Perceptions of 2024 Education Management Students at Universitas Negeri Jakarta Toward Sexist Humor

Abstract

This study examines the perceptions of students in the 2024 Education Management cohort at Universitas Negeri Jakarta toward sexist humor, which often appears as harmless jokes but carries stereotyping, objectification, and gender-based disrespect. Unlike prior studies that largely attribute tolerance of sexist humor to gender bias alone, this study traces the underlying social dynamics. It aims to understand how students interpret and respond to sexist humor, and how perceptions differ between male and female students. Using a descriptive qualitative method, data were collected through observation and semi-structured interviews with six participants (three male, three female), then analyzed thematically. Findings show that all participants recognized sexist humor as gender-biased humor that triggers emotional responses such as anger, sadness, and insecurity. Female participants viewed it as a form of harassment linked to gender inequality, while male participants tended to see it as context-dependent, despite experiencing internal conflict such as guilt. The study identifies three aspects rarely addressed in previous research: social pressure as the primary driver of sexist humor's normalization, the role of social hierarchy (seniors, lecturers, authority figures) in discouraging students from responding, and an internal conflict among male students not always reflected in their outward responses. The study concludes that strengthening gender literacy and communication ethics at both the program and institutional level is necessary to reduce the normalization of sexist humor and support a more inclusive, safe academic environment.

ABSTRAK

Studi ini mengkaji persepsi mahasiswa angkatan 2024 Program Studi Manajemen Pendidikan UNJ terhadap humor seksis. Berbeda dari studi sebelumnya yang cenderung mengaitkan toleransi terhadap humor seksis semata dengan bias gender, penelitian ini menelusuri dinamika sosial di baliknya. Menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif melalui observasi dan wawancara semi-terstruktur pada enam partisipan (tiga laki-laki, tiga perempuan), data dianalisis secara tematik. Hasil menunjukkan seluruh partisipan mengenali humor seksis sebagai bentuk bias gender yang memicu respons emosional seperti marah, sedih, dan rasa tidak aman. Partisipan perempuan memaknainya sebagai pelecehan yang berkaitan dengan ketimpangan gender, sementara partisipan laki-laki cenderung memandangnya kontekstual meski mengalami konflik batin berupa rasa bersalah. Studi ini mengungkap tiga temuan yang jarang dibahas: tekanan sosial sebagai pendorong utama normalisasi humor seksis, peran hierarki sosial (senior, dosen, figur otoritas) dalam menghambat respons mahasiswa, dan konflik internal mahasiswa laki-laki yang tidak selalu tercermin dalam respons mereka. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan pentingnya penguatan literasi gender dan etika komunikasi di tingkat program studi maupun institusi untuk menekan normalisasi humor seksis dan mewujudkan lingkungan akademik yang inklusif dan aman.