First of all, I want to point out that I'm a newbie to the site and technically not even in the business yet. On those grounds, feel free to disregard what I say (as opposed to flaming me for ignorance, which I'm admitting upfront). On the other hand, I've done quite a bit of research into the topic of strippers and strip clubs (I've always found them interesting and I had a nice liberal English teacher last semester), and one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the flagrant use of the word "prostitute" to describe other hookers. I've interviewed a friend of mine on the subject a couple of times, and (according to her) the girls often say things like, "She let this guy touch her nipples, she's such a prostitute" or "She gave him that dance for $10, she's such a whore." In a recent thread on one of these forums, there's been some disagreement/name calling on the subject.
Thanks to the fact that our "founding fathers" were extremely fundamentalist Puritans, in our society the word "prostitute" has always had enormously negative implications. The dictionary definition alone [1. One who solicits and accepts payments for sex acts, 2. One who sells one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose] is extraordinarily biased. Wanting to distance oneself from the term is perfectly understandable. As one person on the aforementioned thread said, "Yes, this is the sex industry, but being a dancer DOESN'T mean you have to give it out."
But as this same person just pointed out, yes, this is the sex industry. It's true that much of this business is illegal, and it is also true that the line between what is legal and illegal is fuzzy and often indiscriminately applied, by police, judges, etc. It's also true that a stripper/exotic dancer/burlesque entertainer is not the same thing as a prostitute, at least not in the specific sense. What is also true is that strippers and prostitutes, like it or not, are in the same boat. The fact that one of the occupations is marginally legal has nothing to do with it. We're on the same side of the coin. When we contribute to the negative stereotype of prostitutes, we're hurting ourselves more than them. It's not the girls who give "extras" that are giving us a bad name; it's the contributions we make to the general fear and revulsion that surrounds the word "prostitute." If we stomp a hole in our boat, it's going to sink. It doesn't matter if we draw a line and then only stomp on the side with the prostitutes. We're going to drown right along with them.
Why do so few people have respect for prostitutes? We're all trying to make a living, some in a slightly different way from others. You'd think strippers would be among the more accepting of the idea of selling sex, considering that that's basically what we do. Yes, it's in a different form, but it's still the same idea. Is there anyone else out there who thinks that prostitutes (and strippers, for that matter) should be afforded the same respect as someone who works a 9 to 5 job?
(Apologies if I've stepped on anyone's toes. This is something I've been fed up with for quite a while, and I might have gone a bit overboard.)


)
Reply With Quote




Bookmarks