Vickie is a translator-turned-writer and model-turned-standup-comedian from Taipei. She had worked as a writer and editor for Disney, LEGO, and Gensler. She’s been living in Shanghai for 8 years with her two cats, Tigger and Nutella. 

Why did you wait before, and why are you not waiting anymore?

As someone who “does words for a living,” I’ve had this perpetual struggle between speaking my mind and staying silent and palatable. It years before I decided to stop waiting to feel ready (or maybe the more accurate term is safe) to do my first open mic. I wish I could say it’s been smooth sailing since. There’s a cost to speaking up and speaking out when you’re a woman: harassment, stalking, casual gendered put-down’s. Some days it still feels like the price is too high. But every time I get off stage and a woman (or 4) tells me “oh my, that was so cathartic, I can’t believe you said onstage what I’ve been feeling all this time!” It’s so, so worth it. 

Everyone’s got 5 minutes of comedy material in her. Stop waiting and sign up for a mic. We need more women’s voices out there.