LEH 352

As you know, Comedy as an industry has treated women comedians differently from their male counterparts over time. If today women enjoy airtime on TV, in clubs, on the internet, etc., this is a very recent development. Today we may take it for granted but historically comedy and humor have been a man’s business – a “boys’ club” – and women were not part of it. Why do you think that is?

Back in the 1950-60s there were very few women in stand-up or in comedic movies. See the examples below and note that a lot of their humor is self-deprecating. One woman comedian said that the only way they were allowed to get up on stage was if they made fun of themselves, and that’s what they did. Their topics also often included men and marital relationships:

Self-deprecating humor (Phyllis Diller): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUkIYuTVj-E

A young Joan Rivers from 1970s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppj6Syvwn_o&t=15s

Laughing at men (Jackie Mabley): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM880a92rgo

Since then comedy for women comedians has changed significantly. Although, if money is an indicator, women still do not make nearly the same amount as do their top-earning male counterparts, like Kevin Hart, Russel Peters, Daniel Tosh etc.. Women are still not in the boys’ “millionaire” club.

There are several explanations. Traditionally women have been considered as not having a great sense of humor. Such view may be deeply, although mistakenly, engraved in the society’s psyche to this day. This conditions how we view any woman with a sense of humor and by extension a female comedian. Some people have tried to put forward some informal explanations like these here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C6VV3wWaoI

For other suggestions, read this article from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nolanfeeney/2013/07/11/why-arent-there-more-women-on-the-top-earning-comedians-list/

Of course, there are plenty of women who are very funny. Here are a couple of examples:

Tiffany Haddish (SNL): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32byfjSXIX0

Anjelah Johnson (Bon Qui Qui): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKV3jXOiPOU

Cristela Alonzo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBORj28AtCE

Ali Wong: watch at least the last 2 minutes (unofficial Cobra video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHVD8VaY_2Q

& Ali Wong in her (anti-)feminist rant (sound only): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI0vP8tsJec&start_radio=1&list=RDJI0vP8tsJec&t=0

So why do women make less money then men in comedy? Are they not as funny as some guys? Reflect below and post videos of your favorite female comedians.