This work has found that such jokes act “as a releaser of existing prejudice”. This view broadly sees the criticism of offensive humour as a part of “political correctness”, which is viewed as a movement that encourages censorship and threatens liberty and free speech.īut there is psychological research on humour that denigrates, belittles, or maligns an individual or social group that argues the opposite. Some researchers argue that offensive jokes do not have any wider implications – they are inconsequential or “just jokes”. High profile comedians that have used rape jokes include Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Dapper Laughs, Daniel Tosh, Sarah Silverman and Ricky Gervais. We examined the the subject looking at jokes about rape that have appeared in the media in recent years with some regularity. But what can academic research tell us about the implications of offensive joking? The topic is clearly sensitive and often leads to discussions about free speech, morality and political correctness. Some people believe that offensive humour such as sexist or racist jokes can help break down barriers and challenge prejudice.
