Just Joking: No Excuse for Sexist Behavior at Work

‘Just Joking’ is no excuse for sexist behaviour at work – How is written language used to persuade the reader to share the point of view of the writer of the piece? Robert Wood’s opinion piece ‘Just Joking’ is no excuse for sexist behaviour at work (The Age) is judgmental and critical of sexist behaviour in the workplace. Wood contends in a reasonable tone that it is necessary for employers to banish sexism in order to create equality and good working conditions for females. Wood appeals to his readers, especially female readers, by asserting that a ‘review into the treatment of women in the Australian Defence Force’ as well as ‘the Centre for Ethical Leadership’ are looking for ‘possible solutions’ to gender inequality, which has the potential to encourage readers to see that there is a problem and that this problem is being taken seriously by both the Defence Force and other organisations. Wood demonstrates by listing a number of positive elements such as ‘an employee fits in, performs..remain healthy..he or she is..likely to remain’ positioning readers to see the importance of a good work environment where equality is encourage. Readers are therefore likely to accept Wood’s views, especially if they are in a workforce that is discriminatory, as they will see the benefits being offered, by Wood’s views. A very valid point is made by Wood, by saying that when women are given attention by their male colleagues, though the males may see it as ‘just joking’ which goes back to the headline about how you can’t just say anything and when someone speaks out about it just say that you were just joking, if they complain it is said that they can’t take a joke however if they laugh it off then that is just encouraging more jokes. So either way when it comes to this women can’t win, which makes the no just joking rule very worthwhile in the workplace. Wood suggests that if the employer is sensible they will eliminate sexist behaviour which in fact will help the employer in return because everyone will be treated equally, and woman won’t feel as if they have to back off but in fact contribute in the workforce, this is one of the main points Wood makes which clearly ‘employers must stamp out insidious sexism to retain female talent’. Also if this sought of behaviour is eliminated ‘progress through the ranks, he or she is more likely to remain’