The various aspects of women’s humor

Abstract

This paper examines the reception of women’s use and capability of humor with a specific focus on the Hungarian culture scene. In spite of the understanding that men and women do not differ concerning the production, recognition, or appreciation of humor; there are still relatively few female artists (especially in Hungary) in literature, comics, theater, or stand-up comedy. This marginalization is mostly due to patriarchal cultural preconceptions and expectations in the art-culture system. It is the gendering of humor that entails assumptions to the effect that women should have mediocre capability of humor and that men should be funnier than women. Due to their inferior positioning, women are provided with less scope, opportunity, and recognition in humorous interactions. Although the Hungarian cultural scene is beginning to change in a positive direction for women, as demonstrated, for instance, by an encreasing number of female stand-up comedians; Hungarian studies of humor consider the discussion of women and humor insignificant and banal. Taking issue with this approach, I discuss why it would be beneficial and productive to invest in the examination of gendering and ways of ungendering humor in Hungary.