I usually try not to take it personally. I mean, if you have to tell a joke that puts another gender, race, religion, whatever down, then well...that person isn't worth my time listening to. I say something like "ha-ha" or "wait, was that supposed to be funny?"

I've never had an issue with sexist jokes, or been offended by them. To be honest, I usually find them pretty funny. My roommate is the same way, and we usually crack them to each other - and she's a woman's studies minor! I highly doubt either of us take violence against women any less seriously as a result, and the same goes for our boyfriends, who join in the jokes when we're all together. I'd consider them to be two of the least violent, and least likely to accept violence, men I know.

I'm sure I'll take a lot of heat for my opinion, but I don't see them as a big deal. The stereotype is just that - an obviously untrue stereotype. Clearly I am capable of more than making sandwiches and mopping floors, and the boys know that, but since I do spend a good deal of time in the kitchen it's a funny joke on me.

I'm not bothered by sexist jokes, either. I find them pretty funny. I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority, but everyone's different

I usually don't laugh, keeping an obviously feigned smile on my face while I avert eye contact as I contemplate whether it would be more appropriate to rail the person for perpetuating damaging stereotypes or simply continue with an admonishing glare and act with a clear condescension for the offender.

I have an issue with single unreplicable studies. Very non-scientific and very faddy.
That said, if they're funny, I'll laugh. The point of sexist jokes is the shock factor of how sexist they are. To be honest, I think people who take offense are somewhat prudish.

If a joke is truly funny, then yes, I'll laugh. But saying something sexist or racist just to be incendiary is just lame and cheap form of humor.

I loved this article, The Onion's Best and Worst Rape Jokes. If there is ever a source of true, off color humor, it's the Onion. But even they miss the mark sometime.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/sexist/2009/07/02/the-onions-be...

Maybe I don't befriend many sexist men, because all the jokes I heard from friends were clearly not to be taken seriously, and it was clear the guy was just teasing.[Back to the kitchen jokes] I would usually reply with a remark, making fun of him, all in light-heartiness and with a smile.

But if someone made fun of domestic abuse, or rape, I would make it clear that it makes him sound like a real jerk, those things just shouldn't be laughed about.

There are jokes which discriminate against men too, so I don't think one gender has the right to be upset about them.

I do have a problem with racist jokes though. I don't have a generic response, but I usually let the person know that those kinds of jokes aren't very funny.

I don't like these kinds of jokes. Even if they were intended to just be funny, they have a rude undertone. Discrimination is not funny. I really don't like dumb blond jokes, which for some reason piss me off even more than rape jokes. Usually when people make a joke about one group being stupid, I say something like, "Clearly being _____ has nothing to do with stupidity, I mean, look at you".

I like sexist jokes...like "the way to a man's heart is with a knife and through the back"

If a joke is funny I laugh. If it's not funny I don't laugh. I don't waste my time imposing my views on the joke teller. I have very little patience for people like that.

If it's funny, I'll laugh. I think life is too short to get upset over such trivial things. There are jokes about EVERYTHING. Some are just in poor taste.. but those don't usually get a positive response, anyways..

Awkward laugh

I usually respond by asking if they'd like to hear a joke, and when they reply with an affirmative, say, "your existence."

But that's only because I'm very childish and no one should follow my example. : )

"I have an issue with single unreplicable studies. Very non-scientific and very faddy." - As the studies sited on this site often are.

Frankly, if it's a joke, it's a joke. And I laugh, like I would at any other joke.

ditto on the awkward laugh, or I just change the subject. Coincidentally, I had a patient (I'm a nurse) compliment me on my professionalism, confidence, and nursing skill yesterday. Only in the same breath he told me how sexy I was and asked if my husband told me that enough. Gotta love that combo! I just looked at him and said "Thanks for the concern but my marriage is just fine, let's get back to discussing your new medications." Oh well. Nurses put up with comments like this all the time (I'm sure that other professions have this issue as well), if it were common practice to sue patients for sexual harassment I'd be a millionaire! But for now, it's part of the job and I just laugh it off. If a patient doesn't take the hint and crosses the line I will say "ok, you need to stop commenting on ___, I can't do my job properly with your running commentary and it's making me uncomfortable."

