Official waning seen as a curb on feminist sentiment

The differences between men and women is a time-worn topic for stand-up. But authorities in China have ordered comedians to stop exploiting gender traits merely ‘for the sake of being funny’.

Instead, governors of the Zhejiang province have told comics they should be ‘constructive’ in any discussion of differences between the sexes. 

The diktat, issued on social media, has been seen as a move against comedians expressing feminist sentiments.

Criticism was levelled at stand-up that 'deviated from humour and simplified gender topics into pitting men and women against each other’.

‘Criticism is obviously fine, but it should be... constructive rather than revolve around gender opposition for the sake of being funny,’ said the message from the publicity department of the Zhejiang district.

It criticised comedians for seeking online attention above material that had ‘value’ and warned that jokes about male characteristics could be seen as ‘attacking all men’, while jokes about women could be labelled misogynistic. 

The bureaucrats got very specific in their advice to comedians, saying: ‘Instead of mocking "blindly confident men" it is better to explore the social causes for this mentality. Instead of blindly ridiculing "materialistic women", it is better to reflect on how consumerism shapes gender roles.’

They urged comedians to reveal ‘life’s absurdities through light-heartedness and bridge division with laughter’ and concluded: ‘We sincerely hope that the rising stand-up comedy scene can become more rational and profound, with less division and more understanding.’

The warning, reported by the South China Morning Post, did not name any specific comedians, but called out the show The King Of Stand-up Comedy on streaming platform iQiyi.

A set from Fan Chunli recently went viral on that series as she spoke about her abusive marriage, earning a standing ovation when  she revealed she had left her husband – despite her rural family thinking it was ‘shameful’ she would do such a thing.

In 2020, another comic, Yang Li, was the target of online abuse when she joked about her dating troubles, asking: ‘How can men be so ordinary yet so confident?’

Published: 23 Jul 2025