The power of vulnerability
Women Stand-Up Comedians’ Triumph Through Self-Deprecation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7154335 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Avneesh Kumar (0000-0002-1557-8038, Manipal Academy of Higher Education), Piyashi Dutta (0000-0003-1932-7655, Amity University, Noida, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pages | 1744-1751 |
| Publication date | 2025-10-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Feminist Media Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1468-0777 • E-ISSN: 1471-5902 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14680777.2024.2341407 |
| OpenAlex | W4394818368 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 12 |
The world of stand-up comedy is a dynamic space where humour serves as a vehicle for challenging societal norms and expectations. This form of autobiographical performance, marked by its inherent rhetorical qualities, has historically pushed boundaries and defied conventions. It finds its power in presenting the everyday mundanity of life in a relatable language, allowing comedians to critique moral, social, and political conventions. Comedians venture into the margins of societal norms, exposing inconsistencies and offering alternative perspectives. Self-deprecating humour, a prevalent comedic approach, particularly among women comedians, plays a unique role. By sharing personal flaws and vulnerabilities, comedians foster relatability, disarm potential criticism, challenge societal expectations, and empower both themselves and their audiences. In India, the rise of women comedians has added a distinct dimension to this genre, providing fresh insights into body image, social norms, and female agency. Women comedians use humour as a tool to navigate societal pressures and stereotypes, all while engaging in a larger societal conversation. They effectively employ self-deprecation to challenge the status quo, making people laugh and think simultaneously. Indian stand-up comedy, especially when driven by self-deprecating humour, exemplifies this principle and highlights the transformative potential of laughter in challenging established norms and beliefs
Aesthetics · Art · Comedy · Conversation · Laughter · Literature · Media studies · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Transformative learning · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Humor Studies and Applications · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology · South Asian Cinema and Culture
Humour and the Margins
Humor as Rhetoric and Cultural Argument
They Used to Call Me Snow White . . . But I Drifted
‘Have You Not Got a Sense of Humour?’
Positives and negatives
Performing identity
Caste, gender, and “global Indian-ness”
The Funny Business of Being Tina Fey
When Draupadi says #MeToo
A new public sphere? English-language stand-up comedy in India
The Feminine Routine
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 4 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |