Just because you think something is funny, does that make it right? I think that everyone can agree that the answer is no. Example: laughing at the person who falls up the stairs is mean. It's pretty funny to witness, but you are so glad that it wasn't you.
Pop culture often blurs the lines between offensiveness and humor by mocking society's ideal of political correctness. Tucker Max is one of the best examples of this kind of humor. His genre deals in tales of his drunken escapades and conquests that are intended to offend and make you laugh. If you haven't heard, he was scheduled to be on Grounds next week.
So what's so wrong with Tucker Max? If people think he's funny, it doesn't matter that he reinforces gender stereotypes and objectifies women, right? Tucker Max is wrong in the twisted, sadistic way that has college men and women thinking that the things he says and does are so offensive that they are actually "not bad," but hilarious! We can joke about sexism now that feminism is obsolete and all women are equal. Or not. Culture, especially humor, remains a place where sexist attitudes often remain unchallenged and even celebrated.
Misogyny is only "funny" as long as we all keep pretending that no one is sexist in a non-funny way, and that feminists are really fun-crushing nags. But sexism still exists, and pretending it doesn't contributes to the detrimental atmosphere toward women here at the University and across the United States. It's what Susan Douglas calls "enlightened sexism" and it is contributing to rape culture on Grounds.
But Tucker Max is just entertainment. Here at the University, we can see his misogynistic antics for what they really are: fiction. Or can we? Rape culture manifests itself through attitudes as well as structural inequalities. I know what you're thinking: "Those crazy feminists, they have no sense of humor! Tucker Max doesn't rape people!" But the themes that run through his vignettes of partying and hook-ups encourage the objectification of women and hide male privilege. Women become nothing more than a means to an end - the end being a one night stand.
To bring things closer to home, think about the party structure within the Greek system. Sororities can't throw their own parties. This puts under-21 women in a position where most available parties are engineered and controlled by men. When fraternity brothers control the house that a party is set in, who can actually get in - based on a scale of sexual appeal - the drinks that are served, the music that is played and so forth, a woman is already in a position of "potential victim" rather than "potential sexual equal." These fraternity brothers are, from the few that I've met, wonderful fellows. I am certainly not trying to insinuate that fraternity brothers are all rapists, that rape only happens within the Greek system or that only men perpetuate these unequal situations. But the idea behind "rape culture" is that it creates situations and fosters attitudes that solidify the idea of women as inferior and as sex objects, which leads to incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape.
When the social power balance is so one-sided, and the attitude (cultivated by the Tucker Maxes of the world) is so misogynistic and entitled, it is easy to see why the lines of right and wrong blur. Again, this is not to say that only men benefit from and perpetuate this system, but that it is a system that perpetuates unequal social relationships and can often lead to compromising situations.
So what can we do? For one, everyone should think critically about what we consider "humorous" and whether humorous equals harmless. I think it's clear that just because something is presented as "funny" doesn't mean that it is right or even funny in the first place. Not supporting Tucker Max and other incredibly sexist media that we are told is "funny" is a good first step to ending rape culture in our community of trust. But also, we should all feel empowered to disagree. If someone says or laughs about something sexist, misogynistic or homophobic, call them out on it. It's not mean or humorless to express a dissenting opinion, but it can be a good way to get people thinking critically about our current ideas on sex and sexual relationships. Here's one last idea: Level the playing field. Throw your own party, or BYOB, and definitely avoid binge drinking and relying on people who may not have your best interests in mind. Feminism doesn't attack having a good time, it just asks that we think critically about how we do it.
Jean Miller and Nora Eakin are members of Feminism is for Everyone.
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