Feminist Comedy's Blond Badass: Amy Schumer and the Limits of White Feminism

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

Amy Schumer is a well-known feminist comedian.1 She wrote and starred in the 2015 movie Trainwreck (which grossed $110 million), secured a record-breaking multi-million dollar advance for her 2016 book The Girl with The Lower Back Tattoo,2 and continues to write and star in the Comedy Central television series Inside Amy Schumer. She filmed an HBO stand-up comedy special, Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo, and she smiles on magazine covers ranging from fashion cornerstones like Vogue, Marie Claire, and Elle, to lifestyle publications such as Vanity Fair, People, and GQ, to entertainment industry publications Variety and Entertainment Weekly.3 She has also appeared in mainstream feminist publications Ms. and Bust where she proudly proclaims herself to be a feminist. As one of only a few women in recent memory to command such consistent media attention, Schumer’s feminist identity is notable. As a comedian, actress, author, and public figure, she uses her popularity to reveal and ridicule a wide range of gender inequalities, cultural absurdities, and double standards.

Publication Title

Women, Feminism, and Pop Politics: From "Bitch" for "Badass" and Beyond

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