Katie Ross, an Ohio University sophomore who performs at comedy shows in Athens, was collaboratively writing a Fridays Live skit when she took offense at a joke about women.
In response, a male cast member accused her of being overly feminist.
“It’s just the way society teaches us how to think,” Ross said. “I haven’t actually met anyone that is sexist on purpose, but they can be accidentally because it’s engraved in their minds.”
Though the number of female comedians in Athens remains low, five women are finding their niche in the local comedy scene despite the commonly held belief that women are less funny than men.
Ross, sophomore Chelsea Robinson, junior Emily Harper and seniors Eudora Peterson and Carolyn Williamson all have become prominent fixtures in Athens’ various weekly comedy shows. Last year, the group presented an all-female show.
“The (all-female) show went great,” Ross said. “Athens is typically really open and even with a mixed audience, it was an awesome night.”
Despite Ross’ belief that Athens is more open to female comedy than many other areas, local female comedians face challenges similar to those of popular comics such as Tina Fey and Ellen DeGeneres.
Clichés such as the belief that female comics are lesbians or fierce feminists, Ross said, are not necessarily true, adding that she believes gender does not affect the quality of standup performance.
“Comedians are bad not because of their gender but because they are just bad at comedy,” Ross said. “You can’t use gender as an excuse. Even at Ohio University, (female comedians) all have different styles of stand-up.”
Judith Grant, director of OU’s Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, said stereotyping female comedians is common.
“Comedy requires a certain authoritative and confident voice that has historically been conceptualized as male,” Grant said. “Women have been the punch line of jokes … rather than the joke tellers. The ideological requirements of femininity — passivity, daintiness, etc. — all go against what it has meant to be funny.”
Both Ross and Williamson said they believe women are afraid of the exposure that comedy grants. Despite this, Williamson said women have to find the strength to ignore critics.
“You can’t let anyone put you at a disadvantage,” she said. “If you run into jerks saying you aren’t funny, you forget about them. There are 10 more people telling you how great and brave you are for doing comedy.”
Humor-writing professor Bill Reader agreed, saying the male-dominated world of comedy forces women to develop a thick skin.
“Because female comedians really are working very much in a male-dominated industry, they often have to be tougher, smarter, more patient, more creative and more determined,” Reader said. “It’s a tough business — only tough people can make a go of it.”
More than anything else, Ross said, confidence is key to succeed as a comedian, especially as a woman. Fear of the stereotypes and criticism should not stop a female comic, she added.
“It is honestly important to really believe in yourself and get out there,” said Ross. “Don’t let other people stop you just because of the fact that you’re a girl.”
lf328610@ohiou.edu
