Why do people think it's degrading for a woman to be a stripper?

Question

It's the women who is making the money from the man! She is using HIM. As long as she is in control and isn't involved in the actual s*x industry (I mean anything she is not happy being involved in) and she isn't being forced into it. Even if she IS involved in p**n if she's 100%happy, what's the problem? What is people's problem if the women is in TOTAL control? No one moans about a woman being a fashion model even though she is still selling her body x x x

Answer 1

I Don't think it's degrading, More sad.

Women that are confident and enjoy stripping

in front of Men Leering at them and drooling at the mouth I Admire.

It's The Women who have been forced into

Stripping in some back Street Seedy Haunt,

Either to feed their Habit or through fear of losing their Home. There The Ones I Feel Sad For!

Answer 2

most ppl who thinks that are woman, mainly jealousy,

but ur right its their body they can do wot they like,

woman should have the choice of who sees their naked body, and who can touch it,

job is a job at the end of the day everyone has to survive and the woman who choose to show their naked body to strange men is fine, fairplay to them

i aint got the bottle to do it, took me a month to get naked

infront of my bf wen we first met,lol

Answer 3

I don't necessarily think that it is degrading for a woman to be a stripper (its completely her decision) but I do think that the whole premise of men going to a strip club to see naked women is degrading to the female s*x in general. I mean everyone has to pay the bills right? But why is there even such an industry? I do think that pornography, strip clubs, even the media contribute to women being viewed as simply objects.

Answer 4

There are various reasons why men and women think it's degrading.

Some men and women believe a woman should dedicate herself to her husband and be chaste and modest, or they believe that strip clubs encourage men to cheat.

Some men and women believe that using men's desires to make money is exploiting men, or that club owners exploit strippers, or that stripping is fine but leads to other vices.

Still others believe that men viewing women as objects or women treating themselves as objects is dehumanising because there's no personal or emotional connection between the stripper and her clientele.

A final reason is because not many people respect others for doing work they wouldn't want to do.  Are people who can afford not to do it queuing up to take their clothes off?

Answer 5

Perhaps if it wasn't actually degrading there wouldn't be so many who have to stay in a chemically altered state just to deal with it.

Answer 6

I believe adults should be allowed to do anything consensual even if it involves the exchange of money for services. That said, is it degrading for the woman? That would depend on the woman's mindset and why she's doing it.

Answer 7

Why do people even CARE if a woman is a stripper? People need to stop focusing on our sexuality and find real problems to dsicuss.

Quite honestly, everyone has their own opinion and if they're comfortable with their own sexuality, they should do what they want. Not everyone has the set view that s*x is "bad" and women should not be judged for doing such things. After all, the industry wouldn't exist if there wasn't a demand for it.

Answer 8

I don't have a problem with it. I don't agree with it, but that doesn't mean I have a problem with it.

h**l, they make more in a week than I do in a month, or maybe even a year. More power to 'em; it's just not for me.

Answer 9

It is degrading in the fact that they have to be viewed as sexual objects in order to feel empowered like that.

Answer 10

Have you BEEN to a strip club?  Have you watched what they do and not be embarrassed?  Have you ever watched a lap dance?  Do you know that the guys go immediately to the bathroom to jerk off?

If you don't think it is degrading to crawl on your hands and knees and show your bottom to a strange man, or to lay on your back and straddle, letting strange men stare between your legs, then by your standards, no, it is not degrading.

By my standards it is.  

As a business woman, I have to conduct business with men who may have gone to a strip club during lunch and seen women do these things.  What then are the men going to think about me.  How does a stripper not diminish these men's views of every woman that they have contact with?

If you think that they really separate the women in their minds, you are mistaken.  

If you believe that the men do separate the women in their minds , ie stripper/non-stripper, then you must admit that the men look down upon the strippers.  Men de-grade the strippers.  They of course, cannot degrade the stripper in her own mind, but strippers perpetuate the madonna/w***e view of women, and make life harder for all other women trying to earn respect.

While I support their right to do this, I do not like it, nor do I approve.  In fact, I highly resent it.

