LOL, mothers that dote on their children religiously (especially after the children are grown) hack me off. I *don't* love Raymond, and I certainly don't love his mother.

I can see the point when someone says the object of sexist humor is to laugh at the stupid sexism, not to demean the women. But I have a real sensitive spot when it crosses into also laughing at domestic violence. Daughter says if we don't laugh at it, we'd cry about it, but I think crying (and protecting the victim!) is the more appropriate response.

(This can trigger.)

I've seen photos of bruised, cowering women, held up for laughs on HUMOR sites. The captions are usually something like, "I told you to make me a sandwich," or "Dishes. Do them NOW!" Then the comment section is full of, "Quite right. She shouldn't have to be told." Or the most disturbing comment I've ever seen, "Hit her again!" Occasionally I've seen men use those photos as a springboard to rant about how nice guys finish last, the women always go for the jerk, and if she's going to turn down the nice guy in favor of the jerk, she deserves what she gets. First off, for saying she deserves it, he is NOT a nice guy, but a jerk too. Second, so many abused women face attitudes of "Well, that crazy b---, she must enjoy getting beat up, or else she'd get out of there." They don't understand--the victim isn't choosing to stay. She is being held prisoner.

Daughter and I were discussing this, not long ago. She says she understands, I can't find it funny because I got it for real. I was part of the generation where I was looked at disapprovingly and told "Get off your lazy *** and help your mother with the dishes," by brothers and uncles who were themselves just sitting there. Why aren't THEY helping if they're so concerned? Just because I have a uterus doesn't automatically mean I'm the one who is required to do the dishes. My daughter's generation is joking when they say women belong in the kitchen. Mine wasn't.