In our culture, whenever we see someone with a defeated posture, bowed head, and slumped shoulders, as if the weight of the world rests upon them, our surge of empathy is immediately reflected in telling them, “Laugh, and the whole world laughs with you.” We all grew up with the belief that laughter is the best medicine. Research has also highlighted this fact, with several reports showing the benefits of laughter in increasing our pain tolerance, improving cardiac health, and enhancing our psychological and social well-being.
However, the benefits of humor only apply when it is genuinely funny and not when it relies on offensive stereotypes. Disparagement humor, which amuses through the denigration of a social group, drives punchlines and anecdotes to be woven out of marginalized groups, their struggles, and the social stigma they face. If you’re done with laughing at sexism or homophobia, and everything in between, below is a list of comedians who passed our test.
Shaden Esperanza
Unabashed, angry, and funny, the Lebanese Shaden Faqih, who goes by Shaden Esperanza, has utilized her shows and short videos on social media to make people laugh while bringing to the mic all the taboos and political issues one can think of. Unapologetically political and publicly queer, her shows, with unparalleled wit and thought-provoking topics, advocate for human rights and queer rights, while her punchlines abound with severe criticism of bigotry, homophobia, and political corruption.
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With Khawater being her latest stand-up comedy show following Chia Seeds and Lakad Inta** el Wade3, the queer comedian has achieved remarkable success and made it to international stages across Europe and Canada. If there is one thing to be learned from her journey, it would definitely be that being true to oneself is the only way to do things right.
Reem Nabil
In Egypt’s male-dominated stand-up comedy industry, Reem Nabil shine as one of the most authentic, bold, and entertaining voices. Her reach has extended beyond her homeland to be a recognizable face in the region thanks to her participation in the inaugural season of Comedy Central Arabia, where she was the only Egyptian female comedian featured. Her calm voice and contagious laughter can be easily identified by those who tune into the Gen Z comedy show Cake Peace or her co-hosted podcast Kabarni during lunch breaks or hours of commuting.
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Beyond her bold performances and frequent appearances on TV, Nabil has also dedicated herself to putting women in the spotlight by launching “Comedy Sett,” a collective dedicated to the performances of female comedians. The space aims at pushing boundaries and delivering extreme satire that challenges conventions and expectations.
Hatoon Kadi
Heavily influenced by her upbringing and childhood, Saudi comedian Hatoon Kadi turned her personal experiences and anecdotes into memetic content to shed light on the issues, needs, and struggles of women in her country. As the “rebellious sibling” and the “hard-to-manage child,” she built on her not-so-calm youth to become the woman who utilizes her voice in a YouTube series Noon Al Niswa to highlight the societal pressures, gender norms, and cultural constraints faced by women, especially Saudi ones. From marriage, divorce, and body-shaming to male guardianship and women’s driving rights, the millennial comedian is vocal about every issue, without pretending to offer solutions or placing blame. With every sketch, Kadi’s humor and storytelling resonates deeply with her audience, earning her notable fame with over 300,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and 90,000 followers on Instagram.
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Hosting 65 episodes with diverse topics, the Saudi activist and creative established her name as one of the first satirical content creators in her country. As for now, she has found new ways to express her creativity as a podcast host and writer. In her comprehensive autobiography, Between Two Generations, readers can gain more insights about her story, and Saudi women are able to feel less alone.
Eman Khallouf
With Jordanian, Palestinian, and Turkish roots, it’s not that simple to place comedian Eman Khallouf in a box. Inspired by her mother, who would often tell her that her sharp tongue would pay off, she entered the world of comedy to practice her public speaking skills, only to find herself the first female comedian to present stand-up comedy shows in Arabic in the UAE. With more than 200 shows in the UAE and international cities like Berlin and Montreux, the 43-year-old comic proves that there isn’t a single way to do stand-up, challenging the mainstream norms. She is the vocal feminist comedian we enjoy listening to and the Arab, but not so Arab, figure we can relate to.
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After relocating to Berlin, she wasted no time in playing an active role in the field by producing events with all-female Arab comedy lineups and partaking in various comedy festivals and shows. Her contributions have significantly enriched Berlin’s burgeoning Arabic stand-up comedy scene, showcasing her dedication to creating spaces for diverse voices and perspectives.
