Overview

In Health and Inequality in Standup Comedy: Stories That Challenge Stigma, Sean M. Viña explores the power of open conversations in reducing stigma. Using standup comedy as a lens, the book delves into the experiences of ninety-nine diverse comedians, revealing how they disclose their stigmas in public and what prevents some from having open conversations. The author argues that the scope of stigma resistance is defined by the prejudice of those who stigmatize, making it an unequal endeavor that requires structural change to truly make a difference. Through the voices of these comedians, Health and Inequality in Standup Comedy challenges us to reconceptualize our approach to fighting stigma and discrimination and highlights the importance of implementing policies that decrease segregation. A compelling and eye-opening read for anyone interested in understanding the power of social contact through the unequal, standup comedy world.

Full Product Details

9781666940824

Table of Contents

Reviews

"""Comedy is often the edge of social change. Sean M. Viña's new book explores this frontier with a focus on how comedy can heal, but it doesn't heal equally. It's qualitative sociology at its finest and an outstanding contribution to how we understand the art of stand up and the way it changes the performers and audience.""--Fabio Rojas, Indiana University"

"""Comedy has always aimed at the very heart of society's most powerful but often brushed-aside inequities. But through the voices of those who have faced contemporary prejudice and discrimination, Viña reveals how comedians with stigmatized experiences cast a sharp eye on the social norms that continue to rob individuals of their true value. For anyone who thinks that stigma has dissipated, listening and feeling the discomfort of difference is essential."" ""Comedy is often the edge of social change. Sean M. Viña's new book explores this frontier with a focus on how comedy can heal, but it doesn't heal equally. It's qualitative sociology at its finest and an outstanding contribution to how we understand the art of stand up and the way it changes the performers and audience."""

Author Information

Sean M. Viña is assistant professor of sociology at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

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