Stop Laughing At Jokes About Sexual Assault | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Stop Laughing At Jokes About Sexual Assault

A challenge to everyone to stand up and not laugh at, or listen to jokes about sexual assault.

Eileen Gruss
Mar 17, 2016
Emporia State University
230
Stop Laughing At Jokes About Sexual Assault
Pexels

TV shows, such as "Family Guy," are my favorite shows to have as background noise while I’m cleaning or getting ready for bed. However, one thing that family guy, along with many other shows, do that is not funny and will never be funny is making jokes about sexual assault. Sexual assault is not funny, it's scarring. It is a violation of everything that constitutes a safe environment for all. Sexual assault is many horrible things, but it most certainly is not is funny.

Those who suffer from sexual assault or abuse do not laugh about this abuse, they do not laugh about a traumatic situation happening to them. On college campuses, I hear jokes such as, "Wow that test just raped me." That test did not just rape you. That test may have just been difficult because you did not study for it or pay attention in class. That test being hard was partially your fault. Rape is never the victim's fault. The victim does not do anything that causes them to be raped. The rapist is at fault.

The rapist is the one who hurt that person, and you equivocating a test to a rapist is not funny. Personally, I am not a victim of sexual assault, but that does not mean that I do not have a responsibility to stand up and say, "Your joke's not funny." That does not mean that I shouldn't always defend those who have been sexually assaulted. Because I, as well as many other people in this world, may know someone who has been assaulted.

You may not even know who you know that has suffered from sexual assault, so you making these jokes or laughing at them on TV can hurt someone you are close to without you even knowing. So, I am challenging everyone in this world: from the media to politicians, and especially those of you reading this. Stop making jokes about sexual assault, and stop laughing at jokes about sexual assault. Sexual assault is not and will not ever be funny, and one of the first steps we, as humanity, need to make to stop sexual assault is to be real about it. Sexual assault is a horrible issue that has to be taken seriously. I am going thank you in advance for standing up and saying to someone that laughing about sexual assault or a joke about it, this is a cause that has to be taken as a serious issue and not a joke.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

AI music threatens creativity

The Soul of Sound: How AI Challenges Human Expression in Music

725301
Humans and robots face off in a rock band battle with guitars and drums, under dynamic lighting.
StableDiffusion

In an age where artificial intelligence can mimic the voice of Freddie Mercury or reimagine pop hits as synthwave ballads, a new frontier has emerged — one that blurs the line between innovation and erosion. While AI offers undeniable benefits in technical domains, its intrusion into creative arts, especially music, raises urgent questions. Not just about copyright, but about culture, education, and the very soul of artistic expression.


Keep Reading...Show less
ai generated music
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

Miami University
1051899
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
music
Entertainment

Why Your Astrological Sign May Not Match Your Personality

We are all more than just one sign.

SUNY Plattsburgh
968265
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
astrology
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

UNC Greensboro
965321
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
spring
Relationships

The Importance Of Being A Good Person

An open letter to the good-hearted people.

Sacred Heart University
1378555
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
good person

Trending Topics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments