As part of our International Women's Day celebrations this year we released the results of our literature review with the University of East London's Centre of Excellence for Women’s Entrepreneurship, 'Women, Humour and Work'.
The review focused on how women's humour is received and used in the workplace and its connection to ‘power’ in terms of leadership and organisational change. The findings revealed some fascinating research and articles over a 50 year period which has seen many changes for women in the workplace. Our right to have a sense of humour has been hard won and exemplified by the issues women encounter on the frontline of the stand-up circuit!
Our founder reflects on the review in her Huffington Post blog Lynne Parker She says, “The findings reveal some intriguing changes within the workplaces of the western world. Some of the media coverage will be startlingly familiar, for example, the infamous article that Christopher Hitchins wrote for Vanity Fair in 2007, entitled 'Why Women Aren't Funny', still comes up in almost every search engine and other articles new to my eyes straddle the surprising misogyny of the 1970s with today's enlightened take on women being comfortable with using humour.” you can read more HERE!
Now as BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour gathers together their annual round up of influential women and “game changers” for their 2014 Power List we have our thinking caps on again. Can humour be used as a game changer for women in the workplace?
We want to hear what you think? Do you use humour at work? If you are a man, what do you think about women using humour to work and not flirt with you?! When did you last tell your workmates something funny?
Take our survey on Women Humour and Power in the Workplace and share your views on humour as a game changer for women!
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