Personality and Gender Factors in the Perception of Sexist Humor

This article presents the results of a study that examined the relationship between gender and personality factors in the perception of sexist humor, depending on the gender of the source and recipient of the joke. The sample consisted of 155 participants. The study used the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ), short versions of the Ambivalent sexism scales toward women and men (ASI-S, AMI-S), the Eysenck Personality questionnaire (EPQ-S) and specially designed stimulating materials with sexist jokes. The results showed that women rated jokes targeting men as funnier than jokes targeting at women. Jokes about women were perceived by all participants as more offensive, and this effect was especially noticeable among women. Jokes told by men about women were rated as the most offensive. Benevolent sexist attitudes towards men were associated with the perception of jokes about women as funnier and less offensive. Hostile sexism towards men was associated with higher ratings of the funniness of jokes about men. Hostile sexism towards women were associated with less perceived offensiveness of jokes about women. Among the male participants, extraversion was positively associated with ratings of the funniness of sexist humor. A self-enhancing style of humor was associated with higher ratings of the funniness of sexist humor in general. Aggressive style of humor was associated with the perception of jokes about women as funnier and less offensive.