More than "just a joke": the prejudice-releasing function of sexist humor.
The results of two experiments supported the hypothesis that, for sexist men, exposure to sexist humor can promote the behavioral release of prejudice against women. Experiment 1 demonstrated that hostile sexism predicted the amount of money participants were willing to donate to a women's organization after reading sexist jokes but not after reading nonhumorous sexist statements or neutral jokes. Experiment 2 showed that hostile sexism predicted the amount of money participants cut from the budget of a women's organization relative to four other student organizations upon exposure to sexist comedy skits but not neutral comedy skits. A perceived local norm of approval of funding cuts for the women's organization mediated the relationship between hostile sexism and discrimination against the women's organization.
Ford
Thomas E
TE
Department of Psychology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA. tford@email.wcu.edu
Boxer
Christie F
CF
Armstrong
Jacob
J
Edel
Jessica R
JR
D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic