2011-08-22
Explanation
This comic is titled "Funtime Activity: Anti-Sexism" and features a man grabbing a woman's shoulder while shouting, "Woman! Get in the kitchen! I've put a number of Margaret Atwood novels in there, which we can read together as equals!" The woman looks annoyed and uncomfortable despite the supposedly progressive content of his message.
The joke is a subversion of the classic sexist trope of telling a woman to "get in the kitchen." The man starts with what sounds like a blatantly sexist command, but then pivots to an aggressively feminist punchline involving reading Margaret Atwood, the renowned author known for works like The Handmaid's Tale that explore gender oppression. The humor lies in the fact that while the content of his message is pro-equality, his delivery -- yelling at her, grabbing her, and commanding her -- is itself patronizing and aggressive. He is being sexist in his attempt to be anti-sexist, completely undermining his stated goal of treating her "as equals." The woman's exasperated expression makes it clear she recognizes the irony.