Quote #200207
There are 10-20 times more male comics than female comics it’s something to do with the social structure of society.
Jo Brand
About This Quote
This quote needs no introduction—at least for now. We're working on adding more context soon.
Interpretation
Brand is pointing to the gender imbalance in stand-up comedy as a structural phenomenon rather than a matter of individual talent or preference. By attributing the disparity to “the social structure of society,” she implies that access, encouragement, gatekeeping, and cultural expectations shape who feels entitled to take the stage, who gets booked, and whose humor is treated as authoritative. The “10–20 times” claim functions rhetorically to stress scale: even if the exact ratio varies by scene and era, the perceived dominance of men is large enough to demand explanation beyond personal anecdotes. The quote aligns with Brand’s broader public commentary on sexism in entertainment and the ways comedy circuits can mirror wider inequalities.




