Running Header: MEMES SHAPING SOCIETY 1

Memes Shaping Society

Kyra Jackson

Coastal Carolina University

CSCI 101-SD6
MEMES SHAPING SOCIETY 2

Over time our society has shifted and became dependent of technology. The internet,

smart phones, and social media have all changed the way people in society communicate and

interact with one another. One thing people do not think about that shapes our society are

memes. These small pictures, some with words and others without, help influence the way

people think about topics that have major impacts on our lives. Memes can be found almost

anywhere, and they are understood by almost anyone regardless of their background. They help

shape how we think about many topics such as sexism and racism and can be worn and used as a

moving advertisement to get ideas out.

On popular websites, such as Twitter and Facebook, memes are a big part of

communication. Two people can have a conversation while using only memes. These

conversations can be a fun and creative way of talking, but they can also have subliminal

influences on the way we think. Injeong (2016) described memes as, an element of culture that

encompasses fashion, ideas, religion, and beyond. He also states that memes are units of culture

that are transmitted by diffusing ideas from person to person, while shaping and reflecting

general social mindsets (Inejeong, 2016, p.97). Memes work because the individuals that use

them understands the reference being made. A person in one part of the world can understand a

meme that a person on the other side of the world uses, even though their lives are completely

different. Language barriers are a very miniscule issue when it comes to these small modes of

communication. Wang (2015) stated that, the concept of memes development upholds the meme

theory. This theory states that an original idea is presented and goes through changes, making it

different in many different contexts (Wang, 2015, p. 264). For example, a funny snippet of a

popular television show can be copied and changed over and over, with different funny captions.
MEMES SHAPING SOCIETY 3

Many times, on Twitter, there are memes circulating that many people all over the country can

relate to. Often, these people are of the same race or gender.

Sexism is a big problem in society today. There are many more feminist and other

women who are fighting for their rights. However, many times they are not taken seriously by

their peers. Drakett (2018) stated that, women active in the feminist group’s fight are most likely

to be threatened with rape threats. The threats are then followed by a saying or meme that

indicates that the statement is a joke. The superiority theory states that the concept of humor is

derived form the anguish and torment of others. When they see this, they feel a sense of

superiority, and this is then conveyed as laughter. Several of the memes studied presented the

women as sexy, oblivious, and or passive. They are all presented in a way to where they are

never clear on the motives of the man. Most of the memes displayed heterosexual relationships,

while failing to depict other variations. Men are typically pictureed as knowing. They understand

while the woman is lost on the concept. Memes are even used to make fun of topics such as

abortion and contraception (Drakett, 2018, 110-117). Somewhere during the development of

memes, it became acceptable to make fun of the issues that women go through. The memes are

used but are not thought of as offensive by others because they say it’s a joke. The use of

acronyms, such as LOL or LMAO, and memes makes the insulting words seem smaller and

more justifiable. Seeing this made people begin to join in on the trend, causing a major turn in

society where the words are now almost an everyday occurrence and becoming increasingly

more common.

Racial discrimination is another area memes have contributed to. Racial

discrimination, since the election of President Trump, has skyrocketed online and in the real

world. According to Williams (2016), racial microaggressions are the subtle verbal, behavioral,
MEMES SHAPING SOCIETY 4

and environmental abuse the people of color are faced with on an everyday basis. These are not

limited to face-to-face communication. Memes are thought of as being funny, so often the

pictures will not be viewed as discrimination. Minorites report experiencing racial discrimination

more than White individuals. It has been found that White participants have a lower ability to

recognize racial prejudice. Racial discrimination in the real world can make minorities view

racial themed memes in a more aggressive way. However, White people can experience the same

discrimination. This can result in racially biased memes, which then cause more aggression from

the minorities. However, microaggression can only take place towards a minority. The only way

a white person can feel microaggression in a situation where they are the minority (Willams,

2016, 3-29). There is a harsh cycle when it comes to racial themed memes. In a face-to face

situation a person experiences discrimination. They then go online and see memes directed

towards their race, triggering aggression in that person. The cycle could stop there, or it could

continue with that person discriminating against the race of people that unjustly judged them in

the beginning, this starts the whole cycle over and continues again. Racial themed memes are

always a sensitive topic. It offends most of the people it talks about and causes a bigger rift

between the two parties. However, like the sexist memes, racial themed memes are an everyday

thing online.

Memes can be shared in other ways besides online. Clothing can be a great way to

spread thoughts and ideas in a subtle way. Paterson (2017) states that t-shirts provide a surface

that can transmit and spread culture. These t-shirts can be worn to express concept that help

identify who the wearer really is. Unlike online, the memes on shirts are rarely policed. The

wearer has a free range to express themselves however they would like. People use these shirts

as a platform to get their words out into the public (Paterson, 2017, 81-86). There are currently
MEMES SHAPING SOCIETY 5

many clothing lines that use their clothes as a platform to get their beliefs out. These shirts are an

easy way to spread ideas and culture in a subtle way. They can transfer ideas without much

thought. After seeing a shirt multiple times, a person could possibly research the topic more and

learn more about the culture, and they could possibly adopt the ideas as their own. Impressions

are powerful. The only thing needed to make an impression is an open mind. An idea can travel

and be made bigger at any time.

Memes can be very influential to our society. They can be understood by just about

anyone if they understand the reference. Memes cover an array of topics ranging form sexism to

racism. The way women are depicted in memes make them seem naïve and oblivious. The more

these are shared the more common the idea seems to become. Racism is a huge issue that memes

effects. The use or racial themed memes drives a wedge between minorities and the majority. It

causes aggression and unneeded tension in society every day. T-shirts can be used as billboards

to get certain ideas and cultures out into the world. These ideas diffuse across borders and help

spread knowledge. Memes seem small, but they have a huge impact on how we operate as a

society. Many people do not see the huge impact; however, it is certainly there. Cultures and

thoughts diffuse across borders every time a meme is read and shared. It is up to the people to

determine how they will put the information to use.

MEMES SHAPING SOCIETY 6

References

Drakett, J., Rickett, B., Day, K., & Milnes, K. (2018). Old jokes, new media – Online sexism and

constructions of gender in Internet memes. Feminism & Psychology, 28(1), 109-127.

doi:10.1177/0959353517727560

InJeong, Y. (2016). Why is it not Just a Joke? Analysis of Internet Memes Associated with

Racism and Hidden Ideology of Colorblindness. Journal Of Cultural Research In Art

Education, 33(1), 92-123

Paterson, L. (2017). DISS/PLAY-- T-SHIRTS AS MOBILE MEME. Scope: Contemporary

Research Topics (Art & Design), 15.81-86.

Wang, J., & Wang, H. (2015). From a Marketplace to a Cultural Space: Online Meme as an

Operational Unit of Cultural Transmission. Journal Of Technical Writing &

Communication, 45(3), 261-274.

Williams, A.,Oliver, C., Aumer, K., Meyers, C. (2016).Racial Microaggression and Perception

of Internet Memes. Computers in Human Behaviors, 63. 424-432.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.067.