Women’s Cartoons and Comics in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Streeten draws on Simone Lia’s graphic novel Fluffy (2005, Jonathan Cape) to demonstrate how humor combines with the comics form to address and quietly challenge assumptions around childcare, parenting, and masculinity. Streeten’s consideration is part of her wider thesis that the humorous cartoon and comic has been an essential element of feminist activism in the UK, supporting serious political messages. Her claim is that the structures built by feminist activity have made the buoyant position and visibility of women cartoonists in the UK today possible. The role of humor in this history, has been an essential, yet little recognized aspect.