Stripping research project
Hi everyone, one of my good friends from school sent me this Email in desperation that I help her with her research project. She's looking for 5 answers about stripping from strippers. Basically all of them are subjects we have on this board. If you could take the time to answer the questions we'd be helping her out a bunch, and maybe clearing up some misconceptions about dancing (at least to a few people)...
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to gather information from strippers to examine if any patterns immerge in their responses.
USE: Your answers will be used for scholarly research for a senior paper for Luther College. The paper may be published in a sociological journal. If selected by conference leaders, the paper may also be shared at the Iowa Sociology Meeting during the spring of 2004.
I. Create a name for yourself (optional).
II. Age:
III. Number of months you have stripped (count months with at least two shifts):
IV. Please describe:
A. How you got into stripping.
B. Why you started stripping.
V. Have you told your family that you strip?
A. If so, what did you tell them?
1. Did different family members hear different versions of your job description?
a) If so, why was this the case?
B. If not, why haven’t you told your family?
VI. Have you told your friends that you strip?
A. If so, what did you tell them?
1. Did different friends hear different versions of your job description?
a) If so, why was this the case?
B. If not, why haven’t you told your friends?
VII. How do you believe society (people around you) view strippers?
VIII. Describe your general attitude towards stripping.
Thank you for your time and participation. It is greatly appreciated.
Re: Stripping research project
;) ;) ;)I am Jasmine, I am 29 years old and have been dancing for 11 years. I got into stripping because I viewed dancers as beautiful women and since I was always introverted and thought that I was ugly and fat, I aspired to become a beautiful dancing girl. I answered an ad in the paper for dancers for bachelor parties and the person who placed the ad was an overweight, super nice kid (age 19 at the time) who was looking for a way to make money. After a couple of weeks of no bachelor parties, he took me to a local theater with the "behind the glass masturbation shows" and shows in between the pornos on the big screen a couple of times a day. This place eventually turned into the first "Juice Bar" in the state of Missouri and is still going strong, better than ever. I was the first one on the new stage and will always hold a special place in my heart for the club and the person that helped me find my desperately needed second home on the week on my 18th birthday. I left home at 14 and dancing is the only thing that has pulled me through emotionally, physically and finacially for all these years. I told my parents that I danced a few years after I started speaking to them again and don't really give two shits or a fuck what anyone thinks of me. Never really have. I only explain my job to those who are worthy of my time and the explanation is the same, I don't lie. Society in general views stripping and strippers as prostitutes. There are always a few bad apples that try to spoil the whole basket, but don't ever succeed. I, on the other hand, am deeply grateful that I found myself and a path to my true abilities through such a wonderful profession. I love it now and will forever.
Re: Stripping research project
I. Megan
II. 24
III. 6 years, pretty much consistantly.
IV. (A) A girlfriend of mine used to dance and randomly took me with her one day. I had no clue what to expect, what stripping was all about, etc...
(B) I continued to strip because I loved being an exibitionist, the undivided attention on stage and being "worshipped". Oh yeah, and the cash.
V. They ended up finding out thru my brother's friends. Hard for them at first, but quite accepting now. My mother even sews up my ripped costumes and asks me how work is going. She even once said to me (after telling her I had a bad night) "Tell 'em to start tipping better or I'm coming in and gonna make them tip!" (ha ha)
No different versions of my job were told, and two of my best friends are dancers. (one retired) They also were my friends before I danced. One became a dancer because of me, and my other friends are completely cool, we even all go out to the "tittie" bars together when I have off.
VII. I believe society in general has such a mixed viewpoint, that you can't really pinpoint it. The tellers at my bank know I dance (all the ones!) and they are sweet as pie to me, asking about my job here and there. But I also encounter complete a**holes who view me inferior because of what I do. There's no common ground.
VIII. I love my job and am not afraid to admit it to anyone. Some dancers abuse the job, and make it look bad for others, but that's just another obstacle for us to overcome. As long as I continue to take care of myself and look good, and feel good about myself, I'll continue dancing. I'm also smart about my money and my future.
Re: Stripping research project
I. Niki
II. 22
III. Started at 18--considering breaks, probably about 2 1/2, maybe 3 years.
IV. (A) I went into dancing completely on my own, knowing nothing and no one.
(B) I guess I started dancing because I didn't know what else to do at the time. I was in college, but nowhere close to a "good" job, and the general sentiment was that stripping was great money. And I figured I could do it, being both attractive and headstrong. Also, the flexibility and freedom of the job appealed to me (typical authority problems). My first experiences were wretched, but a blend of idealism and tenacity forced me to stay and see if it got better--which it did. As for now, I keep dancing for a number of reasons. Most of the time, despite the BS, I like my job. I like meeting people, having a social outlet in which I can be myself (mostly, at least), and feeling that I have an above average amount of self-control over my job and finances. I make decent money--more than I'm able to anywhere else at this point in my life, and I work less hours than anyone I know with a "straight" job. It is not my aspiration in life to be a career stripper, but for now, why the hell not?
