Liza Donnelly: Drawing upon humor for change

[@jwdyss]

Absolutely wonderful! I could listen to Liza Donnelly for a long time. I think she can definitely deliver a message. Love her cartoons and their messages and humor. Please bring her back again!

[@Eliphas_Leary]

Since mostly terrible things make us laugh, humour is the best way to point out what's going wrong.

[@levancanh2315]

The fact that ignorant people's nerves can't stand such intellectual master pieces!

[@gulllars]

Decent talk, not great, not as bad as many of the other TED women talks. The rolex ad at the end was actually one of the better ones i've seen the past few years. It did not make any mistake i could identify in the content or the desposition of it, and as an ad for the brand itself rather than a spesiffic model, i don't find the lack of relevance to me as a consumer critique-worthy. I wish more ads were made of the same standard, and this one has my approval.

[@eragonlover1]

She wasn't saying that men are inferior-- only that women tend to have a different role in society than men, and therefore tend to have certain knowledge that men tend not to have. That's not sexist-- she's merely observing a trend.

[@BionicDance]

"Supposed to" may not be the WORST words in the English language, but they're up there.

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@SickBang "so it's not men, telling woman to do stuff like this" Which she specifically mentioned. She notes that the primary ones to judge women, are other women. ...and nowhere does she say or imply, that similar things don't happen to men, nerds etc. etc. If I see sexism against men, in a TED talk or elsewhere, I generally don't let it go unchallenged (with sexism against women, I often don't need to, but I often do the same). On this video, I have only seen it in the comments section...

[@bleepbloop01]

that rolex commercial was legendary

[@1000wrongdecisions]

Like her works. Would look for it in the bookstore.

[@kinsmed]

I have dated three women that each had two children; an older daughter and a younger son. Each mother doted on the son and spurned the daughter. Women- men will continue to oppress you as long as you oppress each other.

[@khatack]

@Cradle2Venus She concentrated her speech on the issues that women face, the whole speech had nothing to do with men. It is true that men face similar problems, but there are so large differences that it's better to concentrate only on one group at a time, not both. And watch the talk again, there is no comparison whatsoever between men and women in her speech. You're the one doing the comparison.

[@Cradle2Venus]

@khatack aside from biological the differences in the sexes are not "so large", men just aren't compelled to constantly express about all their problems the way women tend to do. I have 5 sisters and a large number of female friends and family. I am in no way sexist. I'm also not saying her points are invalid or that she is being sexist, but that they largely apply to both sexes. As i said before, the comparison is inherent in the speech. She doesn't have to say 'whereas men are/nt"

[@yiotos]

@sashakid Ok, good point. I was assuming, sorry for the critizment. I didn't understand your comment...completely.

[@Cradle2Venus]

@khatack remember that next time you decide to tell a man to "man up" (aka shut up and take it). liza has no need to mention men specifically. since there is only man and woman (for the most part), it is inherently implied that her comparison is to men. When a woman in a women's convention says, "As a woman" it is synonymous to "As a human that is not male." Men, btw, go through exactly the same things as she discusses. There is nothing 'more' special about women's experience. only different.

[@Paulginz]

@eragonlover1 If I said "Men tend to have a different role in society than women, and therefore tend to have certain knowledge that women tend not to have." (when talking about, say, a predominantly male job.) Would that be sexist? I'm not trying to imply anything... I'm honestly curious.

[@butterbean7814]

Probably

[@LoveAndPeaceOccurs]

Thank You, Liza Donnelly for this relevant, important and engaging talk. Love & Peace to All

[@khatack]

@SickBang That doesn't change the fact that our culture is rather oppressive when enforcing it's gender roles. Donnely just gave the focus on the issues that women are facing, she did not make any claims about men. In fact she didn't even mention men in her speech, but here you are, all defensive as if you had just heard the most sexist talk in the history of mankind. Please be more observant and objective, and don't jump into hasty conclusions without considering alternative explanations.

[@stevenaudet]

@Frottjeif I would love it! As a man it's so difficult to meet atheist women, who are (most of the time) way much independent and self-conscious than the average woman. When you live in a place where 98% of people are Catholics... it's pretty lonely! :S

[@FukPhysics]

@ninjatoothpaste as a general rule, if you see a woman's picture in the TED video thumbnail, just dont click it. Thats why they separated the women out into the TEDwoman conference, they're simply not as good

[@Trazynn]

@xxxFaustusxxx Everything else in TED is TEDMen, ergo, the quality videos.

[@Sabriol1]

Amazing! Love it!

