sullster

There are two towns near me that are fighting the building of strip clubs. All this makes me wonder what people think of these places, the girls who strip in them and the men who go to see them.

Where do the girls come from who strip in these places? Do women find these places insulting to women in general? Would women like to see men strip and would they ever go to such places the way men do to female strip clubs?

Personally, I find it silly for a man over 30 to go to one of these places, but I am in a minority. There are a lot of these joints around and they do well. One of places being proposed near me will seat 450. That is 900 male eyes looking at one naked girl. Wow.

beastmaster

I go every once in a while -- maybe 2 or 3 times a year.

Most strip clubs get boring real fast, but I've had a few fun experiences. It's kinda cool to rub up against a Penthouse model every now and again.

I've known many females who enjoy female strip clubs, but mainly as a way to penetrate a male world normally hidden from them. Moreover, female guests are treated very nicely at most strip clubs. Of course, I also know female bisexuals who love female strip clubs for more obvious reasons.

I don't know anything about male strip clubs.

In my experience, less than half (and sometimes as little as 10%) of the audience is actually watching the strip at any one time; most are chatting or are otherwise oblivious to what's on stage. It's not like there is a "plot" you have to follow.

Most men seem to go just for the environment.

christ-on-a-stick

I am a female and I enjoy going to them on occasion. I got my first lap-dance in Vegas for my birthday a couple years ago and *that* was great fun!!! LOL... Outer Space? Kidding aside, they "come from" the same places that women in most other jobs "come from" - just about everywhere. There is no one background/upbringing/personal history or life situation that all strippers have in common.

Sakpo

Apparently up here in Canada (I don't know about elsewhere) many come from economically disadvantaged groups such as aboriginals. There's also a problem here with women brought (or bought) from eastern Europe who are controlled by organized crime and are treated very inhumanely. Such women are frequently also forced into outright prostitution against their will. I've heard that in some places the women are hired as "independant contractors" rather than as employees, which prevents them from unionizing, getting proper benefits, having much job security, forces them to pay for things they shouldn't have to pay for, etc. In places where it works like that I bet the women are pretty desperate to take the job. I'm not saying this to insult strippers, or imply they're all mistreated, or anything like that. I'm sure there are places where the money is alright, the women are fairly well treated, I'm sure there are women who enjoy the job under those conditions, etc.

vixstile

My friends have been trying to drag me into a strip club ever since I turned 18. I've refused because I think that whole "scene" is just terribly tacky.

Amos

Hi sullster, I have to agree with you except I think that 70 is more like the right age to quit looking at girls. I should add that I am part of your minority.

Viti

I was a stripper in Vegas for 2 1/2 years. Here, they are independent contractors and must buy their own costumes, health insurance, pay their own taxes and usually pay some sort of "house fee" to the club to be allowed to dance.

I worked with mostly college students but also some single moms, quite a bit of trailer trash, an attorney (paying off her school loans as she had just passed the Bar), Playboy and Penthouse Centerfolds who have "home clubs" and also tour and do magazine promotional trips and videos, a few adult film stars who also tour, more than a few women like me who were happily married and dancing for fun/money, some professional women who danced part time for extra cash or just because they enjoyed it.

In Las Vegas, girls often travel in from other cities or states for conventions or because their status in their community prevented them from dancing in their hometown.

I have been to see male strippers...but prefer to see females dance. The male dancers almost always use steroids which makes them smell bad and have bad acne which is not very arousing. If we are going out for drinks we'll often go to a strip club...there's some nice scenery, good music, and it can be exciting for my hubby and I to pick girls out to lap dance for each other.

orac

You say that like it's a bad thing!

Well, ok, some people just aren't good at doing 'tacky', but when it's done right it can keep you entertained all night

Shpongle

When I was 18-19 strip clubs were basically a cheap thrill. I found them entertaining for the first few times, but then they grew boring (I mean, if you can't touch, what's the point?) I recently visited a strip joint after a few years, and it was frightening. The was maybe one cute chick in the whole joint and the rest were kinda skanky. And the beer was watered down.

Loren Pechtel

I have no problem with strippers or stripping. There's a *BIG* one that opened up right next to my wife's office even.

My impression of what goes on inside is there's a lot of manipulation of the men by the women to get them to spend more on lap dances--LadyShea, can you comment? If my understanding is correct I have a bit of a problem with that.

I also don't like them being fronts for prostitution--prostitution is a field that should be regulated. Unregulated and in the dim conditions there where there's no way to do a decent inspection for disease I don't like.
Sure, the city tries to stamp it out. I know two people who have been clients, though--it happens.

I also don't like the local nonsense of either having full nudity or alcohol but not both.