Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.06.2019, Side 56

L IF E , T R AV EL & EN T ER TA INMEN T IN ICEL A ND
Issue 09 × 2019
June 7th—June 20th
www.grapevine.is
LAST WORDS
From The
Bottom Of My
Ovaries
Words: Kimi Tayler
Photo: Art Bicnick
“Wear that. It’s kooky and cute. That’s your
thing.”
This was my first taste of feedback from a
professional comedian before my first prop-
er gig in London. In this moment, I realised
I would rarely be judged equally beside my
male counterparts. How silly I was thinking it
should all be about the quality of my jokes! But
there was no womb for sensitivity or ovary-
action; if I wanted stage time it was made clear
that this kind of mansplanation was part of
the package. And so I began my journey into
stand up comedy.
Whilst there are brilliant women slaying
on the comedy scene in Reykjavík, like ev-
erywhere, we are few. When I ask myself why
there aren’t more, I only have to remember
all the times it was my appearance that was
“complimented,” instead of my jokes. I’ve been
told I have to work 20% harder because I own a
vagina, and numerous guys have said to me “If
you weren’t a lesbian I’d hit on you,” and much
worse. But as a comedian—necessarily, with a
certain degree of ego—the last thing you want
to lose is the mic. So you put up with it.
This thing that I love is so often a bastion
of misogyny, often under the guise of free-
speech, that it is rendered an intimidating
world to be situated within, both here in Ice-
land, and further afield. But as the scene be-
gins to diversify in Reykjavík, I watch other
comedians carve out new paths. The most
beautiful thing about humour is that it’s a
spectrum. Whilst I may be considered bio-
logically unfunny by many, fortunately there
are some who find my story about the time
someone shat on my car quite amusing. Which
is something of a relief.
Striking out on my own and running my
own nights is terrifying. It means I have to
work not just 20%, but 100% harder; but I’m
doing comedy on my own “kooky” terms. So
thank you, Iceland, for affording me the privi-
lege of a platform—thank you from the bottom
of my lovely-kooky-lady-ovaries.
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