Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2013
Publication Title
Women & Language
Volume
36
Issue
2
Pages
97-105
Abstract
It is unfortunate that, even today, feminist messages too often go unheard and feminist issues are too often dismissed by mainstream audiences, partly because feminists continue to be stereotyped as angry and humorless. Yet some social activists use pranks to draw attention to important issues because humor is one strategic way to send messages about sexism to those who may discount ideas presented in a more direct manner. Although there have been relatively few successful feminist pranksters, humor is increasingly being used to convey women's issues in a growing number of feminist blogs and videos. This essay explores pranking and humor as social activism, and considers the potential of using humor to bring attention to feminist messages.
Original Publication Citation
Bing, Janet. "Gotcha: What Social Activists Can Learn from Pranksters." Women & Language 36.2 (2013): 97-105.
Repository Citation
Bing, Janet M., "Gotcha: What Social Activists Can Learn from Pranksters" (2013). English Faculty Publications. 6.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/english_fac_pubs/6
Included in
Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Linguistics Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons