Feminists have long argued that humor can serve as a tool of empowerment. In the face of histories of violence and abuse, humor gains force precisely when it is not innocent of the social fields in which it operates. Challenging philosophical and cultural dualisms, we revisit the four dominant theories that have explained laughter and comedy and replace them through a feminist lens that brings into focus laughter as leveling of social hierarchies, collective catharsis, transgression of oppressive norms, and social play. We argue that it is a strategy for expressing outrage and truth telling, an antidote to shame and fear, a source of joy and friendship, a cathartic treatment that is personal and collective, and a means of empathetic connection and alliance. The result is a revolution of form in which humor offers connection, not detachment.