Opinion Look who’s joking

There are enough studies to show that most men overestimate their own sense of humour.

Science, if there is such an over-arching activity, should have better things to do than try and provide an empirical basis for stereotypes. “Are men really funnier than women?” is the title of an article by Gil Greengross in Psychology Today, where he discusses the findings of a study he conducted which shows that most people believe so. Greengross clarifies: “This stereotype is shared by both men and women — but of course, just because it exists does not mean it is true.” The study, according to the author, “means that to the best of our knowledge, on average, men appear to have higher humour production ability than women”.

After it was reported widely in the media this week, the study has unsurprisingly annoyed women, and women comedians. And, given the fact that there is an increasing number of professionally funny women, it is pointlessly provocative. Here’s how you find out if someone is funny, male or female. They make you laugh. For far too long, women have been told that they must laugh with others, boost the male ego, but never make themselves the centre of attention. And it is in this socially constructed constraint that the roots of measuring “humour production” likely lie.

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When women fake a laugh — giggle at the bad pun from their friends, family or paramours — the joke, in fact, is on men. There are enough studies to show that most men overestimate their own sense of humour. Like the emperor in his new clothes, they stare expectantly at their captive audience, feeling entitled to a polite laugh. And for too long, too many have been obliged. Perhaps the best way to break the stereotype that men are funny, and women less so, is to stop this charitable massaging of male egos.