Do Women Have To Be Vulgar To Be Considered Equal To Men?

[ESF]

Interesting.

I think Bridesmaids is hilarious and I love me some Sarah Silverman standup. But I think sometimes comedy featuring women strains itself to be hilarious to men by making the women vulgar. There's this perception that women can't be funny unless they pander to men's tastes. It's annoying to me as a comedy fan and a feminist. I can acknowledge how hilarious some of these bits are, but I get it, somewhat. I wouldn't go so far as to say they are debasing themselves as the author suggests. These women should be free to be as vulgar as they want. But I question the degree to which their humor has been edited to be more men-friendly.

This is why I love Amy Schumer so much. I find she uses vulgarity and cliches to trick people into thinking that's what her routine is, when it's actually so much of it is incredibly feminist and edgy.

[sandsonik]

Interesting.

I'm not sure I agree, as I found that scene in Bridesmaids hilarious, and view women indulging in comic vulgarity as more of a natural thing, and a sign of progress.

But the notion that they have to be vulgar to compete with men is just as insulting and restricting to men. Honestly, I find men are much more stereotyped than women are by such notions. Men only care about one thing, men don't clean, men are all just boys, men think with their penis, move love bacon, beer and playing video games in their underwear, men are all vulgar pigs.....it never ceases to amaze me that people have no reservations about airing endless negative stereotypes about men that would raise eyebrows and get blood boiling if they were said about women.

[irishbride2]

I Find it gross from men and women.

[IIOY]

Watching a Judd Apatow film is an emotionally draining experience for me. I spend half the film cry-laughing and half hiding my face in discomfort.

I confess that I frequently find vulgar women quite funny, but overall I think that non-vulgar humor requires far more skill and talent. Vulgar humor relies to a large extent on shock value, which is rather lazy. Making people laugh without resorting to shock is more difficult and, IMO, funnier.

[ringstrue]

I mean I think that's more a point about Comedy than feminism. I have only met men who think that gross things are consistently funny. Women maybe once in a while.

I find it interesting how people befriend each other inside and outside the office. I know a few who once they are friends will talk about gross things- I guess moreso to get a rise out of people. That's only gonna fly in the most casual of forums. The large majority don't need to go there at all, IME.

[IIOY]

Mar 7, 2015 8:09:56 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

I mean I think that's more a point about Comedy than feminism.

This is what I was getting at with my comment.

OTOH, I struggle to cast aspersions upon women for going the vulgar route because they think it will expand their audience. Female comics face a huge perception hurdle that they just aren't as good. That, of course, is its own multifaceted ball of wax.

[FloFTW]

I don't know, man. I think lots of women are naturally like this and it's just now OK to admit it. It's not that they're "acting" vulgar. It's not acting. This is how lots of us really are.

I've puked and shit in terrible places. I've done lots of the stuff they've done in Broad City. And it is indeed hilarious.

[mx27]

Mar 7, 2015 13:46:18 GMT -5 @soudesafinado said:

Isnt this what jenny mccarthy made her money off of, being the pretty girl who farts and burps and stuff?

that was definitely at least part of her shtick.

bridesmaids wasn't funny to me.

the gross out funny seems to be more prevalent in white, yuppie comedy, IMO.  not my kind of funny.

[zelda25]

As long as we're still talking about "lady-like" behavior (gag), we still have a long way to go.

[gpw]

Mar 7, 2015 14:01:28 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

As long as we're still talking about "lady-like" behavior (gag), we still have a long way to go.

This is where I am.  

I will also say I did not like Bridesmaids at.all.  It made me seriously sad and uncomfortable and it had nothing to do with the "gross" or "vulgar" scenes. 

[IIOY]

Mar 7, 2015 14:07:28 GMT -5 gpw said:

I will also say I did not like Bridesmaids at.all.  It made me seriously sad and uncomfortable and it had nothing to do with the "gross" or "vulgar" scenes. 

It's an incredibly sad movie!

That said, I will never not find the dress shop scene funny.

[gpw]

Mar 7, 2015 15:14:50 GMT -5 @soudesafinado said:

Also, Melissa McCarthy was the one chick in that whole movie who knew who she was and was OK with it and didn't really give a fuck what others thought about it. I loved that too.

I did like that.  I think what happened between the two main characters reflected a lot of what was/is happening in my life.  My best friend of many, many years and I have drifted apart.  It was inevitable.  We are different people who have very different interest than we had over 30 years ago, but still sad nonetheless.  

ETA:  different interests and values....I think that is what was/is really the problem.  

[Deleted]

I'm with IIOY that the smartest humor is when it's funny but not crass (i.e. Brian Regan). If you can make me cry with tears of body-shaking, hardly-breathe laughter without being gross, you've earned my eternal respect.

That said, I like some raunchy humor from time to time. Well, more often than that. Because human bodies ARE gross, I don't care who you are. Please see the queefing episode of South Park.

[foundmylazybum]

These are comedies. Poop jokes have been in comedies for awhile now. Bodily humor is gender less.

[zoidberg]

Mar 7, 2015 8:24:53 GMT -5 FloFTW said:

I don't know, man. I think lots of women are naturally like this and it's just now OK to admit it. It's not that they're "acting" vulgar. It's not acting. This is how lots of us really are.

I've puked and shit in terrible places. I've done lots of the stuff they've done in Broad City. And it is indeed hilarious.

Poop is hilarious. It just is.

[tacosforlife]

Mar 7, 2015 19:21:34 GMT -5 zoidberg said:

Mar 7, 2015 8:24:53 GMT -5 FloFTW said:

I don't know, man. I think lots of women are naturally like this and it's just now OK to admit it. It's not that they're "acting" vulgar. It's not acting. This is how lots of us really are.

I've puked and shit in terrible places. I've done lots of the stuff they've done in Broad City. And it is indeed hilarious.

Poop is hilarious. It just is.

Why have we not gotten drinks together yet?

[zoidberg]

Mar 7, 2015 19:46:51 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

Mar 7, 2015 19:21:34 GMT -5 zoidberg said:

Poop is hilarious. It just is.

Why have we not gotten drinks together yet?

I don't know. We love all of the same things: poop, complaining, Wisconsin, drinking.

[earlgreyhot]

This is all wrong. There is a diverse group of women actors, actors, and comediennes. And, just like men, some embrace the vulgarity more than others. I think it's counter-productive to frame this as a women's equality thing.