Reader's Column: Can Girls Be Funny? - Reader's Column / Write For Stylist Magazine - Stylist Magazine

After being reminded recently of an old comedy gem – Eddie Murphy’s hilariously brilliant ‘Delirious’ from 1983, donning an interestingly tight catsuit-esque onesie, I was thinking about my all-time favourite sketches. For example, Bill Hick’s macabre rant on marketing (gulp), Jack Dee’s arrogant persona and despair on pretty much everyone, Lee Evans on the idiocy of footballers and Micky Flanagan’s concept of going ‘out out’. Then there's the work of Billy Connolly, Eddie Izzard, Ricky Gervais, Michael McIntyre, Bill Bailey, Ed Byrne and Dara O’brien and John Bishop...I could go on.

On Mock of the Week there is always noticeably no more than one woman tackling the panel of testosterone, struggling to throw in her two cents to an unconvinced crowd. Who can forget the two daring Russells, Howard and Brand, who again, have no fear in effortlessly turning the boring into banter. In full force, they are all quick-witted, highly inappropriate, sarcastic, sharp, and…annoyingly male.

"I know plenty of hilarious girls, but when it comes to tickling the fancies of a large crowd, the men win hands down."

Determined to prove myself wrong, I attended the Channel 4 Comedy Gala a few weeks back, keeping my eyes and ears peeled for the female acts. I wanted them to come out on stage and immediately give the men a run for their money.

However, 80 per cent of the show were male, and were bombarded with crude anecdotes, loud noises and energetic leaps, before being graced with two women comedians. Both spoke about topics such as marriage, sex, weight loss and relationships. The audience laughed along, but really these were all things we would have rather left behind when watching a comedy show on an evening out.

I’m not saying men are funnier all the time, or indeed in every day life. I know plenty of hilarious girls, but it just suggests that when it comes to tickling the fancies of a large crowd, the men win hands down.

But one great thing did happen recently that gives us hope - the release of Bridemaids, the girly substitute to The Hangover. It is an example of empowered girls leading the way in the comedic space, proving that when it comes down to it, I think us girls are just as funny. We just need to take a leaf out of Kristen Wiig’s book, and have more of the confidence to do it.

Do you agree with Emma? Do you think there's a lack of funny women? Share your views in the comments section below.

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