Answer 11

I think its disgrading, just cuz it pays alot doesnt mean u have to put your self to such a low standard. You either should have gotten your education, or started at a grocerie and worked your self up in life. You only have one chance to live and maybe taking of your clothes to pervs isnt the best way to spend it. But some people need it for like school or studios, I mean then its fine but I wouldnt personally do it.I would so embarressed if someone who thought I was more then that see me stripping. And fashion models, are for fashion, most models who do modeling do it because they have a passion for it and they wanna be known. Some wanna prove to the world what they are made of, thats why they model, and its in a classy way, not trashy.

Answer 12

“As long as she is in control and isn't involved in the actual s*x industry”

I find it very interesting that you consider one type of behaviour inappropriate and the other not.

When it comes to being in “control” you may want to give that some more thought.  He waves a $20 bill and you perform- much like a dog doing a trick for a treat.  Who is really in control?

If happiness is the only criteria you use to measure contentment it’s time to give it some more thought.

In your mind it is okay to strip your body and perform a sexual tease before the eyes of lusting total strangers.  But while you continue to do this because it makes you happy you must be more truthful.  It is the “power” that is gratifying as in any sexual “tease”.  It is the attention and personal validation that you enjoy.  It is also the money that you get that makes you happy.   But that is not what a sexual relationship between a man and woman is about.   Would you do this in front of your children regardless of their age?  Why not?  Why not perform in front of your 5 year old after all what is important to you is your happiness.

If a 10 year old came up to you and said, “I really enjoy having s*x with that man” because it makes me happy would you approve?  Why not?  Because she is too young?  But it makes her happy, shouldn’t that be reason enough to approve of it?  Or are you operating by a double standard?

If a 15 year old came up and said “I really enjoy having s*x with that woman” would you approve?  Why not?  

Would you approve of kiddie p**n if the youngsters were happy and well paid for what they were doing?  Why not?  

What is the difference?  Why should age be a factor?  Isn’t their happiness more important?  

By selling your body in this way as a means to happiness you contribute to the growing perception that a woman’s body (or a man’s) is not to be respected.  They are to be leered at and fantasized about- for a price and nothing more.  That is very degrading to say the least.

On Yahoo Answers/Questions there are thousands of postings concerning human sexuality and relationships.  Many of these are by young women. Many are concerned about intimacy, loyalty, faithfulness, and respect.  Isn't it interesting that most of those concerns are coming from young women.  You come along and condone the very practice that undermines and erodes what women value, namely respect for themselves, respect from others, and a genuine sincere appreciation for who they are- not for what they are.  You cannot separate human sexuality from relationship.

The act of stripping like prostitution for personal gain undermines all of the above values women (and men) appreciate and long for.  You contribute to the growing problem of date rape and violence against women because it reinforces society’s perception of women that their bodies are simply to be lusted over and used for personal sexual gratification on demand and nothing more.   You try to justify by implying that if it’s the guy that’s choosing to pay for it and you are happy giving it then it must be okay.  Your sister strippers try to justify that they are single moms with deadbeat dads and this is a way to make a living.  So, what about the single moms working in Walmarts  40 hours a week or as secretaries or as paralegals?    They too have a choice don’t they?

What do you do when you are performing in front of several 21 year olds as you see their eyes popping out, and druel coming down the side of their mouths knowing what they would like to do with you?   Do you simply block it out or do you revel in the attention and power you are commanding?  I guess that gives some girls the much needed power they’re longing for as well as the validation that they are desirable.  But what is the price tag for their dignity and their integrity?   And at what price to women in general?



By selling your body in this way you set an example for young women to  accept the belief that they are merely objects to be used as a means to an end- the acquisition of money and that money is more important than their own self-worth.

Prostitution has been around for generations.  So has stripping.  But after a guy has had his fill and wants to settle down why is it that he chooses not to settle down with a stripper or a prostitute?   Why is it that he wants someone a little classier, a little more “pure”?

A girl (or a guy) can attempt to sanitize stripping as much as they want but it really is just another form of prostituting oneself.  I don’t think that was the intent of human sexuality or human relationships.

s*x sells and always will.  Any form of s*x.  We all know that.  But what is the real price?  When you start using s*x as a means of power and to gain happiness you abuse it and ultimately you abuse yourself.  Perhaps we would have less of the brutal rapes, date rapes, violence against women, and degradation against women if some women did not perceive themselves as the ones needing to be in control by exploiting their own bodies for personal gain.

