window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-GEQWY429QJ');

 

Funny Women

Your abs hurt from laughing and tears are rolling down your cheeks. Your favorite comedian always knows how to get you. They say laughing is the best medicine. But empowerment and social activism are also powerful healing tools.

Many comedians are using humor to speak up about serious social issues. Some of the funniest women today are using their hilarious voices to call for social change.

Here are seven witty women who are passionate about serious social issues.  Not only do they make us laugh so hard it hurts, they inspire us to better our communities and the world.

Samantha Bee

Samantha Bee

Samantha Bee is the host of TBS’s late-night show “Full Frontal.”  She began her career performing as a member of the all-female sketch comedy troupe The Atomic Fireballs.  This was just the spark of her success.  She was also the sole female correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.”

Bee has a unique approach to comedy in her show’s satirical take on weekly news.  Her special, It’s “It’s Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner” earned an Outstanding Writing Emmy. Not only does the show cover popular news but it also covers international news, as well as in-depth coverage overlooked by more traditional media outlets.

Bee even won the heart of Senator Elizabeth Warren:“Sam has the ability to make you laugh at the same time she’s stoking your outrage.  She’s more than a comedian, she’s an instigator and an advocate.”

Her fans admire her fierceness,  especially when it comes to using her fiery personality to spread important news.  You can count on Samantha Bee to make you laugh. But she will also enlighten you with stories about global warming and child marriage in the United States.

You should pay attention to funny woman Samantha Bee because she has so much to offer besides humor.

Franchesca Ramsey

Funny Women, Franchesca Ramsey

Photo via Instagram / @chescaleigh

Franchesca Ramsey is an actress, writer and video blogger based out of New York City. You might recognize her as the star of MTV’s “Decoded” or as a former writer and contributor on the “Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.” You might also recognize her from her sketch “Shit White Girls Say,”  which went viral in 2012.

 She uses her voice and humor, as well as her YouTube channel to educate her audience on important social issues.  Ramsey also wrote a  book called “Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist”  The book recounts her activism journey and is filled with hilarious moments. 

The book also contains candid discussions about Ramsey’s own experiences as an accidental activist.  She explores the issue of communication and how we make connections, especially when it comes to talking about race, power, sexuality and gender on the internet.  Ramsey knows all about internet trolls.  Her spunky personality provides charming yet realistic advice on how to deal with them.  

Ramsey is funny.  More importantly, she is a multi-faceted entrepreneur who’s gone from social media sensation to social activist warrior.

She went on “MTV News” to talk about a clash she had with an “All Lives Matter” advocate at the VMAs.  Ramsey also talked about her show “Decoded,” which looks at the intersections of race and pop culture.  She is also an advocate for the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Ramsey is proof that funny women can use their personality to make a difference.

Hannah Hart

Funny women, Hannah Hart

Photo via Instagram / @harto

Hannah Hart is a digital influencer, known for her humor on screen and off.  Her first “My Drunk Kitchen” video, which is exactly what it sounds like, went viral in 2011. The YouTube star then landed a six-episode cooking series on the Food Network.

And to think her now famous cooking web series began as a joke to a friend.

She’s not just funny.  Hart is an inspirational woman because of her struggles with self-harm, ADHD, depression and childhood trauma.  Her willingness to speak about these mental health issues make her a powerful advocate.  

She wrote about her early life struggles in her memoir “Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded.”  Not to mention, she’s an active advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.  

The White House recognized Hart for her impact through her international initiative “Have A Hart Day.” She was invited to lead a discussion about millennial engagement with President Obama. In 2015, Forbes named Hart one of its 30 Under 30.

Funny women like Hannah Hart know how to use their voice for good.  After all, her videos earned her almost 3 million YouTube subscribers.

Whether, her audience hears her words through the TV, YouTube, or her books, she maintains her sense of self and sense of humor through it all.

Amy Schumer

Funny Women, Amy Schumer

Photo via Instagram / @amyschumer

You can’t help but laugh when Amy Schumer is on screen.  She’s one of the most admired comedic personalities working today with successful stand-up comedy specials and movies like “Trainwreck” and “I Feel Pretty.”  

However, humor often comes from dark places.  Schumer loves to laugh.  Her appreciation for life stems from her father, Gordon Schumer, who suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS). Schumer has been deeply committed to supporting MS fundraisers. According to National MS Society, she and her friend Judd Apatow helped to raise over $176,000 through the “Trainwreck Comedy Tour” event in New York City.

Following a Louisianna shooting at a movie theater showing her film “Trainwreck,” Schumer has also become an advocate for gun control. She publicly speaks out for gun reform legislation, often alongside her cousin Senator Chuck Schumer.

Aisha Tyler

Funny Women, Aisha Tyler

Photo via Instagram / @aishatyler

Aisha Tyler is another hilarious comedian. She is the host of the successful CBS daytime talk show “The Talk.” She’s also an actress, writer, author, podcaster and director.  Tyler makes jokes but doesn’t joke around when it comes to helping others in need.

She is a funny woman with a heart for charity and volunteering.  Tyler has served on the board of Planned Parenthood, directed a film to benefit wounded warrior, and acted as a spokesperson for the American Red Cross.  She also helped fundraise for Doctors Without Borders, Futures Without Violence and the International Rescue Committee.

Wanda Sykes

ENTITY Shares 7 Funny Women Who Are Serious About Social Change

photo via Instagram/@iamwandasykes

Wanda Sykes’ distinct voice rarely goes unnoticed. Her witty stand-up comedy stands out among other comedians.  Sykes’ success comes in the form of many funny moments.  From stand-up comedy to critically acclaimed shows and feature films, Skyes is a well-loved comic.

She was nominated for and won numerous Emmy awards since 1999. Sykes also ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest people in America. Sykes also made an appearance at the 2009 White House Correspondents dinner with President Barack Obama.

Beyond being funny, Sykes is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. In 2017, the Point Foundation honored Sykes at the annual Point Honors Los Angeles Gala, the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ+ students of merit.

The world can use more women with the same drive as these funny women.  Not only do these incredibly funny women seek to make the world laugh but they also use laughter as a catalyst social change.

Edited by Chloe Lew
Send this to a friend