Effects of sexist humor on tolerance of sexist events

Authors
Citation
Te. Ford, Effects of sexist humor on tolerance of sexist events, PERS SOC PS, 26(9), 2000, pp. 1094-1107
Citations number
51
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN
ISSN journal
01461672 → ACNP
Volume
26
Issue
9
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1094 - 1107
Database
ISI
SICI code
0146-1672(200009)26:9<1094:EOSHOT>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
The results of three experiments supported the hypothesis that exposure to sexist humor increases tolerance of sex discrimination among people high in hostile sexism. The results of Experiment I revealed that for participants high in hostile sexism exposure to sexist jokes led to greater tolerance o f a sexist event in comparison to exposure to neutral jokes or nonhumorous sexist communications. The results of Experiments 2 and 3 suggest that the activation of a noncritical mindset presumed to be a natural byproduct of h umorous communication is critical for sexist humor to increase tolerance of sex discrimination. When sexist jokes were interpreted in a serious, criti cal manner; either as a result of explicit instructions (Experiment 2) or c ontextual cues such as the group membership of the joke teller (Experiment 3), the effects of sexist humor were nullified among participants high in h ostile sexism.