Frankly, I find it bizarre and ignorant in the extreme to suggest that women are in some biological sense less funny than men. Let’s face it, it’s akin to suggesting that Earth is flat; we can see the evidence of our very spherical world, just as we can see the many examples of hilariously funny women.
But, there can be no denying that comedy is still a very male-centric domain. The question is: Why? Why are there so few women stand-ups, comedy writers and comic female actors? And why are some people, of both the male and female persuasion, pathologically averse to lady clowns?
I think one of the many reasons fewer women feel the burning desire to dip their toe into the piranha-filled waters of comedy, especially stand-up, is that it can be a brutal business.
To paraphrase Jane Austen (who, incidentally, is another incredibly funny woman), it is a truth universally acknowledged that a man can laugh a woman into bed. It does not work vice versa. Women that work in strip joints or lap dancing clubs, don’t get an extra large tip if they manage to make their patrons laugh.
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Comments
Hello Adam, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I have great respect for Chris Hitchens (the world is much poorer without him) and his view is, essentially, the same as mine. Women don't NEED to be funny to attract a mate - men do. That may be evolutionary fact, but it doesn't mean women can't be funny.
On your first point, I can assure you the women of my family are not dimwits. I'm not familiar with Kevin Hart or Dane Cook (don't think we've seen much of them here in the U.K.). Most of the gals I know are very much into 'intelligent' humour - George Carlin, Eddie Izzard kind of stuff. But you (and Chris Hitchens) are right, of course, there is a difference between a sense of humour and the ability to be funny. Personally, though, I think it's important to know HOW to laugh in order to MAKE others laugh; that was my only reason for bringing it up.
Thanks again.
"In my experience, women, generally speaking, have better senses of humor than men. The female members of my family, including me, laugh much more than the male members of the brood."
Suppose the men in your family are intelligent. Have you considered the possibility that the women in your family aren't funny to them, and that this is why the men aren't laughing? Laughing more often doesn't necessarily mean funny, and you can't judge the quality of a comedian by how often they get a laugh. Good comedians will make people laugh often but they will also use intelligent humor. Frequent laughter is a necessary but not necessarily sufficient condition for being a good comic. Dimwits who enjoy shit comedy like Kevin Hart, Dane Cook, etc will laugh a lot too, but the quality of those comedians is very poor. A lot of men judge comedy by the intelligence it evinces. It could be that the females in your family are Dane Cooks and the males aren't laughing because they're Louis C.K.s.
"So, we know that there is not something intrinsically unfunny about women. The question, therefore, becomes not ‘can women by funny?’ but ‘why do funny women not feel the need to make it a career?’ This, to my mind, is a much more intriguing query in terms of both psychology (of women and men) and sociology."
Christopher Hitchens has a great video on YouTube about women and being funny, you may find it interesting since he touches on the psychology and sociology of comedy and the need to be funny. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7izJg...
Hello, Sharilee. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. It is always good, I think, to stop and question why things are the way they are in a society. So often, we just accept the status quo without stopping to wonder how a culture has been shaped. Very pleased to read that you found that aspect of the article interesting, too!
Wow, very interesting article. I agree with your propositions that women tend to be less inclined to be professionally funny because it is less intrinsically "sexy" and they have less need to prove themselves. Very astute points!
And it is true that humour is more highly valued in our culture, in men, so there's more of an incentive for men to be funny. An interesting sociological article!
Hi Tolovaj, thanks for your comments - they're all very good points. And, of course, you're right, our brains are different. I'm not sure that precludes women (or men) from doing something that is seen as more suited to the opposite gender's brain, though. I've known plenty of 'obsessional' women, the difference may be, however, that women are, by very dint of their reproductive capacity, often forced to put others before themselves and/or their ambitions. Men can (not that I'm saying all men do) remain focused on said obsession and still be a parent. There are, obviously, some women who do the same, but that intrisic need to care for the young, usually, prevails.
P.S. I don't for one second think it's impossible for a woman to laugh a man into bed, but it is a grossly unlevel playing field - this, I know from personal experience. So, very glad to hear that you're one of the men who appreciates a woman with wit!
You made some good points. Women are different than men and even if we share a sense of humor, our approach is different.
It is a proved fact our brains doesn't work the same (male brain is more specialized and more adapted to concentrate on one single task: think about watchmakers - not exactly a profession for ladies), this makes men more inclined to obsessions (think about maniacs, mass killers or war starters - not exactly too many ladies there, right?) and trying to live from joking (this really doesn't sound like a serious plan, huh?) is very near an obsession.
Having some experience from improv comedy from years ago I can say there were (still are) some very funny women, but for every one were (are) at least five equally funny men and because there is always competition in improv (or stand up, or in movie industry...) men are dominating.
So we should applaud to female comedians even more!
P.S. I disagree on the premise woman can't laugh a man into bed...
Hello Wendy, thanks for the comment. I think you're right about the confidence thing and that, again, comes down to this fixation that women have to 'look' a certain way to be attractive or even accepted. Men don't tend to have that worry. I saw the ep of QI you're referring to and I remember, at the time, finding it odd. If anything, I laugh more at female comedians, because they, usually, talk about things I can relate to. However, I believe Wanda Sykes had a theory that women can be intimidated by a woman on stage, because she’s commanding the attention of the room, including all the male attention. - I guess it makes some of us feel insecure. Anyway, as you say, he’s hoping things improve! Thanks again.
Thank you, Katie. There are some great female comedians, writers and comedy actors around, but we could always do with some more. It's not about beating the boys, of course, but it would be nice if it were a level playing field. And, like you, I think laughter is so fundamental to our health and general well-being!
Great and funny stuff here, I love comedy and we have a great variety of female comedians here to enjoy. Thanks for the reminder, laughter is the best medicine.
Thanks, Brenda. I agree. She was absolutely hilarious, both in her wit and fabulous physical comedy. It's strange that we haven't really had anyone to quite match her in the intervening years.