Bitesize: Why That Joke You Think Is Harmless Is Sexist

On the debate around this link: http://ift.tt/1Q7ZXgT

Storified by Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 12:00:44

People defending that "arranged marriage roti" meme thing: I'll spell out the sexism for you if you like. Raise your hand for questions.

— Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 11:45:46

a) It's essentially riffing off of the "women belong in the kitchen" trope, which is both BORING & VERY OLD & TIRED.

— Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 11:46:24

b) Not only is it saying WIFE = ROTIS it's taking it one step further: GOOD WIFE = GOOD ROTIS.

— Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 11:47:13

C) This assumes the "bad" wife, the one who marries for love (i.e SEXYTIMES) is only good for her bedroom skills.

— Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 11:47:57

Men, you should be equally insulted here TBH, because it basically equates marrying for love with incomptence

— Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 11:50:38

Also, the founder's response (my mum's rotis are fab, girls who make good rotis are more likely to have arranged marriages) um....

— Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 11:51:12

Arranged marriages are usually (I SAID USUALLY) transactional, patriarchal throwbacks. Women groomed to cook & breed.

— Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 11:52:05

Therefore, if your rotis are round & fluffy, that's been your training as a wife (the joke assumes), the other women untrained, wanton.

— Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 11:53:03

And that is why the joke is sexist. In other news, please don't send doodles of penises/your middle finger to editors. #protip

— Meenakshi Madhavan · Thu, Jan 14 2016 11:55:20