0:09  
As with many industries, the comedy industry is dominated by men. In 2016 comedian and writer Meredith Kachelle found that in about 20 American comedy shows only 30% of those guests were women. It's not uncommon for women to be a second thought on and offstage. Rayanne Langdon has been doing improv shows for just over three years. She has been taking classes at Second City, the Assembly and other comedy associations all over Toronto. Rayanne has been troubled by how she has seen the way women are treated in this

0:40  
In this community, one thing that I love is, it's unforgiveable to be a shitty man. There's not a lot of communities like that. Everyone in the comedy community is afraid they're going to end up on x website or like be talked in whatever thread. It shouldn't have to exist that way for someone to take that mentality.

1:04  
On stage however, men still tend to claim more spotlight and experience less pressure to be amazing.

1:11  
Men will be louder and like take up more space and then women become smaller on stage because of it. You know, a guy can come out like so casually, like enter the stage and just be like him. Yeah, what are we doing here today? Uh, yeah, what am I gonna do and like, start start that way and like, get a laugh and then just go into whatever joke. But if a woman came out and was like, just not immediately just like, punch line to the gut, everyone will be so pissed. There is more pressure to be like, confident and not let people see that your weak.

1:49  
The pressure women feel doesn't just come from the audience's expectation. Doing improv has made Rayanne realize that women are expected to play a certain role by their fellow performers

1:58  
Like women will be kind of given gross positions to be in scenes if chosen by a dude. Like they'll walk out and be like, oh, my sweet wife and you're like, cool I'm a fucking wife. Great.

2:17  
Do the cars in cars have health insurance, or car insurance?

2:23  
This is Asia Bachman, a 17 year old from Arizona. Who uses Tik Tok a social media app for people to share comedy or entertainment videos. a high school senior is not a comedian or an entertainer, but uses the app to perform her best jokes and be hilarious for her followers.

2:40  
I really liked the quick format. Sometimes you can't carry on something in a YouTube video. And I felt like like I've tried making YouTube videos, but it just is not as like it doesn't feel as freeing as TikTok does. 

2:54  
Asia has nearly 400,000 followers on Tiktok. If you think about it, that's like performing at seven pact Rogers Centers.

3:01  
I don't think I've mentally grasped that I have that much of a following. Because if I did, I don't think I'd be posting the things I am but I'm glad that I don't have a grasp of like how many people following me so I can be more free.

3:16  
Having a platform like Tik Tok relieve some of those in real life pressures that come with performing on stage for women. Whether that be through seeing other men perform or having to please an audience on Tik Tok Asia gets to create whatever she wants however she wants. But that does not completely erase the backlash one may get on the app. Asia is a young woman of color and will face different intersections of oppression on tik tok users are able to record and share their reactions to other videos. So she has seen boys react to her comedy bits by fake laughing or showing that they're not really impressed by her content.

3:51  
Race wise as well, I've gotten a few Asian slurs. But I think humor is the way to let people realize that women are more than just people who do makeup and beauty videos like we have more to ourselves. I'm just really proud that I'm posting things that I'm passionate about and not worrying about what people think of me. And I'm fortunate enough mentally to be able to do that a lot of people can't do that. But I'm glad that I've kind of moved on and been like, yeah, I may be a woman but I am funnier than you so. I love that. 

4:31  
Asia is becoming more and more comfortable being funny and expressing herself on tik tok so much that it has become a potential start to a comedic career. She's gaining experience performing in front of an audience and making them laugh.

4:43  
It's great just because you reach so many people, the reaction is instant. And you can tell if it's good or bad, so I do think it's a good place to practice. Rayanne even uses Tik Tok to create her own niche content with memes and jokes specifically about the improv community. As a woman in her 30s, she just wants to know what Generation Z are laughing at these days. For the most part, Tik Tok is a very positive and encouraging community.

5:09  
There'll be like a 50 year old lady being like, I don't know what I'm doing here, but I'm just doing my best. People are like, yes, girl you slay. You look incredible. I hope I look good when I'm your age. And it's very nice.

5:23  
Those positive comments find their way to Asia's profile to her followers have told her that she should be a comedian because she has a potential to be really funny.

5:33  
And it also helps you kind of decide if you want to do that for a living, you know, I never thought of it that way. I've always aimed for something else, but all of a sudden this is happening and like, well, maybe

5:43  
As young women of Gen Z grow up with tik tok and other social media apps. The concept of being comfortable behind a screen really has come to play a role in their self confidence. These apps have become a training ground for young women, dealing with trolls and getting tougher skin, practicing their entertainment abilities and handling a group of followers is practice for a potential career in comedy. They may not even realize it.

6:07  
Personally, I don't think I'm that funny. But then I I love rewatching my own videos, but who knows? It kind of depends. I'm kind of early in my Tik tok career as they say so we'll see what the future holds. That'd be pretty cool though. So why do you want to be a comedian? For the free stool and water.