Double standard
Let's hear it for unruly women: Roseanne reminds us that it's OK to make aspectacle of ourselves
Sep 4, 2011 | 9:45 am
Her new reality show, Roseanne's Nuts premiered this season on Lifetime,highlighting her recent acquisition of a macadamia nut farm in Hawaii.
Roseanne's third published book, Roseannearchy.
The show that brought her into America's living room, Roseanne.
Roseanne Barr would like the world to know that she has got nuts. As in crazy-go-nuts, as in cajones in comedy, and as in…macadamia nuts. Her new reality show, Roseanne’s Nuts, premiered this season on Lifetime, highlighting her recent acquisition of a macadamia nut farm in Hawaii. The show provides what you would expect: surfing, crystal healers, hippies, and a lot of irritable yelling.
In addition to her reality show, she has published her third book, Roseannearchy; she is appearing on multiple talk shows, has an active blog, and is even threatening to run for president of the United States, where she is making campaign promises like "outlawing bullshit".
There is still an over-arching stigma against the feminine portrayal of unbridled crudeness, which Roseanne managed to turn into a No. 1 show for just under a decade.
It has been 14 years since Roseanne went off the air, and many have already forgotten its ground breaking qualities. It was the first prime time sitcom to show a lesbian kiss (between Roseanne and Ernest Hemingway's actual granddaughter, Mariel Hemingway) and a gay wedding. It also made a strong push for union rights and accurate and honest portrayals of a small town working class family that was headed by an unwieldy matriarch.
But do not fret if you missed out, because Roseanne is back.
Numerous female comic role models have crept up in Roseanne’s absence: Tina Fey gave us smart and nerdy, Sarah Silverman gave promiscuity and poop jokes, and Maria Bamford has given the go ahead to be a vocal wild card. Time has passed and comedy has evolved, but there is still an over-arching stigma against the feminine portrayal of unbridled crudeness, which Roseanne managed to turn into a No. 1 show for just under a decade.
An August 2011 GQ article tried to explain why the public continues to find disorderly women offensive in Hollywood. It argues that movie goers specifically, still follow social decorum when it comes to public displays of gender expectations.
For example, Anna Ferris’ new film, What’s Your Number, does explore female promiscuity, but maintains the idea that her exploits have kept her from finding her expected patriarchal role as a wife.
“Even when she’s flirting with taboos, she knows which side her popcorn is buttered on,” says GQ. Meaning that people feel comfortable paying to watch a woman be liberal, as long as she knows her place in the end.
Now, consider The Hangover which grossed over $400,000,000 worldwide, and ends with a rolling montage (supposedly) starring Zach Galifinanakis’s genitals. If popcorn buttering is an analogy for film profitability based on gender content, then I guess the female side of the popcorn contains sexual regrets, while the male side is heavily buttered with penis. Lots of penis.
Kathleen K. Rowe took an academic attempt at explaining why this is the case, in her 1990 journal article, ‘Roseanne: unruly woman as domestic goddess’:
“Whenever women, especially women’s bodies, are considered excessive - too fat, too mouthy, too old, too dirty…too sexual (or not sexual enough)…the unruly woman violates the unspoken feminine sanction against ‘making a spectacle’ of herself…femininity is gauged by how little space women take up.”
I, for one, am glad to have Roseanne’s presence back in the public sphere. Having recently started in the stand up comedy scene, I was discouraged when a male comedian told me that my brash content was only ever going to appeal to a female audience. Too many vagina jokes and unsavory lady topics.
But then I remembered: I don‘t see too many male comics curbing their dick jokes and unsavory dude topics, and last time I checked, females make up half of the population.
This is just one example of why Roseanne’s comedic and bad-ass female temperament is a necessary presence for this generation of women, both comediennes and non-comics alike. She is an excellent reminder that it is OK to make a spectacle of ourselves. It is okay to take up space. We forget that we occupy at least half of it anyway, it’s just going to take some unruly behavior to continue to lay our claim.
You can catch up on Roseanne's Nuts at the Lifetime website, and in case you were wondering, all 9 seasons of original Roseanne episodes are instantly streaming on Netflix. And, yes, I've watched them all.
