Workplace Discrimination Against, and Jokes About...well, just about everybody

prnewswire ^ | 11/13/02

[Brian Mosely]

Workplace Discrimination Against, and Jokes About, African Americans, Gays, Jews, Muslims and Others, According to Harris Interactive Survey

Discrimination Against Several, But Not All, Minority Groups, Including Women, Is Believed To Be Widespread

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Older people, gays and lesbians and people with disabilities are perceived by many to be frequent victims of workplace discrimination. Other groups viewed as frequent victims of workplace discrimination by smaller, but still substantial, numbers of people include women, African Americans and Muslims. On the other hand, relatively few people believe that Jews, Asian Americans or Hispanic Americans are often discriminated against.

This survey also finds that workplace jokes about women, gays and lesbians, and older people are relatively common, while fewer (but still substantial numbers) recall hearing jokes about Asian Americans, people with disabilities, Muslims and Jews.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll(R), which is based on online interviews with a nationwide cross section of 2,203 adults surveyed between August 26 and September 2, 2002. Harris Interactive(R) conducted this survey in collaboration with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm.

Because the sample used in this poll was quite large compared to most published opinion polls, it was possible to analyze the responses of five of these groups and compare their replies with those of all adults. These results show that African Americans are much more likely than the general public to see blacks as victims of discrimination, while gays and lesbians are also significantly more likely to see themselves as discriminated against.

When it comes to jokes, gays and lesbians and Hispanics are more likely than other groups to report hearing jokes against people like them. Women, on the other hand, are less likely to recall hearing jokes about women, presumably because men are more likely to make these jokes to other men when no women are present.

  Some specific findings about the perceptions of discrimination are:
  *  Fully 50% of African Americans feel that blacks are "often" victims of
     workplace discrimination, but only 18% of all adults believe this to be
     true.
  *  Almost half of gays and lesbians and bisexual adults (45%) feel that
     they, as a group, are often discriminated against at work.  Nearly a
     third of all adults (29%) perceive this level of discrimination against
     gays and lesbians.
  *  Relatively few people perceive Jews (5%), Asian Americans (5%),
     Hispanic Americans (12%) or Muslims (14%) as frequent targets of
     discrimination.  Only one of these groups is large enough to be
     analyzed separately; relatively few Hispanics (16%) believe their group
     is often discriminated against.
  *  Over a quarter of women (27%) believe they are frequent victims of
     discrimination.

When it comes to jokes told in the workplace about minorities, more people recall hearing jokes about women (53%), gays and lesbians (44%), older people (38%), African Americans (37%) and Hispanics (32%) than about the other groups.

However, substantial numbers report hearing jokes about all of the nine groups we asked about, including Jews (29%), Muslims (29%), people with disabilities (26%) and Asian Americans (25%).

Most of those who self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (64%) recall hearing jokes about their group at work, as do 50% of Hispanics.

TABLE 1

PERCEPTIONS OF WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST EIGHT MINORITIES AND WOMEN "How often do you think the following groups experience discrimination in the workplace, and, for example, are fired or dismissed from a job, are harassed,

or denied promotions or job advances - never, rarely, sometimes, or often?"

  Base:  All Adults
                                            "OFTEN"    Gap Between
                                                       All Adults and
                                                       Group Discriminated
                                                       Against
                                              %
  Older adults, aged 65 and older
   All adults                                32                 +7
   People aged 65 and over                   39
  People who are gay, lesbian, bisexual
   or transgender
   All adults                                29                +16
   Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender     45
  People with disabilities
   All adults                                21                 NA
   People with disabilities                  NA
  Women
   All adults                                19                 +8
   Women                                     27
  African Americans
   All adults                                18                +32
   African Americans                         50
  People who are Muslim
   All adults                                14                 NA
   Muslims                                   NA
  Hispanic Americans
   All adults                                12                 +4
   Hispanic Americans                        16
  Asian Americans
   All adults                                 5                 NA
   Asian Americans                           NA
  People who are Jewish
   All adults                                 5                 NA
   Jews                                      NA
                                 TABLE 2
           HEAR JOKES AT WORK ABOUT EIGHT MINORITIES AND WOMEN
"Have you ever heard someone at your current or most recent job tell jokes
                   about any of the following groups?"
  Base:  All Adults
                                               "OFTEN"     Gap Between
                                                           All Adults
                                                           and Group
                                                           Discriminated
                                                           Against
                                                  %
  Women
   All adults                                    53             -8
   Women                                         45
  People who are gay, lesbian, bisexual
   or transgender
   All adults                                    44            +20
   Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender         64
  Older adults, aged 65 and older
   All adults                                    38             +3
   People aged 65 and over                       41
  African Americans
   All adults                                    37             -2
   African Americans                             35
  Hispanic Americans
   All adults                                    32            +18
   Hispanic Americans                            50
  People who are Jewish
   All adults                                    29             NA
   Jews                                          NA
  People who are Muslim
   All adults                                    29             NA
   Muslims                                       NA
  People with disabilities
   All adults                                    26             NA
   People with disabilities                      NA
  Asian Americans
   All adults                                    25             NA
   Asian Americans                               NA
  Methodology

The Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between August 26 and September 2, 2002, among a nationwide cross section of 2,203 adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education and number of adults in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. "Propensity score" weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 2 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (non-response), question wording and question order, interviewer bias, weighting by demographic control data and screening (e.g., for likely voters). It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors. This online survey is not a probability sample.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

About Harris Interactive(R)

Harris Interactive (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/) is a worldwide market research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll(R), and for pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate market research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, U.S.A., Harris Interactive combines proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in predictive, custom and strategic research. The Company conducts international research through wholly owned subsidiaries-London-based HI Europe (http://www.hieurope.com/) and Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan-as well as through the Harris Interactive Global Network of local market-and opinion- research firms, and various U.S. offices. EOE M/F/D/V

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to participate in future online surveys, visit http://www.harrispollonline.com/ .

[shaggy eel]

,,, here's a goodie!

[Feiny]

Did someone say cheese?

Here is a dutch joke:

Nadat de vrouw heeft plaatsgenomen op de divan, vraagt de psychiater wat er aan scheelt. De vrouw krijgt een kleur als vuur en stottert: ‘Uhh, tja, uhhmmm, hoe zal ik het zeggen? Ik ben natuurlijk geen expert... Maar, ik denk dat ik zo af en toe uhhmm-uhh een beetje nymphomanische trekjes vertoond. ‘Aha!’ Zegt de psychiater. ‘Ik denk dat ik u wel kan helpen. Maar ik moet u waarschuwen dat ik niet goedkoop ben. Ik reken honderdvijftig gulden per uur.’‘Dat valt mee,’ zegt de vrouw. ‘En hoeveel rekent u voor een hele nacht?’

[Nam Vet]

What three two-letter words mean small?

"Is It In?"

Nam Vet

[Feiny]

Q: How do you tell, as you're driving towards Holland, that you've crossed the border?
A: You see the toilet paper hanging out to dry on the washing lines.

http://www.zompist.com/dutchcult.html

http://www.beard-redfern.com/int_humour.html

[Nam Vet]

An old Marine Colonel got himself a new secretary. She was young, sweet, and very polite. One day while taking dictation, she noticed his fly was open. When leaving the room, she said, "Col. Smith, your barracks door is open." He did not understand her remark. Later on, he looked down and saw his zipper was open. He decided to have some fun with his secretary. He called her in and asked, "Miss Jones, when you saw my barracks door open this morning, did you also notice a Marine standing at attention?" The secretary, who also was quite witty, replied, "Why, no sir. All I saw was a little disabled veteran sitting on two duffel bags."

Nam Vet

[ofMagog]

The fellow who originated the concept of managed health care died and arrived at the Pearly Gates. After giving his Social Security number and other identification, he was told to, "Wait over there in the Reception Area and an orientation tour bus will be by in about an hour."

The Reception Area was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. It had a full bar (non-alcoholic, but had all the tastes of various beers and other drinks) and every type of food ever thought of. The view was fabulous. Everyone was smiling and seemed so happy.

The fellow turned to one of the very beautiful receptionists and said, "This place is beyond all imagination! It is just so wonderful. I traveled all over the world and Texas setting up HMOs and other managed care systems, but I never saw anything this wonderful. There must be some kind of mistake," he laughed.

"Oh, no, sir. We never make mistakes up here. Never have. Never will. See right here on the computer screen. It says you are fully certified for three days, sir."

[shaggy eel]

A man came in to the fruit and vegetable section of the market and asked to buy half a head of lettuce. The boy told him that they only sold whole heads of lettuce, but the man replied that he did not need a whole head, only a half head. The boy said he would go ask his manager about the matter.The boy walked into the back room and said, "there is some asshole out there who wants to buy only a half head of lettuce." As he was finishing saying this he turned around to find the man standing right behind him, so he added, "and this gentleman wants to buy the other half".

The manager okayed the deal and the man went on his way. Later the manager called on the boy and said, "you almost got yourself in a lot of trouble earlier, but I must say I was impressed with the way you got yourself out of it. You think on your feet and we like that around here. Where are you from son?"

The boy replied, "Australia sir".

"You're joking ! Why did you leave Australia?" asked the manager.

The boy replied, "They're all just whores and rugby players down there."

"My wife is from Australia!!"

The boy replied, "Really! What team did she play for?

[Nam Vet]

If a motorist cuts you off, just turn the other cheek. Nothing gets the message across like a good mooning.

