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"?

To be fair in this context neither sex nor gender matter.

I'm now really hoping that OP is a Lion Tamer.

Small scale sexism that pervades..You are a performer, the men are performers. You're still performing regardless of what type of genitals you have, so there is no need to add any extra labels.

Oh no - now I have the Monty Python Career's Advice sketch in my head!

The hobby is fairly obvious tbf

"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?"

This ^

I own a performing troupe of guinea pigs. My most talented cavy does impersonations of Trump, however I've recently welcomed a Boris lookalike to my brood.

This reminds me of the signs you used to see outside pubs not all that long ago (still do occasionally), which proclaim "Wednesday: "Sharon" - Female singer!" To be fair, they did sometimes bill Colin as a "Male singer!" when he was on on the Monday. Apart from the name being a dead giveway of the sex of the performer (and the fact that the default for a solo-named performer is always going to be 'singer'; anyway), it seems a very unimaginative and unenticing way of encouraging the punters. Makes me think of that episode of The IT Crowd, where Jen is acclaimed as a 'Go-getter', Moss is lauded as a 'Genius' and Roy is unimpressively described as 'The man from Ireland'!

It is utterly ridiculous, though. As with the 'lady doctor' thing, it's almost a way of feeling the need to 'warn' people that they won't be getting what they're undoubtedly expecting (with the unspoken idea that they will probably be disappointed); and, as has been said, your name and picture make it plain from the very beginning.

Having said that, there was a special 'Ladies' Night' Live At The Apollo special recently which deliberately only featured female comedians. There was also a 'Pride Special' featuring only gay comedians. Maybe I'm unusual, but I tend to choose comedians based on how funny I find them rather than their sex or sexuality....

Aside from the outdated sexism thing, it's such a pathetic and mundane way to choose to define somebody, rather than 'internationally-acclaimed' or 'award-winning' etc. It's as ludicrous as going to a comedy night billed as featuring "Comedy Davies Night!!! Greg Davies - tall comedian! Alan Davies - average-height comedian! Hosted by Warwick Davies - short presenter!"

YANBU OP. This sort of thing is so irritating as it suggests men are always the default, the standard, and women are 'the other'. I follow equestrianism and the number of times commentators refer to elite level competitors as "one of the best lady riders..." with no equivalent sex-based qualifier when commentating on the men's rounds is both ridiculous and patronising. This is despite the fact that two out of three current individual World Champions in the Olympic equestrian disciplines and one of the three current Olympic gold medallists - so precisely 50% of the current top level champions in the sport worldwide - are women. Or the fact that equestrianism is one of the very, very few sports where men and women compete on equal terms.

Aside from the outdated sexism thing, it's such a pathetic and mundane way to choose to define somebody, rather than 'internationally-acclaimed'

Exactly. My vagina doesn't define my comedy.

The only thing I don't get about this, OP, is why you haven't just simply told them you'd rather be referred to as a performer.

You make some very good points and I agree with all of them.

But I can't help thinking the majority of men I know would have mentioned it by now. I can't imagine them running it past an internet forum.

That's not a dig btw, just me saying stop thinking and just say something.

"Female performer" does sound really odd and old fashioned, and I would initially assume that it is a performance of something that only a woman can do, such as demonstrate some process involving a vagina (don't laugh, I've seen Sticky Vicky in Benidorm (unfortunately)).

I complained to the BBC about "womens' football" being advertised as being shown on tv whereas there was no comparable "mens' football". I got some arsy, arrogant reply back basically saying it was a traditional name because the international footballing associations called it "womens' football". It does sound silly these days.

But I can't help thinking the majority of men I know would have mentioned it by now. I can't imagine them running it past an internet forum

I've asked a few people irl and quite a few have told me IBU. But also, I was curious what other people thought. You're a prolific poster in AIBU - lets be honest, most questions on there dont need to be asked.

Yes I agree most questions don't need to be asked but you seem 100% sure that you're right.

Either way, I can't imagine simply mentioning it will have any kind of detrimental effect.

Go for it.

I have mentioned it worra - apparently it's like male nurses and ballet dancers.

I’m taking a guess that this is stand up? It’s ridiculous you’re being labelled as a female performer, ‘comedienne’ went out with the ark. I’d ask them not to, it’s patronising to you, to other female acts and to the audience who can tell perfectly well that you’re female and it has no bearing on your act.

Also, I’m very interested in your guinea pigs. Please can you let us know when and where you’re next gigging?

Ffs of course yanbu

Everyday sexism again

I know this is somewhat off-topic but, @QualCheckBot and others, why should e.g. the team we all understand "Manchester United" has meant for 100+ years (i.e. the men) now have to be referred to as "Manchester United Men" or something similar because of the more recent presence of a women's team representing the same club?

Please can you let us know when and where you’re next gigging?

It's a very niche show, I'm looking at booking out my local pets at home next month. Good way to add to the troupe as well.

@UnderperformingSeal

I agree there - same kind of principle as the UK doesn't have to include our name on postage stamps when every other country does, because we invented them!

Can you incorporate it into your act? Show them up for how absurd they are in front of all the people there?

Egg on suggest to the audience members that they might wish to bombard contact the management/box office with emails and phone calls to enquire as to the sex of all of the male performers, where their sex hasn't been stated, "because you seem to have been negligent in forgetting to give us this vital information without which we couldn't possibly decide if we'd like to come to the show or not." Don't forget, it's strictly one call/email per performer, even if there are lots on in the same show!

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll
the UK doesn't have to include our name on postage stamps when every other country does, because we invented them!

Er, do they have to? Says who? Or do they just all choose to?

contact the management/box office

Haha, you're definitely over estimating my abilities as a performer! In fairness to actual clubs, they wouldn't do that. It's more small scale gigs it happens at.

Obviously you’ll have to put up with the inevitable guinea pig Fleabag comparisons. Lady female comediennes can only do something vaguely similar once every other decade.