The role of identification with a joke target in perceptions of disparaging humor
- WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Annie Owens Kochersberger (Creator)
- Institution
- Western Carolina University (WCU )
- Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
- Advisor
- Thomas Ford
Abstract: In the present research I focus on identifying the variables that affect women’s
perceptions of sexist humor. Previous research and theory have identified attitude toward
women as the critical predictor of amusement with sexist humor; I propose that the
degree of dis-identification with women as a social category is also an important
predictor. I conducted two studies to investigate the role that dis-identification with
women plays in predicting women's perceptions of sexist humor. In support of my
hypothesis, results of Study 1 showed that more dis-identification with women predicted
more amusement with sexist humor. Further, in addition to gender attitudes, degree of
dis-identification with women mediated the effect of gender on amusement with sexist
humor. In Study 2 I found that hostile sexism was related to dis-identification with
feminists to a greater degree than with women in general or housewives, and that insofar
as women are high in hostile sexism, they interpret the message of humor disparaging
feminists less critically than humor disparaging other subgroups of women. Overall, my
findings provide support for the hypothesis that women perceive sexist humor more
positively to the extent that they dis-identify with women as a social category.
The role of identification with a joke target in perceptions of disparaging humor
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Created on 3/1/2012
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2012
- Keywords
- Disparagement, Humor, Prejudice, Sexism
- Subjects
- Wit and humor -- Psychological aspects
- Wit and humor -- Social aspects
- Wit and humor
- Women -- Humor
- Sexism