I’ve been spending a lot of time over the past couple of days wondering how to approach this topic.  As my current internship requires little upper-level thinking, I am left with quite a lot of time to ponder the world.  I was even debating whether to write a post on this subject at all, as I often begin to rant and rave when dealing with serious issues.  In fact, during college, two friends and I were debating the ramifications of the recently delivered State of the Union address.  We sat on a couch for several hours, discussing talking points and future Presidential policies.  From the kitchen, we heard the other roommates remark “Do they think they know they all agree?”

So, I just want to stress that I apologize if I’m preaching to the choir or seem to get unreasonably upset over the course of this post.  I tend to miss the social cues indicating that my craziness has over-stepped its bounds.  But I refuse to apologize for my opinions.  So there.

The topic that has been giving me so much trouble?  The issue of funny women, particularly the allegation that no such individuals exist.  I happened to read on some blog the other day a reader comment in which the individual (presumably of the testerone-inclined persuasion) berated the female writer for criticizing a particular comedy show (which rhymes with Schmoo and a Half Hen).  Rather than addressing her grammar (which was atrocious), he attacked her based on her gender, accusing her of being unable to comprehend the “subtle” humor of the show because “women aren’t funny, have never been funny, and will never be funny.”

Dear Sir, I beg to differ.  I may not be the funniest woman on the planet, but you only need to look at the best-reviewed comedies of the season to see that it is the women in them that are sparking much of the love.  Jane Lynch on Glee?  Sofia Vergara or Julie Bowen on Modern Family?  What about Amy Poehler on SNL or Parks and Recreation?  Tina Fey or Jane Krakowski on 30 Rock?  And I dare anyone to watch the physical comedy of Julia Louis-Dreyfuss on New Adventures of Old Christine and not think she is the equal of any man.  (Plus, who can forget this:

 

)

 

Women are funny, mister.  What you are reacting to is the lack of women in top comedy positions.  When former Letterman staffer Nell Scovell bemoaned the lack of female comedy writers in late night television in last month’s Vanity Fair, she acknowledged the wide disparity between men and women in the male-dominated proving grounds that often lead to positions on comedy writing staffs.  People tend to bond with those they feel more comfortable with, so in a world where men overwhelmingly host late night variety shows, women tend to be left behind.

But most comedy arises out of the uncomfortable–the trumpeting fart in the most silent of rooms, the puny father threatening the life of his daughter’s first date, the first date itself with all its attendant misperceptions and over-sharings.  Moreover, women are increasingly encroaching upon these male-centric worlds–Wanda Sykes or Chelsea Handler anyone?  And for many years, the top producers at both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report have been or were women.

Women are half of the population.  To assume that all lack a sense of humor or the ability to make others laugh is a narrow-minded view that I doubt ever got the men who say such things a lot of dates.  It is also important to remember that every person has a different sense of humor, so what one person finds funny, another may find inane.  For instance, I have never found Jeff Dunham or Larry the Cable Guy particularly amusing.  But I am not going to jump from my inability to comprehend their popularity to a wide-spread denunciation of the humorous abilities of men based on their gender.  And neither should you.

So, in conclusion, women are funny just like men.  We can choose to laugh at whatever we wish, but there is no need to deride one gender in a sad, pathetic attempt to make ourselves feel better about our own lack of humor.  As Amy Poehler said in her Glamour speech the other day: “Girls, if the boys make a joke that isn’t funny, you don’t have to laugh.”  And boys, if girls mock or tease in a way that isn’t amusing, you don’t have to laugh either.  But neither gender has the right to accuse the other of lacking a funny bone.  Just because you sir feel a particular affinity for a certain comedy show which mines most of its humor from its male co-stars doesn’t mean I have to.  And that has nothing to do with gender.  Alright, rant over.  Please return to your regularly scheduled programming.

 

Advertisement