Lessons learned from women in sitcoms
Another day, another argument on the internet with men saying it doesn’t matter if there isn’t equal representation of women in comedy. It does.
Comedy is equal to any other art form in how it helps shape our view of the world. Here is how fully developed female sitcom characters have shaped my view on comedy, life, and what it means to be a woman.
Roz Doyle - Frasier
Your romantic life can be based on what you want, and not what your partners or society expects from you. You can be a single mother and an incredibly successful career woman. And if people try to stand in your way? Try a withering put down to show them you’re the boss, in every sense of the word.
Saffy Monsoon - Absolutely Fabulous
Being yourself is sometimes the best rebellion you can undertake.
Geraldine Granger - The Vicar of Dibley
People will try to undermine you, just because you’re a woman. Carry on regardless - you’ll smash it.
Eddie Monsoon and Patsy Stone - Absolutely Fabulous
Being sleazy, crude, and shameless isn’t only funny when men are doing it.
Lisa Simpson - The Simpsons
Speaking up for what you believe in won’t always make you popular, but those who love you will respect you for it. Angry men will try to discredit you because they don’t like girls and young women having their own opinions. But as Lisa the Lionheart says, believe in yourself and you can achieve anything.
Dawn Tinsley - The Office
If you have a partner, make sure it is someone who encourages you and your passion, not someone who wants to extinguish your flame.
Sam - Uncle
Your struggles don’t define you. Sam is a single mother recovering from addition, but guess what? These are not the only components of her character! She has relationships, goals, independence, and she started university as a mature student. She knows what she wants and is getting it for herself.
Denise Royle/Best - The Royle Family
The emotional toll of Denise leaving the family home as a Royle in the morning and ending the day with a different home and name was brilliantly done. Yes, getting married can be the best day of your life but there’s still a lot of women who feel they lose something that day.
What lessons have you learned from women in comedy? I’d love to hear it.