I'm with you, Tres. I'm not comfortable with it, and I don't think it's anymore acceptable than making a racist joke. It's not a case of me being humourless or wanting to impose my views upon another person, it's about equality.

It depends, I just got to thinking how I usually initiate black jokes (i am black-latino), i'll make fun of my own race and since i live in a community that tends to make fun of black ppl I really don't take it personally most people realize that these stereotypes are just that. But when it comes to sexism I usually just go nuts, because I feel like a lot of people really do believe these things.

I think we live in a somewhat post-sexist era. I mean, almost everyone my age is a ware of it and tries not to fall into it - and obviously some fail. But, I also think a good laugh can be had with a sexist joke, because it's a really antiquated, hilarious notion that a woman should be in the kitchen baking a delicious cake.

All in all, it depends on the person. Generally, I think if they have a leftist vibe - I guess they're on the side of equality for all, and give them the benefit of the doubt. Generally, if they have a conservative vibe, my get reaction is that they feel some people are more equal than others - so then it's less funny to me.

A lack of tolerance has developed for me as well. I probably don't go about it the right way, but I tend to make clever jokes at the offender and they usually get it.

*at the expense of the offender I mean.

If it's funny and nonoffensive I laugh. If not I roll my eyes and think up a burn.

Truthfully, a man has never told me a sexist joke. Perhaps they know better to say that stuff to me. Or perhaps I'm the type that doesn't attract sexist men.

I only hear blonde jokes and I kind of chuckle but they're usually pretty stupid.

if its a funny joke i will laugh, if not I wont, I dont get offended by them and will tell a few myself.

I usually laugh hysterically and up the ante with another/better sexist joke. They are jokes and the only thing about them that I get offended by are people that take them seriously and don't realize they are jokes.

I have a friend who will tell the most offensive jokes he can come up with. Rape, race, abortion, sex, religion... no limits to what he'll joke about. But he's always funny. Why? Because he's joking. He jokes about everything equally and all he wants is to see people's reactions (and judging by his material and delivery, is really good at producing the reaction he wants... like, could have a VERY sucessful Baron Cohen-esque career at it).

For the record though, I'm a liberal blonde working on computer science-related degree who can bake a mean cake, but fail at food that comes in a box, gets lost constantly, has no street smarts to save her life, lives in a constant state of confusing, and most feminists probably hate me.

I take it as it comes for the most part, it really depends on the joke and how awful it is. My husband LOVES jokes, of all colors and varieties, and i usually hate them to be honest. I'm not a prude because you're a pervert/asshole/showboat, it just isn't funny most of the time. I'm really good at bland stares and very obviously ignoring it, because most people want the reaction, good or bad for the shock factor. Some people just honestly like telling jokes of all flavors, but most of the people firing off these kinds of jokes tend to display that behavior towards other things. Ive worked in several large crowd type jobs (call centers, etc) and i see it ALL the time.

If it is funny.. Laugh.

If it is not funny.. Do not laugh.

I'll laugh if its funny, but there are lines that should never be crossed in my opinion.

When I was in high school, in history class, a male classmate said "Wanna hear something funny?" The whole class waited in suspense. Then he said, "Women's rights!" No one laughed, with the exception of the jokester's idiot friends. Not one girl laughed. I know it sounds prudish, but I didn't find it funny or intelligent at all.

I normally launch into a diatribe and explain why those jokes are sexist, not funny, and hurtful. I try to stay as rational as possible since a "hissy PMSing- chick" (their words) is not going to help the situation with the kind of men that say these offensive jokes.

You know I usually laugh but I can get pissed and throw a few back at the men. Like the only reason they have tongues is because of a certain sexual act they can perform. Ha ha ha.

S tells a sexist joke. S uses this humour to break the discomfort and tension of social situations, and has found them helpful for breaking down these boundaries. What S doesn't realize, is that instead of breaking down racist and sexist boundaries, he is perpetuating them socially, and making himself look like an *sshole.
Why should anything regarding cooking and cleaning be the first thing to come to mind when you think of a woman actually doing something? There are a lot of different kinds of humor, if you laugh at something for the shock value-- you do it once. Stereotypes are only funny to people because they think that they are true. People who make these jokes use them interchangably (or as an excuse) not to use wit.