Amy Schumer’s brand of biting, relevant political and cultural comedy often examines the problems women face in a way that leaves you breathless both with heartache and laughter. This made the show a perfect medium to spotlight the violent misogyny women face online.
“Inside Amy Schumer” has covered everything from ageism to rape culture in segments devoted to forcing our attention on misogyny and its effects on women. Online bullying is no laughing matter, and the more complicated power struggle women face as a result of their gender is markedly evident in online interactions. A survey compiled by Pacific Standard released astounding results of their findings on internet misogyny and online abuse:
“Of the 3,787 people who reported harassing incidents from 2000 to 2012 to the volunteer organization Working to Halt Online Abuse, 72.5 percent were female. Sometimes, the abuse can get physical: A Pew survey reported that five percent of women who used the Internet said ‘something happened online’ that led them into ‘physical danger.’ And it starts young: Teenage girls are significantly more likely to be cyberbullied than boys.”
The segment from “Inside Amy Schumer” is funny, but much more, it is uncomfortable. It is the discomfort that is its genius. Watching the actors discuss the very real online abuse women face every day in a satirical way points out exactly why none of it is funny, and hits very close to home for women who work, play, and interact online.
See the full segment below:
Featured image screengrab via Comedy Central video