[@iAMsoBEAST1]

@ZarlanTheGreen But your not getting the point. Yes, you should expect somebody such as a women who want to be a comedian, but its not my job to admit they are a comedian. They have to do that on there own. The reason they suffer to such a high degree is because they so very self conscious. They're the ones who have to get over the fear of being judged and be themselves. It's a personal journey and in no way is the fault of others...

[@dylanlawless1]

I wanna see a ted talk from the rolex designers, what an ad ha. I'd say they know a thing or two

[@AvangionQ]

Satire really is an effective tool when progressing change in a democratic society, as it gets people to lower their guard and laugh at silly ideas that have become traditions ...

[@iAMsoBEAST1]

@PisicutaSiMatei Oh please... This video has no relevance to sexism at all. It's more about people not wanting to be themselves because they're embarrassed by it or something. Personally I kinda like anime but am I gonna go around and tell all my friend, who hate anime, that I like it, no. It's the fear of being judged for what one does and women aren't the only ones who have to deal with this feeling, so please, don't make any judgments as to why people dislike a video.

[@0HippyHunter0]

@eragonlover1 What knowledge is that, exactly?

[@iAMsoBEAST1]

@ZarlanTheGreen It's the job of the society to be accepting, as I said, but there not the ones who have to make the bold outing of their true selves.

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@iAMsoBEAST1 "Personally I kinda like anime but am I gonna go around and tell all my friend, who hate anime, that I like it, no." I do. (as with many other interests of mine) "women aren't the only ones who have to deal with this feeling" True, but they are one of the few groups, that experience it, to such a high degree and just because there are other groups, in need of change, doesn't mean you shouldn't make any efforts, just because it's not directed at ALL the groups that are affected.

[@DeoMachina]

@VastFarFlung We'd have a thousand "WHY NO TEDDOGS" comments

[@aromchuen]

@sashakid Men think it, but just don't discuss it as much because frankly we're too lazy to care. We know we got power and don't have to struggle with speeches like these to optain it. :)

[@fife8332]

The audience look like their are on Ellen

[@iAMsoBEAST1]

I feel like women don't stay in there tight groups, gossip about other girls, and wear pink because they are forced to, but because that's what they enjoy to do.

[@SuperiorApostate]

this is one of the "Ideas NOT worth spreading" talks. Tedwomen sucks because it's just a bunch of whining women talking about how they want to be more respected and have stronger roles in the society. Here's a tip: stop whining. stop disuniting yourself from everything, if there's something you have to make it SOMETHINGWOMEN. Like Ted, there's no Tedmen, Ted is for everyone but you had to go and make Tedwomen...

[@Trazynn]

@ZarlanTheGreen That's no problem, men spoke at TEDWomen. What I'm trying to convey is that TEDWomen so far has been mainly tripe. It would be awesome in the 70's perhaps 80's but right now they're just lagging way behind the current emancipation that they come across as a bunch of disgruntled ladies still stuck in their victim role. I hope this was a one time event and that TED is a tad more selective about who they invite on stage to speak about women's rights in the regular shows.

[@pmadsea077]

@silverface125 Actually, I believe the line goes "no one gives it to ya......ya have to take it!"

[@Fractometry]

@unkaodya Not at all, just for those that want to go with those type of groups, one with an atheist focus would be a great one.

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@iAMsoBEAST1 The society that brainwashes them, from infancy, is not a factor at all, then? Their fear of being judged is an issue, but that doesn't mean that those who judge aren't also a problem. Not to mention the tangible losses, one can get from not conforming: Not getting certain jobs, friends and access to certain places... Having to endure whole groups of people mocking/looking down on you... (ignoring it decreases the negative effects that has on you, but it never eliminates them)

[@feefriz]

@iAMsoBEAST1 some do and some don't. But she does have a point though. I don't think it's sexist. I see this stuff everywhere. People are just afraid to be themselves.

[@eragonlover1]

@Paulginz I would initially be offended and take it as a sexist comment, but then if I thought about it, I would say that I my comment was badly-phrased (in that I should have said perspective instead of information).

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@iAMsoBEAST1 I'd like to add that your comment that "It's a personal journey and in no way is the fault of others..." is not only wrong (as I explained), but also an insult to any and all, who are mocked, looked down upon, bullied or shunned unjustly. If your bullied, like I was, the bully has no blame? If a group says that homosexuals are an abomination and should die, they hold no blame? Please watch watch?v=ax96cghOnY4 (from your logic that video is wrong) That makes you utterly despicable.

[@paszTube]

AWESOME comic drawn by a woman: Farty Party, by Julia Wertz. Sounds more juvenile than it is. Google it!

[@sakokosa]

very well presented and quiet a funny talk...

