Image via Complex Original
One of the great paradoxes of the Internet is that while it is a space for the exchange of opinions and perspectives, it is also a space where people with backwards and even offensive beliefs seek out like-minded jerks. The sexism in some corners of the Internet is astonishing. Whether it is coming from a community of armchair politicking Tea Partiers or “friend-zoned” basement dwelling nerds, sexism on the web is casual, brutal, and pervasive.
Only you can prevent shitty sexism on the Internet. And while we aren't asking you to go start a feminist blog (Lord knows there are already enough), it would be a good thing not to encourage misogyny. Here's a tip, women don't often want to have sex with people who claim to hate their gender. Even a mere two line joke with Willy Wonka's face in the middle can strengthen the patriarchy and lengthen your sexual drought. Before you share that "hilarious" meme, ask yourself if it is like these 10 Sexist Memes We Should Probably Stop Using.
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Sexist Don Draper
People who use this meme have likely never seen an episode of Mad Men. If they have, they were likely to busy staring at Christina Hendricks's ass to understand the show's most obvious themes. Mad Men is an indictment of the misogynist boy's club mentality; the booze-soaked, patriarchal antics of the power players lead to their downfall. Mad Men is not meant to be an ode to the way things used to be; it uses the past to highlight the inequalities that persist in the system. So, if you're trying to say something sexist, reference art that is actually sexist like The Newsroom or Larry the Cable Guy's stand-up.
First World Problems
As privileged people, we love when memes mock privilege. Unfortunately, our self-flagellating joy is interrupted by the fact that the default Internet image of privilege is a woman, even though the default real life image of privilege is a man. Memes about "cool people," are generally white and male, like Most Interesting Man in the World (coincidentally the least interesting meme in the world). How can we enjoy "first world problem" memes when the legitimate first world problem of sexism is thrown in our face? That in itself is a first world problem. I need to go do some yoga before I can consider this any further.
Unhelpful High School Teacher
The Unhelpful High School Teacher Meme is really the "I resent being educated by a woman" meme. This Unhelpful Teacher is generally painted as "bitchy" or "incompetent." Now that idiotic ideas like "women's brains are smaller so they must be less intelligent" or "women have weak nerves" have been proven wrong, sexists have to use adjectives that are so vague as not to actually mean anything. That way they can't be forced to admit that maybe they are just shitty students.
Good Girl Gina
Users of this meme aren't looking for a great girlfriend; they want either a mother figure who will bake them an endless supply of Bagel Bites while they play Grand Theft Auto or a blowjob machine. Sure, we'd all like a blowjob machine, but you ought to get off of your ass and invent one rather than expecting a woman to volunteer. That's the American way. Check out this breakdown of the sexism of the Good Girl Gina meme if you think that viewing women as Bagel Bite cooking blowjob machines is a good thing.
College Liberal
This meme takes shots at women who are concerned about the environment, the economy, education, and foreign policy. College Liberal has become extremely popular as men began to realize that if women are savvy about all of these issues, they will likely be savvy enough not to date them.
Overly Attached Girlfriend
Nothing is worse than having a girlfriend who cares about you and wants to be with you. It's much better to pine after a woman who shows complete disinterest no matter how many times you try in vain to gain her favor.
The one positive to dating an "Overly Attached Girlfriend" is that when she gets tired of the emotional one-way street that is your relationship, you can shrug it off and claim "hey, she was a crazy bitch anyway."
Ladder Theory
The idea here is that women put you on one of two ladders when the meet you (friend or lover), and never the twain shall meet. This is complete and utter bullshit. Many a man has gotten laid after coming over to "do homework" with a college classmate. Only interior decorators see the inside of more bedrooms than tutors, and well, most male interior decorators don't get excited about seeing a woman's bedroom if you catch our drift.
Seriously, if a woman wants to discuss her love life with you, and all you're thinking about is fucking her, not only are you unlikely to ever become her lover, but you probably aren't a very good friend either.
Friend Zone Fiona
If the phrase "friend zone" is in your vocabulary, you need to eliminate it A.S.A.P. Being friend zoned simply means that a woman feels differently about you than you feel about her. Even if you consider yourself a Don Juan, odds are that you are only going to sleep with small percentage of women you meet. Believe it or not, these women you're not sleeping with could be good friends.
The good thing about having attractive female friends is that they often have attractive female friends. Think of being friend zoned as an invitation to meet a whole new group of women for you to strike out with and then make bitter memes about on the Internet.