This article is devoted to the research of cognitive mechanisms of the creation
of laughter effect of the English-language anecdote, which are based on the disparity of men and women to the mental and
ethical norms. The results of the analysis demonstrate quantitative and high-quality asymmetry in the laughter
representation of man and woman in the texts of the English-language anecdotes. The found quantitative and high-quality
asymmetry reflects the most socially meaningful gender-specific demands to the man and woman as to the members of
English-language society. In the subsoil of these demands there are the traditional gender standard roles of defender-breadwinner
and keeper of fireside
