Editing Mother-in-law joke

{{Short description|Comedy trope focused on a mother-in-law}}
[[File:A doctor informs his patient's mother-in-law that he may nee Wellcome V0011410.jpg|thumb|A doctor informs his patient's mother-in-law that he may need to resort to [[Thoracentesis|tapping]] – she misunderstands him as meaning [[Beer tap|tapping alcohol]]. Wood engraving by [[Charles Keene (artist)|Charles Keene]], 1880.]]

[[Humour]] and '''jokes about one's mother-in-law''' (the mother of one's spouse) are a mainstay of comedy. The humour is based on the premise that the average [[parent-in-law|mother-in-law]] considers her [[Affinity (law)|son-in-law]] to be unsuitable for her daughter (or daughter-in-law unsuitable for her son) and may be rude, overbearing, obnoxious, and unattractive.<ref name="Dillner" />

British comedians such as [[Les Dawson]] and [[Jim Davidson]] have often used them, and many television [[Situation comedy|sitcoms]] have featured stereotypical mothers-in-law.

There is evidence that this joke dates back to [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times: ''[[Satire VI]]'' by [[Juvenal]] says that one cannot be happy while one's mother-in-law is still alive.<ref name="Dillner" /> Most of the mother-in-law jokes are easily translatable to other languages and are easily understandable in most [[Europe]]an cultures.

In a book on [[cartooning]] written by [[Dave Breger]], the author lists a series of "tired gags", and gives a suggestion on how to exploit them. In his illustration, Breger and his wife go to a [[museum]] and see a ''[[Tyrannosaurus]]'' [[skeleton]]. Mrs. Breger says, "And no funny remarks, please, about that Mother called or something..."<ref>Breger, Dave. How to Draw and Sell Cartoons. Putnam, 1966. {{ISBN|0399104240}} </ref> 

A study of mothers-in-law by Pamela Cotterill found that "they tended not to be upset by jokes because they seemed so far fetched they couldn't apply to them, but they didn't find them funny". Cotterill also found that daughters-in-law did not find them funny either, largely because they saw that one day the jokes could be applied to them.<ref name="Dillner">[https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/luisa-dillner-mothersinlaw-are-lovely-in-their-place-their-own-place-that-is-1912926.html Luisa Dillner: Mothers-in-law are lovely, in their place. Their own place, that is - Commentators - Voices - The Independent<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://hdl.handle.net/10068/501665 Mothers and Daughters-in-Law: A Study of Intergenerational Relationships Between Family Women. Staffordshire Polytechnic, 1989]</ref>

The jokes are considered offensive by some. A widely reported case is that of the [[London]] borough where, in 2010, a workshop leaflet called "Cultural Awareness: General Problems" advised against using them. The leaflet states that "mother-in-law jokes, as well as offensively [[sexist]] in their own right, can also be seen as offensive on the grounds that they disrespect elders or parents."<ref>[http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/8416097.Council_denies_ban_on_mother_in_law_jokes/ Council denies ban on mother-in-law jokes (From Times Series)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8026003/Council-outlaws-mother-in-law-jokes.html Council outlaws mother-in-law jokes - Telegraph<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Portrayals==
The stereotype is often portrayed on film and in popular entertainment. Some examples include:
*Viola Fields ([[Jane Fonda]]) in the film ''[[Monster-in-Law]]''.
*[[Marie Barone]] ([[Doris Roberts]]) in the sitcom ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]]'', who is extremely meddlesome and incessantly makes conceited remarks to her daughter-in-law Debra.
*Adele Delfino ([[Celia Weston]]) on the television series ''[[Desperate Housewives]]''.
*[[Endora (Bewitched)|Endora]] ([[Agnes Moorehead]]) in the sitcom ''[[Bewitched]]'' is a witch who is not happy with the decision of her daughter to marry a normal human, and often uses her magic to cause trouble for him.
*Norma Speakman ([[Liz Smith (actress)|Liz Smith]]) in the sitcom ''[[The Royle Family]]'', who enjoys baiting son-in-law Jim.
*[[Olivia Jefferson]] ([[Zara Cully]]) in the sitcom ''[[The Jeffersons]]'' often puts down her daughter-in-law Louise.
*Mrs. Marcus ([[Ethel Merman]]) in the film ''[[It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]'' frequently berates her son-in-law, Russell Finch ([[Milton Berle]]), complains almost constantly, and annoys most of the other characters in the film.
*Mrs. Gibson ([[Ethel Owen]]) in various episodes of the TV show ''[[The Honeymooners]]'' frequently insults her son-in-law Ralph by making jokes about his weight, telling Alice about other men who have courted her before she married Ralph in front of him and saying things that make him mad enough that he shouts at her to get out of the house.
*[[Pearl Slaghoople]] in the animated series ''[[The Flintstones]]'' often ponders why her daughter [[Wilma Flintstone|Wilma]] had to marry [[Fred Flintstone]].
*Madge Harvey ([[Sheila Reid]]) in the sitcom ''[[Benidorm (British TV series)|Benidorm]]'' frequently irritates her son-in-law Mick.

==Other==
The plant ''[[Sansevieria trifasciata|Dracaena trifasciata]]'' is sometimes referred to as "mother-in-law's tongue".

==See also==
{{Portal|Comedy}}
* [[Maternal insult]]
* "[[Mother-in-Law (song)]]", a 1961 song written by [[Allen Toussaint]] and performed by [[Ernie K-Doe]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.experienceproject.com/group_profile.php?g=3819 Mother in Law Support and Stories Collection]
* [http://www.motherinlawstories.com Mother-In-Law Stories, Jokes and Support]

[[Category:Joke cycles]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of women]]
[[Category:Affinity (law)]]