The gendering of humor: Toward a feminist narrative

This dissertation explores the connection between the psychological and cultural theories on the discourse of humor and women's use of that discourse. The author argued that the use of humor as it is traditionally understood is directly related to male social development and that women's appropriation of that discourse necessarily transforms it both in style and content. By focusing on aspects of female identity which have been consistently diminished and silenced, humor as it is used by women centers around their own marginalized identity, examines that identity and ultimately revalues it and the world around them. Traits which characterize women's humor such as self-scrutiny, the notion of difference, the contrast between individual experience and shared culture become issues around which women create wit, calling attention to their own marginality, offering possibilities for community, and individual integrity.;The early part of this work deals primarily with historical and theoretical concepts of humor and differences in male and female psychological development. It subsequently concentrates on specific texts in order to apply and explain the transformation in humor used by women. These texts range from the literary to the performative to political satire. These works are explored critically through a feminist lens and the author questions the implications of motherhood, lesbianism and race relations as these topics are explored humorously. This dissertation envisions the possibility of new and meaningful exchanges through the use of women's humor but also posits the difficulties of overcoming traditional power dynamics as women make use of humor as a social or political tool.