When debating rape jokes it can be very tempting to jump to the ultimatum: jokes about rape are NEVER funny. Period. 

Jokes about rape are SOMETIMES funny. (I say this as a crisis counselor and a survivor of sexual assault.) What makes a joke about rape funny is the same thing that makes any sort of joke about a difficult topic funny: the direction of the joke. If the joke is making fun of rapists, or people who support rape culture it can be a sharp and powerful tool to fight rape while also making people laugh.

If the butt of the joke is the survivor of assault, on the other hand? Not funny. Not ever. 

I don’t usually self-promote here, but in light of the recent Daniel Tosh rape joke bullshit a blog post I wrote awhile back seems VERY relevant once again:

http://imaginetoday.net/2012/02/22/are-rape-jokes-ever-funny/

Feel free to use the examples within to help strengthen your points if this story comes up in your life. I know I’ve had to use them several times already today *sigh*