[@slaughtz]

I bet Rolex has a separate 'sister' company, called "Rolex for Women." That's not separatist at all. Just like TED Women isn't separatist. Glad we have TED Women to help bring the genders together under one roof and into one room. A place where gender has no bearing on how much of a voice you have...

[@heeh2]

I don't care how far i can dive with the godamn watch on. I'm not paying $5,000 for a time piece.

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@iAMsoBEAST1 "It's the job of the society to be accepting, as I said" No you didn't. You said "and in no way is the fault of others..." I.e. you said the society is not at fault, in any way. "but there not the ones who have to make the bold outing of their true selves." They are responsible for being true to oneself to be a "bold outing" and make being true to oneself, detrimental in many ways. Why should that not be addressed? Why is only the ones who are unusual to blame, for this problem?

[@iAMsoBEAST1]

This is more about people being afraid to be themselves...

[@khatack]

@heeh2 That is only because you don't have a strong enough finance for that. If you had a couple of million dollars on your bank account, believe me, you would spend a lot of money on seemingly trivial status symbols such as a Rolex wristwatch.

[@BriskAxe]

@bleepbloop01 *Is legendary.

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@BaileysBeads ...though with that said, I do agree that most of the talks from TEDWomen haven't been too good. (many regular TED talks aren't too good either, but most are) "and that TED is a tad more selective about who they invite on stage to speak about women's rights in the regular shows." Well... They have occasionally invited foolish and/or despicable people. People like, for example, Brenda Laurel, Rick Warren and Elaine Morgan. (all three, being both foolish and despicable)

[@Omgsarge]

@karlsmith00 You obviously care what I think for some reason. But please insult me with more unfounded and inaccurate accusations. Please, more! ; ) Whatever makes you feel better.

[@TheEconomicElder]

theres a great line in "the departed" when he says you cant be respected if ur given it! You have to take it!........ and thats the biggest problem for most woman...... the ones that do take "it", are mostly tom boys.... witch is a bit ironic.

[@khatack]

@Cradle2Venus No, the comparison isn't inherent. I'm not sure what manner of communication you're used to, but in the scientific world people tend to use exact words, and thus there is no information hidden between the lines so to speak. Don't pretend that you can get inside the head of someone you don't even know, and instead consider their message with unbiased neutrality. And she doesn't have to say "whereas men aren't" because that's not even true in most cases.

[@t3tsuyaguy1]

TED-women is a step backward for gender equality.

[@Nouuuuranlovesadam]

It still baffles me how much sexist comments there are on ANY video about gender equality.

[@jffryh]

@bleepbloop01 how could anyone survive in this world without the freedom to dive 40,000 feet into the ocean anytime you want and still know what time it is.

[@feefriz]

I get that this is a little sexist but she has a good point. There's always these stupids standards that both sexes "have" to be in in-order to be okay with society. I've always just been myself and been condemned for it, even IN COLLEGE! It's so annoying and childish. But I just stopped giving a f*ck. I think people should just be themselves. Seriously.

[@angelcaban2387]

Love what your doing.

[@khatack]

@gulllars The Rolex ad *is* magnificent. ^^ And it's successful; every time I see the ad, I get a certain desire to purchase a Rolex wristwatch. :)

[@LordOfTheObvious]

@Frottjeif FTW

[@pmadsea077]

@silverface125 LOL....that true :)

[@khatack]

@eragonlover1 Besides, she doesn't even mention men in her speech.

[@AguzSuiCaedere]

A female cartoonist from Argentina? Wait, does this mean she work with Maitena?

[@LightWthoutTheStatic]

Let a man be wary of a woman's ability, and not her dependance on waxing eloquent. If women individually want to compete for a role, let her do it on the basis of merit and character rather than deservedness and injustice from some other culture in some other time. This is now. Let a woman compete now for what she desires to be now. As for this feministic rhetoric, I will ignore a the sexist parts of this speech and take in the valuable parts.

[@MaBuSt]

Were none of those women in the second to last figure Chinese? That's interesting no?

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@BaileysBeads "That's no problem, men spoke at TEDWomen." Really? That makes no sense. It would, if TED women was just about women's rights/issues, but it isn't, so... Still that doesn't affect your claim that everything else is TEDmen, or my saying you're wrong about that. "What I'm trying to convey is that TEDWomen so far has been mainly tripe." By saying that everything else in TED is TEDMen? That means you're saying that men are inherently better than women, thus making you a sexist.

[@Omgsarge]

I was asking myself what was so funny about these comics...then I saw that almost everybody in the crowd was a woman...

[@windexglow]

I've only seen a few ted-woman talks I have enjoyed. Like the majority of ted-talks with woman, this was not one I liked.

[@morthim]

hmm 'something about humor exists within a culture' what about people who don't exist within the culture?

[@DeoMachina]

@MaBuSt Third from the left

[@edtronic]

Those jokes are not that funny.

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@BaileysBeads "Everything else in TED is TEDMen" No. That is utter and complete nonsense. Many women have spoken at regular TED talks, and there is nothing that stops women from being speakers at regular TEDs. There may be things that hinder women from gaining such education and success, as is necessary for a speech from them to be of high quality (not that all TED talks are... like Brenda Laurel, who spouted sexist drivel and made pathetic games), but that's a completely different issue.

[@SEThatered]

IF you are interested: NO, I WILL NEVER BUY ROLEX, SO YOU CAN STOP ADVERTISING AND SPAMMING.

[@heeh2]

@khatack meh, i guess....

[@Izwat]

@Frottjeif lol.

[@bentothetenthpower]

@TheErickaJane It's not whining, it's dissent. Stop belittling our right to dissent, lest you come across as a fascist. And it's not "for" women, it's "for" feminists. Different story.

[@rankarandas]

ROLEX IS GOD

[@strappinggermanlad]

IT'S JUST A FUCKING WATCH!

[@Krounz44]

@Frottjeif but men are. it is a fact.

[@TheEconomicElder]

@pmadsea077 ya i had to add my own context other wise i would have to say the "N" word. lol

[@Trazynn]

@ZarlanTheGreen I feel justified in being sexist, it feels I have to be that way to offset the sexism in TEDwomen. TEDWomen is an insult to both genders.

[@TheWheatless]

TEDwomen? Really? What's their slogan? "Ideas worth spreading... for women." As if any idea worth spreading has a requisite gender. inb4 TEDblack, TEDtransexual, TEDasian, TEDhomosexual.

[@Omgsarge]

@karlsmith00 Wow that was some time ago. Curious, why do you think men find wife-beating and child rape funny? I sure as hell don't and if you think that then you perpetuate the typical "women are victims, men are perpetrators" mantra that contributes to the inequality of the sexes. I admit my comment was on the mean side. They were cute comics, just not hilariously funny like the audience obviously thought. And you know what? Thats ok. Maybe you should read more comics like that and lighten up.

[@PatThePhat1]

I understand the point shes making but I really didn't find her that funny. I know of a lot of very funny female comedians who make me laugh but this lady isn't the best example of female humor. she's a great cartoonist though

[@bentothetenthpower]

This is ridiculous. Women are on the ground? They know the traditions? So men are not? Is she saying that only women have a set of cultural rules for behavior, that they would rather not follow? What! How does any of this apply to women and not men? Why is all this gender discrimination being tolerated by TED? Who do these feminists think they are? This is so massively hypocritical. Men cannot get away with claiming exclusivity on any point.

[@elu5ive]

WHY TEDwomen?! IT MAKES NO SENSE! TED is for everyone! why split it into groups?!

[@sashakid]

@mazdaplz bullshit i never think of myself as a superior to women its modern world we live in and all of that crap from the past is not releavant to me thats why i get mad at it its just doesnt feel releavent like women are better or men are better and ll of that bullshit

[@zydomason]

i saw that burqa coming.

[@Neueregel]

"What a completely useless talk." I second that. One must be extremely dumb to laugh at those jokes

[@MitchStoffels]

Yeah, it became all about women all of a sudden. Just stop it, it's 2011. Same thing goes for racism... we got it, stop reminding us. Or we are gonna have to get the whip again.

[@sashakid]

Respond to this video... what issue ??? i think since they got to vote that is issue sould be long forgoten and talking about one gender eing better that another is total bullshit and unrealevant to our community... or atleast to me and most of us

[@SiCGaming123]

TEDwomen... who came up with this? And what's with USA? Play your gender roles...

[@ImBackAJ20101]

What a completely useless talk.

[@defaultuser88]

aaaand we're back to talks without substance....

[@solojam]

males, you don't want a woman like this, lol

[@yiotos]

@sashakid I guess your sad since she isn't in a kitchen.

[@sakokosa]

firdth !!!

[@ZirconCode]

This TEDWomen thing will create more bias than it will ever solve. Good Job, TED, you disappointed me for the last time.

[@sausage4mash]

Q: How many women does it take to change a light bulb? A: Just one. She holds it still and waits for the world to revolve around her. is my joke better ?

[@Neueregel]

"What a completely useless talk." I second that. One must be extremely dumb to laugh at those jokes