Not Funny

While doing a Google search for something I likely don't need I came across a list for women. Whether in magazines, web articles, or Facebook memes, women are continually being given lists of what they should and shouldn't do. And at the core of these lists, it's typically to do what men want. Men don't get these type of lists. Maybe a random "What women like men to wear on dates" but men aren't bombarded with this constant critique of their every move the way women are. 

This latest list was called "17 Traits You Think Men Find Attractive, But They Actually Don't." Now I was expecting the usual stuff about too much makeup, or not being on time, but this one had a throwback to more misogynistic times and said "Being Too Funny ~ Guys want to be the funny ones. If a woman is a born comedic, a man might feel threatened. Having a funny female friend is fine, but a girlfriend should be the one laughing at his jokes."

I wish this were the first time I heard this. And those misogynistic times I spoke of are not a thing of the past; it's real and present every single day for women. 

Things I've had said to me by men since becoming a comic:

"I'm really funny...I should do that!" {While never asking anything about my comedy."

"Are you funny?" (If I say that's a stupid thing to ask to someone who just told you they are a comic, I'm told I don't have a sense of humor.)

"Women aren't funny." (Again, if I don't laugh then I can't take a joke.)

"You aren't funny." (Said by men who have never seen me perform....you guessed it...this was another joke that I was supposed to laugh at.)

"I'm funnier than you!"

"Do you have to sleep with people to get gigs?" (No more than your mom used to.)

(From a guy I was starting to date) "I know it's a show, but after seeing your performance, I'm not the guy for you." (Correct sir, you're not)

Women are socialized to laugh at men's jokes whether funny or not. We smile and nod even when it's atrocious. We know for our safety we should be polite and not upset them in any way. I've stopped laughing at what isn't funny and they notice it. A lot!

It's not funny. None of this is funny. But I'm all good.