Meme culture has evolved into a global phenomenon reflecting today’s digital society’s collective humour and attitudes. It has become an integral part of our online lives, offering a platform to express thoughts and sentiments in a humorous and creative way. However, within the seemingly innocuous world of memes, there lies a darker side: the promotion of inappropriate behaviour behind the facade of banter.
Casual misogyny, racism, body shaming, and homophobia are trending in the current meme culture. Casual misogyny refers to the subtle yet persistent belittlement, objectification, and devaluation of women through jokes, stereotypes, and insensitive content. Women have equal rights now, but having equal rights and being treated equally are two completely different things. This article explores how meme culture inadvertently fosters and perpetuates casual misogyny.
Society has a history of undermining women’s intellect and potential and reducing them to mere objects of sexual gratification. The internet is nothing but the microcosm of society. Memes reduce women to their physical attributes and reinforce traditional gender roles. In social media, whenever women express their opinions on something, they are instructed to “go back to the kitchen” because the kitchen and bed are the only two places where the patriarchal society likes women the best.
By focusing on appearances and adhering to these gender norms, memes undermine the complexity and diversity of women’s experiences and contributions. Such content feeds into a culture that values women primarily for their looks and enforces a shallow understanding of their worth.
The scariest feature of meme is its power to create, define, and redefine terms and cultures. For example, the term feminist has become internet slang and is often used in a derogatory manner. Nowadays, anyone trying to protect women’s rights on the internet is called a feminist and is ridiculed for it.
Meme culture often employs sexist jokes that trivialise issues like gender equality, consent, and harassment. It downplays the significance of consent, particularly concerning intimate relationships. By presenting scenarios in which consent is treated casually or ignored altogether, meme culture contributes to the normalisation of behaviours that erode the importance of clear and enthusiastic consent.
This normalisation can have real-world consequences by influencing people’s attitudes toward boundaries. Facebook is one of the platforms where these memes are being appreciated and even nurtured. Several groups and communities on Facebook are dedicated to dark humour, where people openly make fun of rape, molestation, and harassment, and the group members lash out when someone dares to protest.
When harassment is treated as a joke or a minor inconvenience rather than a serious violation, it sends the message that such behaviour is acceptable. This can discourage victims from speaking out and seeking support, as they may believe their experiences will not be taken seriously.
Meme culture thrives on anonymity and detachment from real-world consequences. This lack of accountability creates an environment where individuals feel empowered to share content that they might not openly endorse in their offline lives. They simply create an internet alter-ego to fit into the Sigma culture, and this detachment encourages users to spread casual misogyny without fearing repercussions.
When these attitudes are treated as lighthearted jokes and friendly banter rather than harmful behaviour, they seep into the collective consciousness and become an accepted part of social discourse. The normalisation of disrespect not only perpetuates gender inequality but also impedes progress toward a more inclusive and equitable society.
Individuals who regularly encounter such content may become numb to the seriousness of these issues, making it easier to overlook instances of discrimination, consent violations, or harassment in their own lives or society at large.