Post: #1

For two years a Sociology student has been following US comedian Lewis Schaffer around as he performs in London and elsewhere. She wrote her dissertation on the different ways men and women react to "sexist humour"

Can't say that I'm a fan of the comedian's work, but some interesting points came out of it:

Quote:AWARENESS

When watching the reactions to the six jokes selected, the women in the audience looked around at whoever they were with before they performed any of the gestures I had codes for on the Joke Sheet. This did not happen with the male members of the audience who mostly maintained eye contact throughout and laughed openly without looking around.

If the men did look around at other audience members it was whilst laughing or to signal an inside joke. The women looked around at other audience members with caution as though they were seeking approval. When asked about this in the ethnographic interviews, many were surprised that they had done such a thing. They did not deny that they had done it (not in the way they denied the gestures described in Denial of negative reactions) but they offered no explanation for their own actions, although some offered an almost psychological explanation for it, dissociating themselves from the action in the process.

One woman in her late twenties answered me when I asked her about why she looked around before not laughing at a joke about having sex with a transsexual: “I thought it was fucking hilarious but I’m not about to go making a fool of myself and have everyone think I’m some woman who loves dirty cock jokes.”

Quote:SEPARATING JOKE FROM COMEDIAN

The data from which this theme emerged were the ethnographic interviews I conducted after the show and during the intervals.

The men I spoke to, and this was across all ages and regardless of whether I interviewed them in a couple or as single, spoke about the joke and comedian as a “He” – the joke was “his joke”, their opinion on the show was “he is funny”, “he is crazy” – whilst the women at the show, again this was across all ages but particularly prevalent amongst women under 30 years old, spoke about the jokes, the material and the comedy as a whole as an “it.”

The men in the audience talked about the comedian as though he were a friend and therefore spoke about the jokes with forgiveness, as though it were friendly banter in the form of “Informal comedy”(Mulkay, 1988) whereas the women in interviews, many of which were couples with the men, were reluctant to engage personally with the comedian as if to do so would be condoning the sexist jokes.

Most women avoided critical engagement with the jokes when directly asked and used measured terms such as “perhaps you’re right” and “maybe it was because…” whilst the men interpreted my questions as an invitation to critique or praise the comedian in absolute terms – “He’s a pro (professional)”, “He’s a good guy” – which highlights a great contrast in the gendered experience of sexist humour.

Quote:DENIAL OF NEGATIVE REACTIONS

When reacting to jokes concerning the comedian personally – self-deprecating jokes about the comedian’s age or appearance – the women in the audience covered their mouths whilst laughing as though they didn’t want to be seen laughing at the comedian. This gesture doubled as embarrassment, especially when coupled with looking away from the stage.

The most interesting aspect of the reaction patterns that came from the Joke Sheets were the explanations that followed in the ethnographic interviews.

When I repeated the jokes I saw them react negatively towards, they denied that they had reacted in such a way, brushing off any words such as “sexist”, “offensive” or “taboo” with laughter and changed the words to “dirty” or “naughty” to articulate their thoughts. This showed how they were both embarrassed and ashamed of the sexist material as well as being embarrassed and ashamed of their reaction to it.

"British women are the most beautiful women in the world. Or, if not the most beautiful, the easiest"

"I'd hate myself if I had that kind of attitude, if I were that weak." - Arnold

Post: #2

Interesting stuff. Her observations simply reflect the more social nature of women vs more the independent nature of men.
"women...were reluctant to engage personally with the comedian as if to do so would be condoning the sexist jokes"...yep, we care about what people do, actual results, far less than what people say.

This observation explains so much about the current state of our country.

Post: #3

This is really interesting.

Post: #4

"the women in the audience looked around at whoever they were with before they performed any of the gestures"

Bitches always follow the herd.

Post: #5

(06-06-2014 08:28 AM)Benoit Wrote:  For two years a Sociology

Anyone who is looking for in depth observations on human behavior should avoid sociology.

Post: #6

(06-07-2014 04:49 AM)All or Nothing Wrote:  Anyone who is looking for in depth observations on human behavior should avoid sociology.

So in that case, it's time for the official forum question: WYB?

"I'd hate myself if I had that kind of attitude, if I were that weak." - Arnold

Post: #7

(06-07-2014 04:49 AM)All or Nothing Wrote:  

(06-06-2014 08:28 AM)Benoit Wrote:  For two years a Sociology

Anyone who is looking for in depth observations on human behavior should avoid sociology.

It's even worse. a "Sociology STUDENT"

Post: #8

(06-07-2014 05:14 AM)Benoit Wrote:  So in that case, it's time for the official forum question: WYB?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....