Borders and Bridges in Gender Discourse: A Comparative Study of Feminist Stand-up Comedy in China and the United States

Abstract

This paper selects the textual content of Yang Li’s and Iliza’s stand-up comedy for a comparative analysis, aiming to foster a dialogue between Chinese and American feminist stand-up comedy. This research findings uncover numerous similarities as well as several noteworthy differences. Additionally, to further explore the female discourse in Chinese and American feminist stand-up comedy, this paper employed quantitative analysis to assess the audience sentiment in the comment sections of the two comedians’ videos, aiming to analyze the discourse power and expression rights of these two feminist comedians. The findings offer insight into the potential and difficulties faced by female comedians tackling gender problems by highlighting the cultural quirks and social attitudes toward feminist humor in both nations. In addition, the study looks at how these comedians’ performances affect the public conversation about feminism and gender equality, offering insights into how feminist comedy is changing in China and the US.