I never took a women’s studies class in college. Also, I didn’t know what first, second or third wave feminism was until after moving to New York City where I met many writers and such who did. In 2004, I came up with the idea of starting an all-female stand-up comedy show after asking a friend if one already exists. I had no experience in producing a show, nor was I a comedian. I did know how to organize events, so I just did it.  I first started with securing a venue, then scouted comics, and then came up with a name for the show. In May of 2004, Chicks and Giggles was born.  The show ran for nearly four years and got press mentions in The New Yorker, The New York Times and BUST magazine.  The one thing about running Chicks and Giggles is that it made me into a feminist.  In promoting my show, I found myself constantly defending and/or winning over some people who had  preconceived notions about women comedians.  Not every female comic is going to talk about their periods, ex-boyfriends or their mom. The diversity and talent of women who performed at Chicks and Giggles was amazing. The show was great, but it got to be exhausting.

Flash forward to May 2011- there has been a strong campaign for every woman breathing to go see “Bridesmaids” on its opening weekend as if their life depended on it. I am all for a good comedy and will go see “Bridemaids” soon, but the push of the movie via social media was so heavy handed with promotions with Yahoo Shine, Groupon and Living Social.  I actually don’t mind the social media targeting in as much that there was an undercurrent of FOX News-like fearmongering.  It implied women have to go see “Bridesmaids” or there will NEVER be another comedy starring women ever again. IMHO, going to see “Bridesmaids” was not a feminist act like participating in a Slutwalk. “Bridesmaids” is a major Hollywood movie, and the box office receipts over the weekend ($24 M) prove that Kristen Wiig and company will be alright. Going on stage to tell a funny story,  doing an open mic, producing a one-woman show or just laughing as loudly without worry are better ways to support women in comedy.