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South Dakota State University

Funny in a Man's World: Women Comedians' Use of Political Satire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Satire and politics are typically considered masculine fields within the societal constructs of the United States. Wanda Sykes and Cecily Strong both navigate these male-dominated worlds with their addresses at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This analysis views these addresses through three rhetorical lenses: feminist standpoint theory, rhetorical citizenship, and rhetorical and political agency. This study explores the way women’s issues in society exposed to various audiences through Sykes’ and Strong’s satirical addresses. Communication scholars have not previously considered both of these addresses; this analysis furthers our understanding of feminist viewpoints being shared to audiences and encouraging audiences to take civic action on issues facing today’s American society.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science (MS)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis - Open Access
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Communication Studies and Theatre
Year dc:date.available
2017

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Peterson, Jessica M.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Rebecca A. Kuehl

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Rights

dc:rights
Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1176
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-2174

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
South Dakota State University
Base URL
openprairie.sdstate.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Peterson, Jessica M.. Funny in a Man's World: Women Comedians' Use of Political Satire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Thesis - Open Access thesis, 2017. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1176