Let’s get one thing out of the way. We shouldn’t be in a position where we have to section off and commandeer part of the Edinburgh Fringe as specifically ‘feminist’. This is 2015, for chrissakes.
Anyway. Women’s groups in Scotland (YWCA Scotland and Endgender) are launching a project with the hashtag #FeministFest during the Fringe. They’ll bring women who might not otherwise have gone to the festival, give them review training and send them to shows.
On the face of it, this is a very good idea. Give more people the chance to see comedy in Edinburgh, let them meet and interview some funny folks, everyone wins. The women reviewing the shows will be from all over Scotland, a range of ages and personalities. That’s also great.
If only this lovely idea about giving feminists more of a voice was part of the Fringe by default. The idea popped up out of the continued lack of women in comedy and the sexism that goes with it. But, especially in Edinburgh, you can see that the tide is starting to turn.
As articles on this project explain, the Fringe is already bursting with shows that cover gender identity, rights and women’s issues. Quite a few shows are by feminist comics.
The powers that be at Fringe shows have also responded warmly and encouragingly to the initiative, offering free show tickets and exclusive interviews with performers. Isn’t that nice? With accessibility to comedy still an issue – price, travel, physical obstacles, etc. – the Fringe’s extended hand is a fabulous gesture.
And women do go to comedy shows. It might not be a 50/50 audience split, but they go. Many of those women (we hope) are feminists. They may well give the show a shoutout on Twitter or write about it on their blog.
We’re looking forward to seeing the coverage from #FeministFest. We’re also looking forward to the day when we don’t have to push feminism as something separate from the rest of the Fringe. Keep track of show reviews on their website – and check back with Funny Women for plenty of coverage of our own.
