A friend recently asked me: "Would you have a problem if your significant other went to a strip club?"
My gut reaction was that this was simply the wrong question. It's an unfair throwing down of the gauntlet, I find, that implicitly dares women to admit worry their man might slip, or compare her later to an overly buxom, tanned anonymous goddess they paid to see. And, clearly, these aren't good enough reasons to ruin a guy's weekend.
Of course, I hate to be outdone in an argument, so to put a quick band-aid on a logical bullet wound, I deferred to my own personal experience: accidentally finding myself in a Chilean strip club. I was the only woman in the club, and I remember how the women seemed sadly, yet desperately delighted, by my presence. Like for once they had a client who would actually appreciate something real about them. And who probably wouldn't take the menu up on its offer to "consumir una dama", despite the fact they were priced only slightly above un café or un jugo de naranja.
But I do prefer research-driven logic to emotional appeals, so I made up my mind to respond through blog at a later time.
My own views on reducing sexuality to a commodity aside, I was objectively horrified by my review of the literature.
Apart from moral compunctions about women trotting about in the buff, there are serious social justice issues that dissuade me from feeling comfortable with strip clubs, and obliterate my respect for anyone who insists they are a harmless form of entertainment.
For starters, most strip clubs employ women as independent contractors. Yet unlike other contract workers, they have little or no control over their hours or the fees they charge for services. Some clubs demand mandatory tips to bouncers and DJs as well.
Because they receive no base salary, strippers often feel pressure to perform an increasing variety of private services for clients, in order to remain competitive with co-contractors (Jeffries, 2008). Such services may include the ever-popular lap dance, and bed dancing, which both involve grinding against men, oftentimes until they - ahem - achieve sexual "release".
Then there's wall dancing, which I didn't even know about and kinda wish I didn't. Wall dancers carry alcohol wipes to sanitize men's fingers before they dance against them. Men stand stationary against a wall, and women dance with one leg lifted. I'll let you guess why men's fingers need to be sanitized first. Or you can read all about it here.
When questioned about private services like these, women interviewed for this study responded with answers like:
"We were allowed to place towels on the guys' laps, so it wasn't so bad."
"I don't want him to touch me, but I'm afraid he'll say something violent if I tell him 'no'."
"I don't remember because it was so embarrassing."
In addition to increasing market demand for private services, which often jeopardize their safety, women may be fined by club owners for talking to back to or fighting with customers.
Dancers may be fined for calling in sick, too. They also have to pay to dance, in the same way that stylists rent salon booths. One study reports that with all these charges, women in the U.K. forfeited 35% of their pay to club owners (Gatton, 2003).
The greatest justice concern for me is the acts of violence repeatedly perpetrated against women. (A close second is human trafficking) With the post-60s de-censorship of the industry, women now dance a lot closer to men, which makes them far more physically vulnerable.
Over 70% of women surveyed by Holsopple (1998) said that they had at least once experienced each of the following: being grabbed by the arm, waist, or ankle, licked, punched, pinched, having their costumes ripped off, and/or having coins thrown at them. Many had also been kicked, slapped, and/or had had beer, ice, or garbage thrown at them. Survey respondents said that this behavior was endured from clients and the people they worked for.
During private services, performed in private rooms, the risk for assault increases. Many dancers report "digital rape" and clients pushing them to perform sexual acts (Associated Press, 2006).
There are additional health risks. They don't get sick time, so strippers must occasionally dance while sick. They are in close proximity to men, who, barring pre-wall-dance alcohol swabbing, are unlikely to be in the most hygienic state when they grab/scratch/lick dancers performing on stage. There is the risk of getting clients' bodily fluids on you while performing private services. If not an actual threat for STIs, it's just plain gross. Dancers are also highly encouraged to tan regularly and undergo breast augmentation surgery.
And let's not forget the psychological detriment that many strippers endure. Many women have difficulty leaving the trade because they think they can't do anything else; find their personal romantic relationships negatively impacted; and have the psychological damage associated with repeated verbal and physical abuse (Holsopple, 1998). Some strippers also engage in regular alcohol consumption or marijuana use to "get them in the mood" for a show. After hours stalking is another serious issue.
Now I get that all this doesn't go on at every strip club. But how, guys (and gals), do you know it's not happening at the club you're going to? I mean do you research the places you're going, 'cuz I've never heard anyone say, "Don't worry, honey, I already researched it and made sure that acts of violence are rare and not tolerated by management, and the ladies get paid sick time and have a union."
I am shocked by the logical fallacy of otherwise intelligent men, who have a social conscience about human trafficking, molestation, and healthy work environments in all other contexts, but yet just can't seem to extend their daytime values to their nighttime activities.
Instead of worrying about what permission, or lack thereof, suggests about the women in their lives, the real question men should investigate is, "What kind of man does going to a strip club make me?"
I'd say desperately uncreative and unable/unwilling to question the status quo.
Holsopple's subjects would answer: "scum, psycho mama's boys, rapists and child molesters, old perverted men, idiots, assholes, and pigs... [they are] pitiful and pathetic, stupid and ignorant, sick, controlling and abusive. They smell so sour, they breathe very heavy and kind of wheeze when women are near. They are weak abusers who have to subordinate women and girls to feel like a man... I am repulsed by the sight, sound, smell, and touch of them... I'm embarrassed for them."