This blog post highlights the sexist antics that occurred at the 2013 Oscar Awards including Seth McFarlane’s “We Saw Your Boobs” song and the Onion’s gendered insult directed to Quvenzhané Wallis. In the entertainment industry and among social media the goal to produce acts of comedy or grant a good laugh has gotten out of hand. At the Oscars jokes objectifying women showed the persistence of sexist and racist attitudes in America.
I found this blog post especially moving because of its statement, “sexism masquerading as humor”. In both incidents the achievements of women were devalued in order to make a “joke” proving that racism and sexism are embedded in our culture to the point where they are subconsciously used as humor. Although racist and sexist comments are unacceptable in any situation on such a public stage they have more dangerous implications. By including jokes that devalue and objectify women viewers all around the world are sent the implicit message that delivering humor at the expense of women is okay because it’s funny. And unless boundaries are imposed on comedy a culture containing sexism and racism will persist. While watching T.V. or reading online we should be conscious of the humor we intake. If a joke was funny why was it funny? And to make that joke was a person or group belittled? Comedians and the media deliver what their viewers want. And if viewers don’t watch or speak up against sexism and racism used in humor the jokes will change.
http://thefbomb.org/2013/03/sexism-is-not-actually-edgy/
