The Image of the Woman in Romanian Jokes

Abstract

In contemporary Romanian society, women are more frequently mentioned in public discourse, most often accompanied by all the stereotypes associated with gender. On the other hand, those who continue to cling to traditionalism are men, as it offers them a more advantageous status position in relation to women. Gender stereotypes are perpetuated in society through various means, starting with the way children are socialized in their early years. They are taught by their parents what it means to be a girl or a boy, how they should behave according to their gender in order to conform to the expectations of the society they live in, and what statuses and roles they are expected to fulfill. These dilemmas can also be found in Romanian jokes, which often serve as a form of entertainment that expresses a culture illustrating this hierarchy. Once told, such jokes do nothing but legitimize and reinforce old stereotypes regarding the gender image of women. In many cases, individuals’ opinions about women are shaped by stereotypes based on traditional perceptions of gender roles. Over time, these perceptions have come to be viewed as more important in defining an individual as a “woman” or a “man,” becoming a standard that many attempt to reach as closely as possible. The paper aims to analyze both the specific nature of the most common stereotypes about women in Romanian online jokes and the extent to which these jokes influence Romanian society’s perception of women.