Are women comedians as funny as men?

Whooa. I can answer that one for you. “Women aren’t funny!”

How do I know? I’ve heard male comedians make this broad statement as they measure their own self-worth as talent against this general entity known as “women.”

I can’t imagine this generalized statement being uttered aloud in another profession. Imagine two accountants talking in the lunchroom. “Women can’t add!”

Are there more funny male comedians? Absolutely! But then, again, there are simply many more male comedians (period)

Ironically, one of the greatest compliments I receive on a consistent basis is, “You write like a man.” In the comedy world, that’s a good thing. That means I’m not focused on joking about my body parts (which are most often described by female comedians without euphemisms) and I don’t swear like a sailor (sorry for the generalized statement about “sailors”).

As a female comedian, I must admit I set my sights high for what women need to achieve to be genuinely funny. Cheap laughs go a long way and it is a tempting path to take. Rather, I admire the women who bring me to tears within moments of speaking. I sense the connection to a humorous observation of the world. The self-deprecation is minimal and used only to equalize the playing field between audience and comedian. There is a command of the stage which results from have a respect for oneself.

Yes. I do believe women are funny, albeit in smaller numbers than men. I would be proud to stand up to those male comedians who irreverently proclaim “Women aren’t funny!” And to those accountants in the lunchroom I’d say, “Yes. Women can add!
They just can’t balance a checkbook.”