Exploring How Humor Can Fuel a Culture of Gender-Based Violence
Locker room banter” often serves as a breeding ground for chauvinistic behavior, where thinly-veiled misogyny is disguised as harmless jokes. While some may argue that such banter is simply a way to highlight societal misogyny through humor, the reality is that these jokes frequently reinforce harmful stereotypes and sexist attitudes, contributing to the structural oppression of women.
Humor that belittles women or makes light of their experiences has a dangerous side effect: it normalizes male violence and creates an environment where predatory behavior is often overlooked or dismissed. This was starkly illustrated by the case of former police officer Wayne Couzens, who, before being convicted of murder, made female officers uncomfortable with his sexist remarks and behavior. Rather than reporting him, colleagues allowed his behavior to persist, referring to him as “the rapist” and sharing misogynistic content. This form of “banter” served to protect a culture where misogyny was silently accepted, with tragic consequences.