Spoiler alert: They always were. You just weren’t listening.
Despite the many hilarious women crushing it in stand-up, TV, film, and social media, the myth that “women aren’t funny” still lingers like an outdated punchline that never landed in the first place.
Let’s unpack where this myth came from, why it’s wrong, and what women are doing right now to take the mic, change the game, and redefine comedy—on their own terms.
Where Did This Myth Even Come From?
The idea that “women aren’t funny” has been floating around for decades. Some point to outdated gender roles, others to industry bias, and a few to that one uncle at Thanksgiving who refuses to watch anything without Bill Burr in it.
Historically, women were told to be “ladylike,” “pleasant,” and “quiet.” Comedy, by contrast, is bold, confrontational, and often messy—which clashed with how society thought women “should” behave.
🎙️ Translation: Women weren’t not funny—they were just discouraged from grabbing the mic.
Why This Myth Doesn’t Hold Up
Let’s be real: If “funny” had a gender, comedy wouldn’t work. Humor isn’t biological—it’s about perspective, timing, delivery, and honesty. And women have plenty to say.
Need proof?
- Lucille Ball redefined sitcoms.
- Joan Rivers paved the way for unapologetic stand-up.
- Whoopi Goldberg won an EGOT.
- Ali Wong, Wanda Sykes, Taylor Tomlinson, Atsuko Okatsuka, Michelle Buteau, Sam Jay, Jenny Slate, and Tiffany Haddish—are packing out theaters, dropping Netflix specials, and rewriting the rules.
🚨 Spoiler: If you say “I don’t find women funny,” the issue might be your taste—not their talent.
The Industry Wasn’t Built for Women—But They’re Rebuilding It
For decades, the comedy industry skewed male—especially in gatekeeping roles like club owners, bookers, late-night hosts, and festival programmers. Women were often told there was only room for one on the lineup, and even that was a maybe.
But women aren’t waiting for permission anymore—they’re building their own spaces, platforms, and audiences.
💡 Ahem… Plauzzable’s Founder and CEO is a woman. So yes, we’re building that future—one show, one mic, and one hilarious set at a time.
Online shows, independent rooms, and alternative festivals are reshaping who gets heard and who gets stage time. Social media and streaming platforms have allowed women comics to grow massive followings without needing traditional gatekeepers.
It’s also powerful when women support other women in comedy. From tagging each other in show posts to writing together, mentoring, or simply laughing loudest in the back of the room—community makes careers sustainable.
Take Grace Fraga, for example—an accomplished comedian on Plauzzable who hosts a monthly online show called Love Gone Funny. Every month, she brings together a fresh lineup of hilarious women. No gimmicks, just genuinely funny performers supporting one another and building something bigger.
🎤 Women supporting women isn’t just a movement—it’s how we all get better, funnier, and more fearless on stage.
What Actually Makes a Comic Funny?
It’s not gender. It’s not who yells the loudest or who tells the dirtiest joke. It’s:
- A strong point of view
- Clear writing and editing
- Timing, rhythm, and control of the room
- Authenticity and commitment
- The ability to connect
And guess what? Women do all of that—brilliantly.
Why This Myth Still Hurts
Even as women succeed, the myth lingers. Here’s how it causes harm:
- New women comics get unfairly judged—expected to “prove” they’re funny in ways male peers are not.
Bookers might include just one woman per lineup, assuming it’s enough.
Audiences sometimes bring bias into the room, undercutting laughs before the first joke lands.
- Comics feel pressure to tailor material to please, impress, or avoid offense—rather than to be funny.
🙄 The myth creates extra hurdles in a job that’s already built on rejection and risk.
🎙️ Step Into the Spotlight: How Women Are Changing Comedy—on Plauzzable and Beyond
The myth that “women aren’t funny” isn’t just wrong—it’s outdated. And right now, women are actively dismantling it by taking the stage, writing the jokes, running the shows, and creating spaces for everyone to laugh.
If you're a woman in comedy—or just comedy-curious—Plauzzable is a place where you can grow your voice without gatekeeping. Whether you're looking to write tighter sets, test new material, or host your own all-female lineup, there's room for you here.
👏 Ways to Take the Mic and Make Change:
- - Host your own shows – online or in person.
- - Feature fellow women – especially those just getting started.
- - Attend & support shows – visibility = viability.
- - Mentor or collaborate – you don’t have to go it alone.
- - Get inspired by others – like Grace Fraga, who hosts Love Gone Funny on Plauzzable, a monthly all-women lineup that’s equal parts heart and hilarious.
🎤 Women supporting women isn’t just a feel-good idea—it’s how we change the game.
🧠 A Few Resources (Because We Know Someone Will Ask)
- Are Men Really Funnier Than Women? A new systematic review compares men's and women's ability to produce humor an article by Gil Greengross Ph.D. in Psychology Today
- Men Are Funnier than Women under a Condition of Low Self-Efficacy but Women Are Funnier than Men under a Condition of High Self-Efficacy an article by Tracy L. Caldwell and Paulina Wojtach
Gender differences in humor-related traits, humor appreciation, production, comprehension, (neural) responses, use, and correlates: A systematic review an article by Jennifer Hofmann, Tracey Platt, Chloe Lau, and Jorge Torres-Marin
🤷♀️ TL;DR: It’s not about capability—it's about opportunity.
🎟️ The Audience Plays a Role, Too
The comedy industry doesn't just run on comics—it runs on crowds. If you’re a fan, you can help change the culture by:
- - Seeking out shows with diverse lineups
- - Buying tickets to women-led shows
- - Streaming specials and podcasts by female comedians
- - Supporting online platforms (hi again, Plauzzable!)
- Every time you laugh loudly, share a clip, or show up to a show, you help silence the myth.
🧨 Myth Recap: “Women Aren’t Funny”
❌ Not true.
💁♀️ Never was.
📈 Women are thriving on stage, on screen, and on mic.
🎤 Still think otherwise? You might need to update your playlist.
Final Thought
Women have always been funny. The only thing that's changed? More people are finally listening—and laughing.
Take the next step:
How to Turn Personal Stories Into Stand-Up Comedy Gold
5 Writing Exercises Comedians Use to Stay Sharp
How to Handle Stage Fright and Build Confidence as a Performer
Written by
Plauzzable