Strippers
deserve respect
Lara
Loewenstein
Near the end of my freshman year, some friends and I decided it would be great
fun to go to the SuicideGirls’ Burlesque show. And, other than the possibility
of being caught on the Sunset Strip while the Los Angeles police were enforcing
anti-cruising laws, it was exactly that — fun.
It never crossed my mind to assume the girls on stage were not enjoying themselves.
And the high-spirited, whipped cream and chocolate syrup fight that concluded
the show seemed to support my assumption.
I’ve even absent-mindedly teased myself with the fantasy of being a stripper.
Unfortunately, my issues with stage fright would render me a short-lived candidate.
But in terms of money, time and flexibility, being a stripper seems like the
perfect job for a college student.
More recently, with the exception of prostitution — which I believe to
be a separate issue — I’ve questioned whether all types of sex
work are appropriate and tried to form some sort of set opinions on whether
I believe sex work should be allowed or not.
However, I’ve decided that a simple opinion on this matter just isn’t
feasible.
A student and former sex worker who requested to be called Tabatha also has
a mixed view of sex work — stripping in particular. She initially decided
to try stripping after she graduated from high school because other jobs available
to her not requiring a college degree were unimaginative and restrictive, requiring
her to pay taxes and show up at certain times.
“
My time is worth more than $7 an hour,” Tabatha said. “Anybody’s
time is worth more than $7 an hour.”
She found a job at a club in the San Fernando Valley that didn’t require
her to fill out any paperwork. She was allowed to show up when she felt like
it and dance. She was paid by tips alone, which she found to be the case at
most strip clubs.
Since my freshman year, I have struggled with my opinions on what is appropriate
in terms of sex work. I used to believe that sex work was a way for women to
empower themselves, and that all sex work should be legal.
However, I’ve since come to realize by talking to people involved in
anti-human trafficking campaigns and sexual violence workshops that the sex
industry is riddled with problems.
While I don’t think all forms of sex work are inherently bad, or that
they should be made illegal (I still believe that under certain conditions
sex work can be empowering for certain people), I do believe we need to be
aware of the problems that exist within the sex industry.
“
People who just say (stripping) is empowering are kidding themselves,” Tabatha
said. “There are levels of degradation to it.” She said she did
not especially enjoy every aspect of being a stripper — “You do
feel violated and you do feel objectified,” – she also said she
enjoyed being rewarded, as opposed to punished, for her sexuality.
“
If girls have that kink, it can be powerful to be rewarded for your sexuality.
But I wouldn’t recommend it for people that are sensitive.”
While customers weren’t allowed to touch her, the owners of the club
encouraged Tabatha to touch the customers — it brought more of them into
the club.
While lap dances and touching were Tabatha’s least favorite parts of
her job, they were also how she received the most tips. VIP rooms were another
way to make more money, but she said she wasn’t comfortable with them.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, certain strip clubs are hotbeds
for sexual violence and prostitution — so much so that they have recommended
that the Los Angeles City Council require all strippers to remain six feet
away and on raised platforms with rails.
However, there are not any substantial statistics regarding the issue of violence,
prostitution and sexual abuse in strip clubs. Tabatha says she felt safe.
But according to the Polaris Project, sex trafficking might surpass drug trafficking
in the next decade to become the second-largest criminal industry, and victims
of sex trafficking can be found anywhere sex work exists.
This suggests there is some credibility to LAPD’s statement. But they
should be working to stop trafficking —not legal sex work — or
preventing strippers from lap dancing and touching.
I’ve come across various stereotypes associated with strippers while
talking to students. Either people think they’re sluts, trashy whores,
that they’re only in it for the money or they enjoy every aspect of what
they do — from lap dances to dancing on stage.
While these stereotypes may be true to a certain degree for some women, this
doesn’t change the fact that strippers need to be respected.
Ideally, there would be neither a demand for sex work nor economic needs that
lure people into the industry.
Unfortunately, sex sells. I can’t think of any situation in which there
wouldn’t be a market for sex work. And if we must live with the fact
sex work exists, we should ensure sex workers are kept safe and not discriminated
against.
“
I think it’s so arrogant of people who have never been in sex work, or
for women who have never been in the financial situation to make such a decision,
to pass judgment,” said Tabatha.
I certainly don’t have any experience working in the sex industry, but
I do have experience being judged because I write this column.
I really don’t feel comfortable judging sex workers. While it is an industry
riddled with violence and abuse, it shouldn’t be extended to include
the entire industry.
Sex workers, no matter their reason for being in the industry, need to be respected,
not judged.
This column originally appeared in the Daily Bruin at UCLA.
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