V. I'm not close to most of my family, but the ones that I am (my mom and my brother) know what I do. (A) As soon as I got my first dancing job, I told my mom, and she was surprised, but accepting. I think she actually found it funny because I was always a tomboy and it seemed out of character. I'm sure she wasn't that pleased, but she's always allowed me to make my own decisions and she respects my right to do so. My brother doesn't care, and has been known to enjoy the titty bars himself on a regular basis (although he would never come to a place that I worked). (1) Yes, I tell my father that I'm a cocktail waitress. (a) I don't talk to my dad much (once or twice a year) and he's always been the protective, manly type, so I just don't think he needs to know. If he does, he doesn't say. I guess I'm just not comfortable discussing these kinds of things with him.
VI. I've had no problem telling anyone else that I know (or meet) that I'm a dancer. I describe it as it is (if they ask), and I'm not ashamed of it at all. Why be friends with someone who will judge me on such a thing? I've certainly had people be less than understanding, but I've never lost a friend over it. In general, there have been (and always will be) people who look down on me or treat me badly because of it, but I only feel sorry for them. And on the bright side, I think I've set a lot of unaware people straight on the realities of stripping, which hopefully made them think about it in a slightly different way.
VI. I think society as a whole views strippers in a very negative light. The majority of people know nothing about the industry, unless they have worked in it or been close to someone who has. From what I've encountered, it seems there's a basic idea that most strippers are sluts and coke-heads, or that they're girls who aren't bright enough to do anything "better" in life (I'm asked about these stereotypes quite often). But at the same time, there are a lot of guys with this opinion who would kill to boast about dating (or laying) a stripper. And there are a lot of women who seem to demonize dancers simply because of their own insecurities or because they see them as self-exploited, anti-feminist types, etc. Of course, there's always the religious aspect too--people who see the entire thing as sinful, and therefore, wrong. Regardless, I think the main problem, as far as these things go, is general ignorance and a lack of empathy, compassion, whatever you want to call it.
VIII. My attitude toward stripping is, I suppose, very contradictory. At its best, it is a beautiful art form, and a tool that can be used by women to get ahead in life, to be efficient with their money and their time while building a more secure future. And sometimes, it can be practically the only choice--especially for single, unskilled mothers who want to have time with their children and/or go to school at the same time. At its worst, though, stripping can be a very harsh form of life. It can be degrading, stressful, draining, self-destructive, etc. Used incorrectly, a girl will end up no better (or even worse) off when their time is over in the business. And there's no doubt that it's a corrupt industry. I hope that will change, but I don't have much hope, so I say use it while you can and get out.
Re: Stripping research project
I. Nikki
II. 27
III. I have been dancing since September of 1994
IV.
A. Started as a waitress, but was the worst EVER, and they were going to fire me!! My manager told me to think about getting my entertainer's license or I was out of a job!!
B. I needed a job, so I got my license and here I am!!
V.
A. At first I lied to my family and told them that I was a waitress (later a bartender) in a gay bar.
B. Later, when my brothers found out where I worked (via friends that saw me) I had no choice but to come clean, before they did!!
VI. Yes, all my friends know.
A. They even come and see me at work sometimes
VII. Alot of society (including my parents) believe that all strippers are drug addicted prostitutes, a crack-whore, if you will. There is usually some kind of preconceived notion about the wild life style that we all supposedly lead.
VIII. My attitude? It's a job, I have more freedoms than some, less than others, but where else can I only work for 4 hours, 3 days a week and be able to support myself and my daughter?
Re: Stripping research project
I. Shayden
II. 18 ---> 19 in Dec.
III. A couple months short of a year, not working at the moment.
IV.
A. I was always fascinated by stripping, just the whole idea of it but wasn't too keen on the ideas of being naked. Before I was 18 I would joke about it, the money was what motivated me and just before I turned 18 was when I started to get serious about it.
B. I really needed the money I was stuck in a job making min wage and I wanted to move out so badly. Boyfriend told me that I should really do it. So I did but almost a year later I'm not with him and back at my mom's house. But never regret that I did it.
V. Yes I have told my family.
A. I pretty much came out and told my mom and brother. The way I told my mom is I told her I bought a pair of shoes and then set the 6 inch platforms on the table. My brother, I worked it into the conversation by telling him I was going to buy a new car and he asked where I was getting the money and I said my new job. He asked where and I told him I'm a stripper.
I felt I needed to be honest with my mother, we're very close now and I lied enough to her when I was younger. This is something I enjoy and love and I don't want to have to hide it from her. She took it well and she supports me though she doesn't like the idea. My brother, I felt he needed to know so he doesn't go to my club one night and see me on stage and freak out. I didn't want to keep a secret from him either. (We live together) He took it very well and he's surprisingly supportive too (even though we never get along). I chose not to tell my father because I don't live with him and I hardly ever see him, he's judgemental, critical and has a double standard for everything. I thought it best not to even go down that road with him.
VI. All my friends know that I strip and don't really care. They all say more power to me that I can actually get up there and do that. One of my best friends is going to get a job with me at the new club I'm checking out and I know a lot of girls from high school who are also strippers.
A. Most of my close friends knew about it before it happened. No one was really surprised by it. The most flack I get is when they ask why do I want to do something like that, it's degrading, blah, blah, blah.
VII. Most people have the cliche Hollywood sterotype of strippers and that's what I get from most people. That it's degrading and dirty. But they are not on the inside and don't know what really goes on.
VIII. I love what I do! I don't care what people think of me and I could care less really. It's a job and you make good money and if I'm happy what I'm doing and I don't let it degrade me then let me do what I want. At least I'm happy.
Shayden :-*