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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/feb/11/women-arent-funny-why-do-people-believe-this
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Why do people believe women aren’t funny? | Why do people believe women aren’t funny? |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The BBC has decided to no | The BBC has decided to no |
| longer make any all-male panel shows. I personally would suggest a | longer make any all-male panel shows. I personally would suggest a |
| reduction of panel shows in general. If current trends persist, soon we’ll be | reduction of panel shows in general. If current trends persist, soon we’ll be |
| seeing a panel show where a panel of comedians has to answer questions about | seeing a panel show where a panel of comedians has to answer questions about |
| things that happened on other panel shows, and the whole format will disappear | things that happened on other panel shows, and the whole format will disappear |
| up its own conceptual backside in a puff of self-awareness. | up its own conceptual backside in a puff of self-awareness. |
| Or not. I don’t know, I don’t watch much TV if I’m honest. | Or not. I don’t know, I don’t watch much TV if I’m honest. |
| But one consequence of this has been to reignite | |
| the dreaded “women | the dreaded “women |
| aren’t funny” argument, the comedy world’s answer to “creationism | aren’t funny” argument, the comedy world’s answer to “creationism |
| is a science”, in that it’s a ridiculous notion with no supporting | is a science”, in that it’s a ridiculous notion with no supporting |
| evidence, but people keep bringing it up again and again because it conforms to | evidence, but people keep bringing it up again and again because it conforms to |
| their own views. | |
| Many commenters are predictably/depressingly claiming that the | |
| existence of an official policy to get women on panel shows proves they aren’t | existence of an official policy to get women on panel shows proves they aren’t |
| as funny as men. If you know anything about the comedy and the TV industry, this is | |
| akin to saying “the fact that women need to have the right to vote enshrined in | akin to saying “the fact that women need to have the right to vote enshrined in |
| law PROVES they don’t deserve it”. The assumption that the existing system is | |
| 100% fair is laughably naive. Any official recognition of this is a good thing. | 100% fair is laughably naive. Any official recognition of this is a good thing. |
| But where exactly does this assumption that women aren’t | But where exactly does this assumption that women aren’t |
| funny come from? Panel shows probably don’t help. It’s common to see comments online | funny come from? Panel shows probably don’t help. It’s common to see comments online |
| like “Just seen [notable female comedian] on Mock the Week and she was rubbish. | like “Just seen [notable female comedian] on Mock the Week and she was rubbish. |
| Just goes to show, women aren’t funny.” One example of one person failing to meet | |
| an entirely subjective standard in a manufactured context is not definitive | an entirely subjective standard in a manufactured context is not definitive |
| evidence for making sweeping generalisations about half the human race, yet | evidence for making sweeping generalisations about half the human race, yet |
| people do this all the time. But the preconception that women aren’t funny | people do this all the time. But the preconception that women aren’t funny |
| clearly predates mainstream panel shows. | clearly predates mainstream panel shows. |
| People who say “women aren’t funny” as a blanket statement would | People who say “women aren’t funny” as a blanket statement would |
| rarely agree with the opposite “all men are funny”, as they’re clearly not. I | rarely agree with the opposite “all men are funny”, as they’re clearly not. I |
| try to write funny things but a quick look at the comments on anything I’ve | try to write funny things but a quick look at the comments on anything I’ve |
| ever written will provide many examples of people who are happy to point | |
| out my lack of comedic skills. Even though I’m a man! | out my lack of comedic skills. Even though I’m a man! |
| So where does this “women aren’t funny” preconception stem | So where does this “women aren’t funny” preconception stem |
| from? There are plenty of | from? There are plenty of |
| scientific theories as to why women wouldn’t be seen as funny, most of which don’t | scientific theories as to why women wouldn’t be seen as funny, most of which don’t |
| stand up to much scrutiny. There’s a general implication that humour is involved | stand up to much scrutiny. There’s a general implication that humour is involved |
| in human mating, being a common way for men to gain attention | |
| from women (however | from women (however |
| ridiculously). Indeed, the acronym GSOH is so | ridiculously). Indeed, the acronym GSOH is so |
| ubiquitous in dating profiles that it may as well mean “general sort of human”. | ubiquitous in dating profiles that it may as well mean “general sort of human”. |
| And men are more well-known for employing seemingly ridiculous tactics with the | |
| aim of getting female attention. Is standing on stage for the amusement of | aim of getting female attention. Is standing on stage for the amusement of |
| strangers the modern human equivalent of the peacock’s tail? | strangers the modern human equivalent of the peacock’s tail? |
| Even if this is the case, it would be an overly reductive, | |
| simplified view of the issue; just one factor among many in a complex whole. So | simplified view of the issue; just one factor among many in a complex whole. So |
| what other sex differences are there that may explain this apparent bias in | what other sex differences are there that may explain this apparent bias in |
| comedic skills? Well obviously men and women have differently wired brains, | comedic skills? Well obviously men and women have differently wired brains, |
| which could be expressed as a difference in comedic ability. Except this is largely | which could be expressed as a difference in comedic ability. Except this is largely |
