"The 40 Year Old Virgin": The Bro Comedy That Hates Women

The 40-Year-Old Virgin launched a comedy empire—but does it still hold up, or is it best left in the mid-2000s? From outdated jokes to cringeworthy gender politics, this Judd Apatow classic has a lot to answer for. This week, comedian and Bechdel Cast co-host Caitlin Durante joins DB to break down its virginity-obsessed premise, the way it treats female pleasure as a punchline, and why so many early 2000s comedies leaned on casual misogyny and homophobia for laughs. GUEST DETAILSCaitlin Durante is a comedian, writer, and co-host of The Bechdel Cast, a podcast that examines movies through an intersectional feminist lens. You can follow me on Instagram at @caitlindurante and check out caitlindurante.com CONNECT WITH US Instagram: @sexedwithdbpodcast TikTok: @sexedwithdbTwitter: @sexedwithdb Threads: @sexedwithdbpodcast YouTube: Sex Ed with DB ROM-COM VOM SEASON 11 SPONSORS: Lion's Den, Uberlube, Magic Wand, & Arya. Get discounts on all of DB’s favorite things here! GET IN TOUCH Email: sexedwithdb@gmail.comSubscribe to our newsletter for behind-the-scenes content and answers to your sexual health questions! FOR SEXUAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Check out DB's workshop: "Building A Profitable Online Sexual Health Brand" ABOUT THE SHOW Sex Ed with DB is your go-to podcast for smart, science-backed sex education—delivering trusted insights from top experts on sex, sexuality, and pleasure. Empowering, inclusive, and grounded in real science, it’s the sex ed you’ve always wanted. SEASON 11 TEAM Creator, Host & Executive Producer: Danielle Bezalel (DB) Producer: Sadie Lidji Communications Lead: Cathren Cohen Logo Design: Evie Plumb (@cliterallythebest)