2016 Honoree

Caroline Rhea

Comedian, Actress

“Comedy is an individual sport–I am alone on stage trying to win the audience over and make them laugh. This is a powerful thing to do and I feel that all the female comedians are chipping away at the stereotypes of how women should (or are allowed to) behave. I don’t have to manage colleagues, but I do have to deal with aggressive hecklers, who are usually male. Strangely enough, that is the part of comedy I enjoy the most, matching wits with random strangers.”

What socio-political women’s issue do you care about the most? Do you feel that women are typically presented fairly in the media? Why or why not?

The socio-political “women’s” issue I care about the most is that each boy and girl have the same opportunity to spend their life, whether working, raising a family, or both, in the way that best suits his or her individual talents, needs, and beliefs. I consider this a human issue, not a “women’s” issue. Only a tiny sliver of the female population is portrayed in the media. Even to work in the news, generally, women have to be young, beautiful, slim, typically also blonde, and Caucasian. This means that only women who look a certain way have the opportunity to have a voice. The media, implicitly and explicitly, judges a woman on her physical attributes. I refuse to buy or read tabloids because their stories are about who is a good mother/bad mother, who has had breast implants, botox, lost weight, gained weight and are so shallow and cruel and reinforce the idea that a woman’s value is determined by her appearance and that everyone is free to judge women. Incidentally, this is an American phenomenon. If you watch British TV you will see actual women over 45 with wrinkles, untoned arms, presenting the news or starring in shows because of their acting skills. It is not only refreshing, but makes for much better tv.

What specific aspect of women’s rights in the U.S. could we change to set an example to the world? What will it take (apart from time) for women to be viewed as equal to men?

In terms of legal protections for women, while there are areas for the U.S. to improve, the U.S. is already an example to the world. I believe that women are viewed more and more as equals as they take on roles typically performed by men, including, hopefully, President of the United States. When I was a child there was a riddle that would stump most people: A man and his son are in a car accident. The man is killed and the son is rushed to hospital for life saving surgery. The doctor walks into the O.R. and says, “Oh my God, that is my son.” Who is the doctor? I have tried this riddle on my daughter and her cousins and they give me a pitying look and say, “the mother” or “the other dad,” whereas when I was a child, we were fixed on the idea that the doctor must be the dad. Ultimately, I believe we will achieve equality when parents are equally proud of their child, who is the CEO and their child who is a great full time parent and not care which is the son and which is the daughter.

Whatever profession you choose, do men see women as either a female rival with independence and strength, or someone inexperienced that needs to be managed, never as an equal? How do you show your male colleagues that you are an equal without stepping on their toes?

Comedy is an individual sport–I am alone on stage trying to win the audience over and make them laugh. This is a powerful thing to do and I feel that all the female comedians are chipping away at the stereotypes of how women should (or are allowed to) behave. I don’t have to manage colleagues, but I do have to deal with aggressive hecklers, who are usually male. Strangely enough, that is the part of comedy I enjoy the most, matching wits with random strangers.

Do you feel the extreme left and right wings of U.S. politics are destroying the United in United States, or is it just healthy debate? Should the financing of political campaigns be the controlled by an independent authority?

Politics in the United States has been pulled so far to the right that what used to be the center is now considered the “extreme left.” I don’t find the left wing of the democratic party extreme at all–many of their proposals are the law in Canada, where I grew up. The extreme right on the other hand is dragging our democracy through the gutter. I hope that people remember that a functioning democracy, like the United States, doesn’t just happen, it requires constant nurturing and civility and respect for the point of view of others. More than anything else, everyone who enjoys one of the greatest privileges in the world, the right to vote for President of the United States, should exercise that franchise. I believe Citizens United should be repealed, but I don’t think adding a new independent authority would do anything except add red tape. A possible lesson from the current election is that big right wing money, which does not back Donald Trump, may not be all that powerful in the age of twitter etc.

What do you now know about yourself that you wish you knew ten/fifteen/twenty years ago? Do today’s young people face a bigger challenge than you did?

I wish I had known that “baked goods” is not one of the four major food groups. Young people today face different challenges. They are going to have to deal with the “hangover” from three decades of the economics equivalent of a bender. Our generation has reaped all the benefits of the past, the present, and the future, and young people are going to have to pay the bill. (On that I agree with many Republicans!) We have also buried our heads in the sand on global warming and young people will have to solve that monumental worldwide problem as well.

Do you feel that religion is on the decline in the Western World? Will it have an effect on U.S. society? If so, will it be good or bad?

I am a very spiritual person and my faith in God is an important part of who I am. Like my father, I am a “seeker” for meaning and, although I am a White Anglo Saxon Protestant, aka “WASP,” I study Kabbalah and try to apply its principles to my everyday life. I don’t think religion is on the decline, but respect for the religious beliefs of others is. Throughout history, terrible things have been done in the name of religion and we are living in one of those periods now. It is very sad to see because the major religions set out a code of how to be a good Christian, Jew, or Muslim, and those codes are more alike than they are different. None of them includes taking life in the name of God.

Can you tell us about one of the biggest challenges in your life that you think helped you become the person you are today? What was your best decision to date? Worst decision?

The biggest challenge I took on was moving to New York City from Montreal, living on my sister’s couch and trying to make it as a comedian. “What was your best decision to date?” is the easiest question on this list! Having my daughter Ava. My worst decision was starting a family in my 40s so that I couldn’t give Ava a brother or sister.

Who inspires you the most? If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

At the moment, I am most inspired by Hillary Rodham Clinton and her personal courage in standing up to a bully, something 14 men and one woman could not do in the Republican primary. If I could have dinner with anyone it would be with my mother, who was my best friend and inspiration.

If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

If I were a superhero, my super power would be to show people (including myself) the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future (in the manner of Scrooge) so that they could live every day as the best person they can be.

Favorite: Book/writer? Song/singer? Movie/actor? Cuisine/dish?

My favorite writer is Alice Hoffman. My favorite song is anything by Pink, she’s a genius. My favorite actor is Russell Crowe. My favorite dish is also Russell Crowe.