| nonsense. Then there’s the fact that comedy | nonsense. Then there’s the fact that comedy |
| and psychosis are linked, and | and psychosis are linked, and |
| men are more prone to psychosis and schizophrenia. Except this is largely | men are more prone to psychosis and schizophrenia. Except this is largely |
| spurious | spurious |
| as well (the comedy and psychosis one; the uneven gender prevalence seems to be | as well (the comedy and psychosis one; the uneven gender prevalence seems to be |
| legit). | legit). |
| Some argue that the comedic differences go down to the | Some argue that the comedic differences go down to the |
| genetic level. In a sense this is correct; the Y | genetic level. In a sense this is correct; the Y |
| chromosome is laughably feeble compared to the mighty X chromosome, and may | chromosome is laughably feeble compared to the mighty X chromosome, and may |
| not even be needed. Then there are of course the anatomical differences, | not even be needed. Then there are of course the anatomical differences, |
| which may also be a factor. The external male genitals are generally funnier | |
| than the internal female ones, because you can do puppetry with male ones, or put | than the internal female ones, because you can do puppetry with male ones, or put |
| glasses on them. | glasses on them. |
| Whatever the underpinnings of its origins, the idea that | Whatever the underpinnings of its origins, the idea that |
| women aren’t funny has become one entrenched by social factors. Women haven’t | women aren’t funny has become one entrenched by social factors. Women haven’t |
| exactly been given much opportunity to say anything in the past, let alone make | |
| jokes. When so many people still believe | jokes. When so many people still believe |
| a woman’s place is in the home when a comedian’s place is anywhere | a woman’s place is in the home when a comedian’s place is anywhere |
| but, an aversion or bias against women performing comedy (in any context) is | |
| probably inevitable. | probably inevitable. |
| One theory is that people organise their knowledge using cognitive | One theory is that people organise their knowledge using cognitive |
| schemas, which are frameworks of information that help you analyse and organise | schemas, which are frameworks of information that help you analyse and organise |
| new knowledge. Anyone who grows and develops in our society is quite likely to | new knowledge. Anyone who grows and develops in our society is quite likely to |
| end up with a schema that says “comedy = a thing men | end up with a schema that says “comedy = a thing men |
| do”, and as such will exclude/dismiss any information that challenges that, | do”, and as such will exclude/dismiss any information that challenges that, |
| rather than alter their way of thinking. This may explain why many women also | rather than alter their way of thinking. This may explain why many women also |
| object to other women doing comedy (a common occurrence), or why there are apparently | object to other women doing comedy (a common occurrence), or why there are apparently |
| fewer female comics in general. Our schemas are suspected to underpin the maintenance of | fewer female comics in general. Our schemas are suspected to underpin the maintenance of |
| prejudices and stereotypes. So when people with such a schema in place see | prejudices and stereotypes. So when people with such a schema in place see |
| a woman doing comedy, they invariably find some way to reject it. | a woman doing comedy, they invariably find some way to reject it. |
| This is why you get clichés like “women comedians only talk | This is why you get clichés like “women comedians only talk |
| about women things”. Quite why talking about things that half the population | about women things”. Quite why talking about things that half the population |
| can relate to is a bad idea for a comedian remains to be | |
| determined, but this can usually be translated as “women comedians talk about | determined, but this can usually be translated as “women comedians talk about |
| things from the perspective of a woman”. There’s a good reason for that, can | things from the perspective of a woman”. There’s a good reason for that, can |
| you guess what it is? | you guess what it is? |
| There’s also the criticism of “women comedians are just | There’s also the criticism of “women comedians are just |
| angry shouty feminists/lesbians”. Not sure if this is a regular claim or just | angry shouty feminists/lesbians”. Not sure if this is a regular claim or just |
| one I happen to have heard a lot, but it’s really underscored by the fact that | one I happen to have heard a lot, but it’s really underscored by the fact that |
| male comics are all right-wingers with a calm, Zen-like detachment. | male comics are all right-wingers with a calm, Zen-like detachment. |
| But you can argue it all you want; there will be some people | But you can argue it all you want; there will be some people |
| who will never accept that women can be funny and will happily point this out | who will never accept that women can be funny and will happily point this out |
| on any blogpost that claims otherwise. Still, it’s their opinion and they’re entitled to it. It’s incredibly limiting though, like insisting “foreign people | on any blogpost that claims otherwise. Still, it’s their opinion and they’re entitled to it. It’s incredibly limiting though, like insisting “foreign people |
| can’t cook”; you may believe that, but you’re cutting yourself off from so much. | |
| This will all still be true the next time this argument | This will all still be true the next time this argument |
| comes around, like the relentless mindless zombie of a stereotype it really is. | comes around, like the relentless mindless zombie of a stereotype it really is. |
| Still, boobs eh? What are they all about? | Still, boobs eh? What are they all about? |
| Dean Burnett isn’t a | Dean Burnett isn’t a |
| woman but is a stand-up comic with psychology qualifications, so is sort of | woman but is a stand-up comic with psychology qualifications, so is sort of |
| able to comment on this kind of thing. He is on Twitter, @garwboy | able to comment on this kind of thing. He is on Twitter, @garwboy |