Women in Comedy

KATHERINE GONG EDITOR
Like many other industries, professional comedy is male-dominated. However, there is still a wage-gap between male and female comedians, despite how comedy allows people to freely voice out concerns or criticisms about society. Instead, comedy clubs should put more effort into launching female comedians into the limelight by increasing the amount of women on stage as well as appreciation for them.
The profession is one that attracts women that are confident in their voice, and as Peggy Boyce, the executive producer for “Ladies of Laughter” says, “that just goes with the progression of women in the world.” However, comedy clubs may not often have an atmosphere that is as welcoming toward aspiring female performers, even when comedy clubs are where many stars catch their big break.
On stage, comedians must engage themselves with an audience and place themselves at a verbal risk; by exercising their right to speak their minds about social and political issues, female comedians can turn the stage into a platform for advocacy. Thus, the essence of comedy is celebrated with diversity. In the end, people need more laughs, and female comedians are some of the funniest around.

The competitions series “Ladies of Laughter,” which started in New York, has helped to jumpstart women into comedy. Past contestants include Amy Schumer, who entered in 2004 at the age of 16, and Melissa Rauch, a finalist who later became Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz in the “Big Bang Theory.”
Yet there has been a recent rise of female comedians, with stars like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Rebel Wilson. As a result, the social stigma that women can’t be funny has been gradually wearing away.