They Used to Call Me Snow White...but I Drifted: Women's Strategic Use of Humor (Paperback)

by Regina Barreca (Author) "I grew up watching The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game and soon became aware of the differences between the way men and women deal..." (more)
Key Phrases: feminist humor, aggressive humor, male humor, Benny Hill, Call Me Snow White, Nicole Hollander (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Despite a tendency to make sweeping generalizations about both sexes, Barreca offers illuminating analyses of humor as a weapon and of the Good Girl/Bad Girl dichotomy in books, movies and TV.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Barreca, editor of Last Laughs: Perspectives on Women and Comedy (Gordon & Breach, 1988), explores the relationship of women and humor. She discusses the differences between men and women in how they use humor, what they think is funny and how they are perceived when telling jokes. Giving the book a strong feminist bent, Barreca theorizes that women are not encouraged to be funny and are even perceived as "bad girls" if they are funny. She quotes extensively from other researchers in the field, as well as from comediennes, authors, and cartoonists. Her coverage is extensive, ranging from Mae West to Sandra Bernhard, Emily Bronte to Erica Jong, "I Love Lucy" to "Designing Women." The added bonus is the wealth of humor included as examples in the book. Recommended.-- Kathy Ingels Helmond, Indiana Univ.
Purdue Univ. at Indianapolis Lib.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (April 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140168354
• ISBN-13: 978-0140168358
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #267,404 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Women's Humor is not only acceptable but desireable., July 16, 1999

By	Clyde Fahlman (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This well written (and hilarious) book instructs women to unveil and unleash their humor in the real world. Barreca maintains that the demure Mona Lisa style of humor is no longer sufficient--if it ever was.. With the increased number of women in the workplace, this book has particular value for changing work climate. Women's open laughter and humor can improve the connection, perspective, and creativity at work. A must read for women....and men.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Snow White, March 18, 2003

By A Customer

Not only can Barreca take a joke, she can masterfully script her own making the reader laugh out loud at the comedy and complexity of the gender roles - both male and female - we think we lead, but which in fact often lead us. In "They Used To Call Me Snow White... But I Drifted" Barreca makes public many of the private joys, hypocrisies and trials of women's humor in an honest and frank manner. But make no mistake: behind her comfortable writing style lies a poignancy, wit and substance that raises the stakes. Reading "Snow White" is like sitting down at the kitchen table with your funniest (and smartest) aunt and being let in on all of life's best and naughtiest secrets. Simply put, Regina Barreca gets it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic study of women's humor, April 1, 2005

By	M. Lopez "reading fanatic" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book after hearing the author speak at a local college. She was wonderful! This book totally met my expectations. It's not a collection of jokes, but it is uplifting. Regina Barreca also makes excellent points about the dynamics of power between men and women, in addition to how humor can either confirm or alter these dynamics. I would recommend this to anyone interested in feminism and/or humor.