My job standing behind the Wilf’s host station means that I spend more time than most looking at the giant advertisement screen in the Fred Nichols building.
One advertisement that kept catching my eye was a poster for an evening of comedy with Corinne Fisher & Krystyna Hutchinson, creators of Guys We F@#ked: The Anti-Slut-Shaming-Podcast.
Fisher and Hutchinson’s website describes their podcast as a weekly self-produced podcast during which the duo interview men they’ve slept with and titans in the comedy and sex industry.
I’m a little late to the podcast train as I personally prefer to read in my spare time — books, blogs, The Cord of course — but after doing a little research I was keen to not only give the podcast a listen but also to attend the live event.
This event was free to attend, which was great considering most comedy is rarely free.
It was held upstairs in the Turret, and the duo spent the entire night mocking the Turret’s claim as a nightclub, which I of course found funny considering I work there. It’s getting a makeover this summer, I promise!
The duo started with a mini film that revolved around the Salem witch trials and how women were accused of witchcraft for ordinary womanly things.
“I wish that when I got my period I didn’t have to go into the woods for five days”, Hutchinson said.
It was those moments of self-reflection that were my favourite because they expressed struggles we all face. For example, when Fisher’s mocking of her own weight gain —
The name of the podcast leaves little to the imagination, so I was expecting a lot of conversation about women’s decision to have and discuss sex.
Within five minutes, Hutchinson was talking about masturbating and I was shocked at myself when the word almost made me jump.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I still think female masturbation is rarely talked about. Which is strange considering it is assumed that all men do it.
I immediately thought she was brave, because not even in the name of comedy would I be sharing my masturbating habits on stage, despite the fact that it is a very normal part of some people’s lives.
This was definitely not a politically correct show, but I found that quite refreshing given how much stigma there is recently around sensitive issues.
But I’m not going to lie; I held my breath at certain moments, such as when Fisher said how ridiculous it is that there are “sixty-three genders.”
Perhaps it’s best that these two presenters stick to self-reflection.
It was those moments of self-reflection that were my favourite because they expressed struggles we all face. For example, when Fisher’s mocking of her own weight gain —
“It’s because of all this body positivity bullshit that’s going around.”
Considering she claimed she had gained fifteen pounds she looked pretty incredible. I think that it marks a recent change in female body image that moves away from as-skinny-as-possible and more towards all shapes and sizes.
Fisher and Hutchinson touched on some important issues, but I think the most important one being that it’s okay for women to talk about having sex.
Are we at a stage where it is considered “acceptable” for women to sleep around as much as men? Probably not.
But podcasts such as this serves as a reminder for people that half of the time — literally — it is women having sex too, and we don’t have to be ashamed of it anymore.