Pretty, Funny Women, a comedy show at Q Restaurant and Sports Bar displays a contradiction to the common view of a woman's role in what it generally a male dominated society. Comedians performing in the show used satire to poke fun at the common stereotypical views of how women are perceived in our culture. The contradiction lies within the fact that stand-up comedy is generally a male dominated profession, and although these women are using jokes that would appear to undermine women, they are doing it in order to make a place for themselves in a male dominated society. Most if not all the jokes alluded to a preconception of women as being promiscuous, and although this humor might at first seem demeaning to women, they are ultimately using it to empower themselves much like a comedian version of Madonna. As Aaron Devor points out, “Persons who perform the activities considered appropriate for another gender will be expected to perform them poorly; if they succeed adequately, or even well, at their endeavors, they may be rewarded with ridicule or scorn for blurring the gender dividing line” (Devor 568). So I must commend the women who performed in the show; not only did they do what is routinely a males job, but they preformed it well. Female comedians are one of many professions where females are gaining a foothold, and fighting for equality in American society.
Devor, Aaron. "Gender Role Behaviors and Attitudes." Signs of Life in the USA. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. 567-72. Print.
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