Standup comedian Heiress Jacinta Ocansey has expressed concern about how female comedians get limited opportunities and payment for their roles in the industry.
According to her, female comedians are paid less as compared to their male counterparts, making it hard for them to fully embrace comedy.
In an interview with the media, the talented comedian lamented that she discovered from her male colleagues that they were offered a significantly higher amount for the same project; thus, she began turning down gigs to be in the same parallel with her male colleagues.
“I mean, our industry is so small such that I could pick up my phone and call my colleagues and say, ‘Guy, how far these people calling? Have they called you?”
“So what figures are we playing with so that all appear to be on the same page? And then I realized that, Okay, I’m being offered GH¢5 and offering other people GH¢10.”
“I’ve turned out offers before because I know that you’re paying others way more. I am aware that you’re paying others way more, whatever it is,” she said.
In moving forward, Jacinta said she bargained for satisfactory amounts and kept turning down offers that did not meet her requirements.
Jacinta further indicated that she was denied some opportunities due to perceptions some event organizers have against female comedians, citing one event organizer who described women as “difficult to manage.”
She found it unfair that women in the industry were being measured not based on their qualifications and abilities but on their gender.
Source: Ghana/MaxTV/MaxFM/max.com.gh/Joyceline Natally Cudjoe
