Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Performing Gender: Identity Construction of Female Comedians in Stand-up Comedy

Ruimeng MaNational University of Singapore*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Stand-up comedy has emerged as a growing cultural space in China where performers use humor to subtly challenge social norms. This study employs a critical discourse analysis approach to examine how gender shapes the comedic strategies and identity performances of female comedians. Drawing on selected performance scripts from a popular Chinese stand-up show), the research analyzes how comedians negotiate gender roles, and engage with the patriarchal ideology through satire, irony, and storytelling. Findings reveal that female comedians often foreground personal narratives to critique patriarchal values, expose gender-based double standards, and navigate controversial topics. These patterns reflect how language operates as a site of both resistance and reinforcement of social norms, and how stand-up comedy offers a stage for the negotiation of gendered identities in contemporary China.

Keywords: stand-up comedy; humor; gender identity construction; script analysis
Published: November 11, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.29514
Volume: CHR Vol.84
pp. 56-60
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