How to keep Laughing About Progressive Culture and Free Speech

Here at Turner Professional Group, we often find ourselves in those sticky situations of navigating how to discuss sensitive and charged topics appropriately. Last week in pop culture the comedian Daniel Tosh got a lot of attention for the way in which he made rape jokes at a stand up comedy gig. When we came across this article in Jezebel, How to Make a Rape Joke, we wanted to share the conversation it started about the nuances of free speech and how one's words can injure others who are vulnerable. The dialogue of pop culture is an important reflection on where society stands as a whole, and as the author points out, "According to the CDC, one in four female college students report that they've been sexually assaulted (and when you consider how many rapes go unreported, because of the way we shame victims and trivialize rape, the actual number is almost certainly much higher)." It is still incredibly important to acknowledge that we live in a rape culture with these kinds of statistics, and to get into those uncomfortable conversations about how to talk about these things in a manner that makes things better. We feel that the author of this blog makes some excellent points, primarily that there is a difference between a joke making fun of the victim versus making fun of the rapist. When a mass culture of victim blaming often keeps survivors trapped and powerless, it is refreshingly frank to hear this brave perspective on how we don't have to censor such intense topics from creative work, but the intention of that creativity to either uplift or further oppress the victim will and should be criticized by responsible audiences. We hope everyone continues to enjoy the art of comedy, the right of free speech, and the ethical duty to make one's work be about leaving the world better than we found it.

As a sexual health expert, Lisa Meyers on staff at Turner Professional Group states that women can have symptoms of PTSD triggered by environmental factors. They can experience anxiety, fear, increased heart rate, and conscious or unconscious flashbacks from a scent or similar characteristic to their attacker.
Here at Turner Professional Group, one of our primary areas of focus is women's sexual health and wellness, addressing issues such as trauma and abuse. Call for a confidential appt to begin or continue your journey towards healing.

Do you agree or disagree with the author's statements? Leave us a comment to start a discussion!