren’t jokes, but unnecessary commentary.
(Image: Mathematics joke, Website: Wikipedia)
Since it is April Fools Day, after all, here are some jokes you can tell:
Q: How do you get a tissue to dance?
A: You put a little boogie in it!
Q: What do you call cheese that’s not yours?
A: Nach-o-Cheese!
Q: What time should you go to the dentist?
A: Tooth-hurty
Featured Image: Girls laughing, Website: Pexels
ShoutOut! James Madison University 
I can really relate to this post, I think it is so important for us to speak out when something hurtful or damaging like these “jokes” are told. I find that I get labeled as “dramatic” or “sensitive” when I don’t agree with them, and this needs to change. Great post!
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Thank you so much!! I totally agree, there’s nothing worse than being called “dramatic,” or “sensitive.” Hopefully bringing about awareness will start a change! 🙂
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I will never understand why people think it’s okay to say that something “raped” them when it did not. In the words of our fearless leader Donald Trump, “sad.” (imagine the last sentence dripping with sarcasm)
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Thank you so much for the support on this blog post!! This is definitely an issue that isn’t talked about enough… Because they’re seen as “jokes.”
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