Nam Vet

[shaggy eel]

Big Mike's all excited about his new rifle. So, he goes bear hunting in Alaska. The first bear he sees is a little brown bear. He kills it with his first shot.

There is a tap on his shoulder and he turns around to see a big black bear. The black bear says, "You've got two choices. One, I maul you to death or two, we have sex."

Big Mike bends over for the bear. He's sore for 2 days, but he recovers and vows revenge. Big Mike heads out on another trip to Alaska and he finds the black bear and kills him.

At that moment there is a tap on his shoulder. A huge grizzly is standing right behind him. The grizzly says, "That was a big mistake. You've got two choices. Either I maul you to death or we have sex." Big Mike bends over once again. He survives, but he's really hurting and takes quite a bit of time to recover and he's outraged.

He heads back to Alaska and finds the grizzly and shoots him at point blank range. Sure enough, there's a tap on his shoulder. He turns around to find an enormous polar bear. The polar bear looks at Big Mike with a puzzled look and says, "You don't really come here for the hunting, do you?"

[stands2reason]

I thought we were posting ethnic jokes!

 



A Scotsman and a Jewish man were having a magnificent meal at one of the finest restaurants in New York. At the end of the evening the waiter came over to present the check and a Scottish voice said " That's all right laddie just gae the check to me ". The headlines in the local newspaper next day proclaimed " Jewish ventriloquist found beaten to death ".

[shaggy eel]

I thought we were posting ethnic jokes!

,,, in the interests of diversity and trying to create a perception of even handed mockery I'm dragging out all sorts of pearls.

Do you know, the best joke I've ever heard in my entire life remains...

"it's for the children."

[Nam Vet]

LOL.....I'll have to sent that to a best friend. He's a typical NY Jew relocated to California. He sends me about 3-4 Jewish jokes a week. Latest one?

When does a Jewish mother consider a fetus viable?

The second he passes the bar or medical school.

Nam Vet

[Feiny]

That is a good one....and not far from the truth!

[ActionNewsBill]

Bump

[mil-vet]

Here is a dutch joke:

Um, my name may come from Holland, but the linguistic skills common to all Nederlanders didn't make it through the generations - at least I got a laugh out of seeing a joke (of course, it could be a recipe, for all I know - *GRIN*), in the Dutch language.....

[mil-vet]

Thanks for passing the "dutch / humor" site URLs - I suppose I asked for the type of humor you used for your example with the off-color example (only one I knew) of a Dutch joke that I posted - I really AM looking for something I can use in "mixed company" - *SMILE*!!

This thread has been great - the stupidity of people getting angry at "stereotype" jokes (and calling them "discriminitory") amazes me! I once had an Hispanic Lt Col, active duty, USAF, tell me that the reason blacks and mexicans were not allowed to marry was because "they" were afraid the offspring would be too lazy to steal. He was laughing at stereotypes about both his heritage and that of blacks. I'm "white", but the two guys with me were (1) hispanic and (2) black. We all laughed, and it didn't hurt that this Lt Col could at times make Robin Williams and Jay Leno combined look inept as comedians - what a delivery!!

The really important word here is "laughing"! I get a laugh every so often when I pass on a "stereotype" joke and someone tries to call me prejudiced; I whip out a family picture, showing my Romanian wife, my four daughters and one son, my hispanic son-in-law, my Samoan son-in-law, my black son-in-law, and my five grandkids!

BTW, NONE of these are hyphenated ANYTHING - they are all, simply, Americans! You ought to hear the family reunions!! Literally, ROTFLOL 'til the tears run down your face!

[Rytwyng]

All right... I give up. I gotta post some of my own...

If you think that a "cell phone" is where the sheriff lets you make one free call... you might be a redneck.

If you've ever handled a live rattlesnake in church... you might be a redneck.

And, for that matter, if you've ever handled a live rattlesnake OUTSIDE of church... you might be a redneck.

In fact, if you've ever handled a live rattlesnake, anywhere at all....

If you've ever kept a chicken in your cubicle...you might be a displaced redneck.

If your pickup truck is way too big for your corporate parking space...you might be a displaced redneck.

If you've ever said "shoot", "dang", "ain't", or "buddy", in a management meeting...you might be a displaced redneck.

[Dan from Michigan]

LOL. That's gotta be a different Dan.

[Dan from Michigan]

Where does an Irish family go on vacation? A different bar.

O'Connell was walking down the street with a pint of Jameson in his back pocket. He slipped and fell and felt something wet run down his leg.

"Please God, let it be blood!"

[Feiny]

I had no idea what that dutch joke was....I grabbed it off of a website. I don't speak Dutch. I just gid a search on google for 'dutch joke'.....alot of links to Austin Powers 3rd movie stuff.