5 Ways to Respond to Transphobic Jokes in the Workplace
I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK
I sleep all night and I work all day
I cut down trees, I skip and jump
I like to press wild flowers
I put on women's clothing and hang around in bars
I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK
I sleep all night and I work all day
I cut down trees, I wear high heels
Suspendies and a bra
I wish I'd been a girlie, just like my dear Papa
LyricFind - Songwriters: Terry Jones / Michael Edward Palin / Fred Tomlinson
Disgruntled employee overhearing transphobic comments in the workplace.
Throughout history, privilege has been a lynchpin of comedy.
From Oscar Wilde’s caricatures of Victorian life to Dave Chapelle’s sendups of white culture, mocking the privileged is a consistent theme. And it’s good when powerful people feel the sting of public opinion. Often it’s the only way that they ever feel ridicule or a sense of doubt.
Unfortunately, humor is not always righteous, and the cheap laughs earned by attacking those without privilege outnumber the righteous ones. Too often, it’s Amos and Andy and vaudeville blackface. It’s every movie where our hero wakes up hungover in bed with another man. It’s former President Donald Trump mocking a disabled reporter to the delight of the crowd.
It’s not controversial to say that our culture still finds humor in the “man in a dress” gag. Look no further than Dave Chappelle’s tired jokes about “trannies” tricking men into sleeping with them. While it seems like we’ve progressed enough to realize that blackface and intentional racism as comedy is simply destructive, that ableist jokes have begun to fall flat, and that gay relationships are deserving of primetime television, it feels like anti-trans humor has not seen the same backlash.
It’s not engaging in the Oppression Olympics to notice that Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais still have sizable platforms. Saturday Night Live still regularly includes anti-trans jokes. So why does “man in a dress” humor persist?
In our culture, women have less value compared to men, and when a woman wears a suit, it’s not funny. It may seem out of place, yes, but not funny. That’s because the woman wearing a suit is emulating a man. She is striving to be something “better” than she is. When a man wears a dress, apparently it is funny, because why would a man wear a dress? The man diminishes himself, puts himself in the state of lower privilege that women possess. And crucially, the man can always take off the dress and regain his status. Whether it’s by choice or by accident, the man is only demeaned temporarily.
We find amusement in watching someone in the act of relinquishing their privilege, and we find it funny to watch a privileged person mock someone with fewer advantages.
But when you laugh at “man in a dress” sayings or "Surprise, the girl has a penis!" jokes, you are perpetuating patriarchy and misogyny, and you are actively engaging in transphobic humor. It isn’t a microaggression. It isn’t micro, or just a slight. It is intentional. It isn't aggression, it is aggressive, and you should expect to be called out for this behavior. Loudly. In front of whoever else is present. “Man in a dress” humor is transphobic.
What is Transphobia?
Transphobia refers to the strong dislike or bias shown by an individual or a group towards transgender people. It involves various negative attitudes, emotions, or behaviors directed at transgender individuals or the concept of transgender identity. For example, a transphobic person might be rude to a "tomboy" or a guy who wears a dress. Another case could be cutting ties with someone just because they find out their friend is transgender.
What does transphobia have to do with the workplace?
I am a trans woman. When we’re in the office kitchen and you talk to me (or in my earshot) about last night’s episode of How I Met Your Mother, and how funny it was when Ted said that the worst possible thing he could find out about a woman he was dating that she ‘used to be a man’, you tell me that the workplace is not safe for me. You tell me that you find me, at best funny, at worst disgusting. When you tell me about watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, and how that one queen ‘looked SO real!’, you tell me that you don’t believe me to be a woman.
These transphobic jokes are not only dehumanizing but they can create a hostile and toxic work environment when left unaddressed.
The outcome for a trans person observing this behavior is feeling overwhelmingly alienated and harassed. The outcome for the bystander is a feeling of exclusion, discomfort, and the awkwardness of not being sure what happens now, of not being sure how to respond.
These incidents are never isolated. A person that feels alienated in the break room is going to feel just as alienated at their desk, and they will bear an incalculable emotional burden in order to merely do their job. Eventually, that burden will become more than they can carry, and either they will find someplace else to work, or they will begin to lash out in frustration, anger, fear, and despair.
5 Ways to Combat Transphobic Jokes in the Workplace:
Eliminate Transphobia in Recruitment and Onboarding Process
During the process of recruiting new team members, make sure your people ops is gender-affirming and communicates your anti-discrimination policies and protocols related to transgender employees and whether or not they will abide by them. Provide access to resources that employees can refer to if they encounter harassment or know of someone else facing such issues.
It's crucial to recognize that someone's transgender identity might not always be apparent, thus extending these resources to all members of your organization is essential.
HR - Develop and Enforce Supportive Policies
Develop comprehensive human resource policies, procedures, and resources that offer support to transgender employees across your organization, and actively spread awareness about them. Make sure that all team members understand the policies that discourage transphobic behavior and discrimination. Ensure that every employee knows who to contact if they encounter harassment or witness someone else experiencing it.
Be Mindful of Jokes Shared at Work
Do not rely on transphobic jokes or any inappropriate humor that belittles or mocks another person, regardless of their status. There are plenty of funny moments or jokes that do not come at someone else’s cost. Think about how your privilege, or that of the joke teller, could shape the perception of humor. Stay open to the idea that it might be based on harmful and outdated stereotypes. Maybe that’s not you. In that case, become a true ally against transphobia in the workplace and do not tolerate this kind of humor that targets transgender individuals or any other member of the LGTBQ+ community in your presence. Silence is not allyship. Name it, and shame it.
The Power of Words
Choosing respectful and inclusive language has a significant impact. What is inclusive language? It's a way of speaking that embraces all genders and identities, leaving no one out. Never assume the absence of transgender individuals at your workplace. A valuable initial stride toward mastering inclusive language specifically for transgender individuals is educating your team on the importance of using correct pronouns.
Take a Stand Against Transphobic Jokes
A vital aspect of putting an end to transphobic jokes involves actively addressing it when it arises. Typically, the responsibility falls on trans and gender-diverse individuals to defend themselves, which can lead to feelings of being targeted, drained, and isolated.
Actively listen to your surroundings. In a workplace setting, if you hear someone making transphobic jokes or using inappropriate language, don’t dismiss it. Instead, enhance your listening skills and take active steps to eliminate such behavior, whether that means speaking out against it or involving HR. Your actions can make a significant difference.
By applying these 5 vital strategies in combating transphobia and transphobic jokes in the workplace, you create a safe space for everybody while gradually pushing society towards positive change.
To truly be an ally, join our insightful LGBTQIA+ culture Lunch & Learn sessions for ongoing education, support and raising awareness. Get in touch with our team to get started!
Edited by Chris Falkowski
