Let’s solve this women-in-comedy “problem” once and for all…with Twitter.
by Lisa Cohen
"Well now we have Twitter. Now we can be funny and deactivate that 'don’t say it' switch that we’ve integrated into so many areas of our lives. Because we’re only quietly typing it into our computers (not saying it face-to-face) we’re disinclined to soften the message through tone of voice or a flip of the hair. We don’t have to see the looks on people’s faces as they try to figure out why we’re so desperate as to try and be funny ('She must be lonely and bitter'). We’re free."
"Likewise, the people hearing it can get used to this new dimension of womanhood without having to quash their immediate, and potentially negative, reactions. They don’t have to engage their 'I’m cool with that' mechanism, when deep down they’re scandalized. They’ll laugh, they just need a moment. And in time, we’ll chip away at the old perceptions. As this stream of real women’s voices becomes the norm, more people will be comfortable laughing, and raising their daughters to unleash their quick wits on the world."
"Because yeah: we do have a unique perspective and a different voice. We bleed once a month and we think it’s gross too. We’re much meaner than you are, but we’re smarter about concealing it. Most of us don’t consider “shopaholic” to be a personality, nor do our life goals include becoming a Real Housewife. We fart and we masturbate. We love our kids more than anything we’ve ever loved before (including you) but we also have to fight the urge to strangle them on a regular basis. We love to work but we’re terrified of having to be financially responsible for ourselves (even when we make more money than you). Admitting, deconstructing, and laughing about those conflicting emotions is what keeps us sane and happy."
"So you see? Women’s humor isn’t just “my thighs are fat and I can’t get a date.” That’s the safe stuff that both men and women have gotten all too accustomed to. But it ain’t particularly clever or insightful. It’s not that we’ll be content to stay behind our computer screens forever; it serves as the midway point on the road to an infusion of fresh material for all comedians and writers."
"We’re putting our real voices on Twitter, so have a look and be prepared. Men: take your time getting used to it. Women: give it a try. Women’s Lib is just 140 characters away."
This article reminded me of our conversation in class about why men don't find women to be funny and the Vanity Fair article “Who Says Women Aren’t Funny”. We discussed how men seem to find female comedians threatening and have in the past discouraged women from “trying” to be funny. The Vanity Fair article reads, “[Kate] Sanborn pointed out that women have good reason to keep their one-liners to themselves. ‘No man likes to have his story capped by a better and fresher from a lady’s lips,’ she wrote. ‘What woman does not risk being called sarcastic and hateful if she throws the merry dart or engages in a little sharp-shooting. No, no, it’s dangerous—if not fatal.’”
Twitter takes away this threat. Women can type away without worrying about crossing any lines or upsetting anyone. They can even be completely anonymous if they wish to do so. With increases in technology female comedians are popping up all over the world.
