One of the tropes of our cultural mythology is that a man wearing a dress is funny and generally humiliating–something one would do only if…

One of the tropes of our cultural mythology is that a man wearing a dress is funny and generally humiliating–something one would do only if desperate. Does this desperation cause Thor’s response to the theft of his hammer?

Why is a woman in a men’s clothing not funny at first glance in the same way?

Are women inherently funny because we are feminine? 

Or is masculine “normal” and feminine is “other”?

Here are some comedy examples of men dressed as women:

• To Wong Fu: Thank you very much, Julie Newmar: starred Patrick Swazy, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo
• Tootsie: starred Dustin Hoffman
• Some like it Hot: starred Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe.
• Just one of the Girls: started Corey Haim
• The Birdcage: starred Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman
• Mrs. Doubtfire: starred Robin Williams
• White Chicks starred Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans

This controversy came out in a creative session on a cartoon show for adults–could they make fun of a woman getting splattered with dog drool? Would be be as funny as if it were a male character?