CajaCanarias Launches Initiative to Tackle Gender Inequality in Comedy
The CajaCanarias Foundation has launched the "You 'Laugh' Like a Girl" initiative to address gender inequality in the comedy industry, while simultaneously hosting a sold-out jazz performance as part of its ongoing cultural series in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The CajaCanarias Foundation has launched a new initiative this week to examine the challenges women face in the entertainment industry. Titled You "Laugh" Like a Girl, the program aims to address the gender gap and job insecurity that persist within the comedy world.
The first event, Comedy with Perspective, takes place this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Cultural Space in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The panel will feature comedians Jéssika Rojano, Sil de Castro, and Esther Gimeno Gascón, with Valeria Vegas moderating. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis, and further details are available on the foundation’s website.
The project goes beyond simple discussion, aiming to tackle systemic issues such as the hypersexualization of performers, ageism, and the tendency of production companies to treat female comedians as "diversity quotas" rather than valuing their work. The sessions will also explore how living on an island can hinder professional growth and how sexist behavior remains normalized in the industry. Additionally, the initiative will promote clown workshops and female-led shows as tools for empowerment.
In other news, the Foundation is continuing its Jazz Café series. This evening, the fourth edition of the event—which recreates the atmosphere of mid-century jazz clubs—will feature a performance by the Enrique Thompson & Revirado Project. The event is sold out; doors open at 7:00 p.m. for refreshments, with the music starting at 8:00 p.m. at the same venue in Santa Cruz.