To not like being described as a "female performer"

[Funnyfemale]

I have a hobby in a male dominated industry. I have been described as a "female performer" more than once whilst men are simply "performers" or "acts".

I'm frustrated by this because my being female has no effect on my performance.

What do you think? Would I be unreasonable to ask not to be "promoted" (I use that very loosely as I'm a beginner and amateur) as a female act when men arent described as "male acts"?

Why is the hobby always shrouded in mystery on MN?

The hobby is fairly obvious tbf

depends what it is that you do - knowing if it was a male or female performer may well sway my choice to choose to see one performer over another performer eg I would rather listen to a male opera singer than a female opera singer as I prefer the sound of a male opera voice. Similarly, if I was going out with a group of male friends I might choose to see a female comic rather than a male comic

What performance do you do OP?

Crumple - theres no need to say it though. You can tell by my photo and female pronouns.

Is your username ironic or do you also refer to yourself as a funny female?!

theres no need to say it though. You can tell by my photo and female pronouns.

Not these days - it’s probably ‘literal violence’ to assume you’re a woman due to looking like one and being called a woman’s name. You also need to wear a multi coloured badge and have your pronouns and sexuality clearly marked on it, to make sure everyone is clear!

YANBU.
Not so long ago (it seems to me!) there were, I remember, such commonly used monstrosities as “lady doctor”, “authoress” “poetess” etc. (though “actress” seems to endure without much complaint for some reason 🤷🏻‍♀️ )
It is othering. It is making a point of saying someone is not a “normal” whatever. Why the need to point a that someone is a female something? Is it a warning? Why should being female be a USP?
Very annoying.

I prefer male voices too, but I tend to know who I’m going to see because of their name, picture, bio etc.

The hobby is fairly obvious tbf
Why be so coy about it then? Why not just say "I do x" instead of "I have a hobby"?

Describing the OP as a "female performer" when the men are just "performers" is very 19th century.

Yes. It’s like “lady doctor” or, one from my own employement history “directress”

Is your username ironic or do you also refer to yourself as a funny female?!

Its irony.

I phrased it like that because whether its comedy, singing, interpretive dance or something else it's not relevant. And also, it's fairly common to see it phrased as "a hobby" on mn so I followed that.

The funniest one I’ve heard recently (and it’s not strictly speaking a form of employment) is FORNICATRIX.

HPLikecraft Actress is being phased out in the industry. I think it's only persisted as long as it has because whether you're male or female can actually be reasonably relevant in casting. But the actor/actress distinction does shape expectations that men are the default and women should go for the special Actress (read Love Interest...) roles. So you get films in which 80% of the main characters are men, except for the one that had to be a woman.

YANBU at all, OP. It baffles me that people respond to this kind of complaint by saying it's not worth bothering about, and apparently fail to see that it's part of a much, much bigger picture of casual sexism which frankly has no place in 2019.

For all those saying this is fine, not a big deal, would you say the same if a person of colour was being promoted as a black performer?

People here are being deliberately obnoxious. Of course you shouldn't have your sex added to your title, it's got nothing to do with it.

Have you had a look at Funny Women, OP? Or there's a FB group for female comics, well, actually, it's for anyone who identifies as a female so there's a person on there who manages to make it all about them, but, that's same as it ever was.

They'll not even realise they are doing it. Tell the promotor, they'll stop. Eventually.

YANBU

I don't think it's a big issue myself

Of course it's an issue.
To quote Skunk Anansie - "Yes, it's fucking political".

OP is a performer. There is no need to describe her as a "female performer". To do so is to tacitly admit that male is seen as the default position, but to be female is somehow alternative, & not accepted as mainstream.

It is very "othering".

OP - why is your hobby obvious? I haven't grasped it yet, comic, magician, juggler, clown, lion tamer?

wtf is it?

@Funnyfemale this thread has been a bit righteous indignation/heated so far...could I offer an alternative viewpoint without fear of being called a misogynist?

You're a female performer and you don't want your sex to be your description.

Fair enough - your opinion is THE opinion as you're the performer, and you're female. If it makes you feel uncomfortable (or worse) that someone is differentiating for what seems like no good reason ,then I don't think there's any argument here.

However my alternative viewpoint was simply around marketing. Unless you're extremely famous (you might be..) then surely you want people to come and see your act.

Presumably what someone did, is ham-fistedly take the "differential" route and marketed you using the female tag.

They did this I guess to try and get more people looking at the listing, to sum up curiosity and interest if you're distinct in a male dominated field.

Now if you feel that whatever increase in interest/booking would be a betrayal of your beliefs on not differentiating by sex? Fair enough and admirable in principle.

Isn't it worth however speaking to the people who write this stuff, and understand why they put "female performer" as I would hazard a bet they're trying to sell their night/your act to more people?

Oh come on people always desperate to know details of the OPs profession or hobby - why?! Do you also need the OPs full name, address and date of birth before you can comment?

Maybe the OP doesn't want to use a mumsnet post to let the world know who she is. If a person gives details here and there in a series of posts about different topics, it's quite possible for friends/family/colleagues to realise who the person is. I recognised someone a few years ago, in a post where she mentioned a hobby and in a later post mentioned her daughter's age and referred to her husband's recent surgery.

Keeping some details private means you don't have to name change all the time.

GinDaddy

I doubt so much thought has gone into it. On this occasion the only other female act has also been described as female. I dont think its marketing as much as it's thoughtless.

Your SEX is female, OP. Wile I agree that it is sexist to promote you as a female performer and men, as simply performers, I just can’t let that ‘I’m of the female gender’ crap slide past. wanders of grumbling about gender being a load of made up bollox

*while