Verbal Wit and Genital Selection
These two theories were proposed by Victor Raskin and Salvatore Attardo. By the way, this theory was known as the semantic script theory of humour. It suggests a semantic pattern that expresses incompatibilities between semantic scripts in verbal wit. In some specified sense, it was a revolutionary discovery in the wit theory.
The theory of genital selection was put forward by the evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller. It stresses the fact that wit couldn't survive in the savannas of Africa from an evolutionary perspective. He claims that culture in general (and wit in particular) is affected by the sexual selection. He affirms that wit appeared as an indicator of other characteristics that are of survival value, such as human intelligence.
It is remarkable that the opinion in respect of female humorous inferiority prevailed in Europe up to the twentieth century. It wasn't only about wit but it was in general anti-female mainstream. Woman was considered to be an inferior human creature that wasn't capable of committing serious actions or undertaking responsibility, that's why it was considered that ladies didn't need education, proper social upbringing and anything of the kind. In the same way, wit was regarded as the absolutely male element.