ADDENDUM:

Re: your additional details

You're attempting to legitimize what you do by saying that you are a BA honors student. Lust is lust.  It doesn't matter if you have a grade 8 education or a BA.

You make the point that you would never perform sexual favors.  It doesn't matter.  You are engaged in an activity where thousands of girls like yourself do just that!  It is a career on a slippery slope.  One only needs to look at the types of patrons it attracts.

You say your boyfriend "approves" of what you're doing.  Are you doing it for him or for yourself?  Do you need his approval?  See what I mean about self-worth or lack of?

You admit that you do this because of a fetish.  That you like to parade around naked and put your body on display in front of others.  You are working on a BA honors degree.  You are obviously intelligent.  Have you ever wondered what it is that is really  turning you on when you do this?  Look up the word fixation (fetish) so you understand whether or not this is a psychological healthy state of mind.  You might want to do this before you make this a life long career.  Remember you are only one short step from taking it up to the next level.  You say you would never do "favors".  Anyone who has a lot of money generally has a LOT of money!  And for the right price people often will do almost anything and figure out a way of rationalizing their decision.

You need to decide whether you are part of the problem or part of the solution to the shift in society's values.  Or if money is more important to you.  Because one day you yourself will have youngsters.  What you are helping to create is the environment, values and attitudes that they will grow up in.

Blessings to you.

Answer 13

If you're a woman that considers it degrading.......Don't do it.

Stay home and eat a box of Ding Dongs and feel good about yourself.

(Munch, gnarl, chew.....MMMMM)

Hey, stop.........I said ONE BOX.....NOT TWO!

(He just doesn't understand me)

Don't talk with your mouth full Bxxxx.

(I just want him to love me for me)

Aren't your shows on?

U can catch the Soap Network 25 hours a day.

(Did you see my Norah Roberts novel?)

Honey, is that the one that you started eating pages out of?

Enjoy!

I'll call u from the Cabaret!

Dollar Bill

Answer 14

People are saying that, and people are REALLY stupid.

Answer 15

Well, if I had a daughter it's not something I'd want her to do.  Would you be happy for YOUR daughter to become a stripper?  If you can honestly say yes, then I'll believe that you don't really think it's degrading.  Remember, if it's not good enough for your daughter, then it's not good enough for anyone's.

Answer 16

well i dont have a problem with it...usually most strippers are single moms who childrens deadbeat dads are no where to be found...lets b honest if there were no men there would b no prostitues or strippers!!!...most men who visit strip clubs are married w/ children but they never say anything about that....i say do what you have to do! as long as your not hurting anyone else i dont care if you wanna swing around a pole...in fact more power to you..... roll those men for everything they have!

Answer 17

i dont think its that bad to be honest, its not degrading, as long as  the women arnt forced into it, anyways i think its amazing the power women have over men, with just using there bodies.

Answer 18

Too true, the ones in our local club make a good living out of it and no one forces them to be there.

Plus they can always earn more by doing "extras" if they want to.

Answer 19

Anything relating to female sexuality is a threat to people, so they need an excuse to call it degrading.

I see your point because I've talked to strippers and read about the industry (forums, articles, whatever)...BUT sometimes there are bad instances where some clubs encourage strippers to give "extras" (sexual favors) or when the management treats you like c**p.

Stripping isn't for me though b/c I would be too worried about running into someone I know, or if I'm on a self-conscious day. ;)

Answer 20

Because it demeans women by turning them into s*x objects for men to ogle, discuss and sneer at.

Answer 21

Come on!

Think of all the things your body does for you.It lets you walk, sleep, takes you dancing all night. and Doesn't break down  so often during those teenage years of smoking and drinking.

You should love your body and have confidence in yourself.

ANd that is how you repay it. By letting some creep touch it someone you don't even know?

go away.

Answer 22

I'm sure there are exceptions, but generally speaking, there aren't many women who grow up thinking, "I want to be a stripper or p**n star when I grow up!"  Most women in those industries would rather be doing something else.  But they do it because they want or need to earn some money, and for whatever reason, they feel that they don't have the skills, time, or ability to make as much money as they can by stipping.  So they do it because they feel it's their only choice, or that it's the best choice of their alternatives.

Yes, there are some women who enjoy doing it.  But the fact that the industry is out there causes many women to do it who would rather not.  But they do it out of desperation.  And I think that's what most people have against it.

Answer 23

It's not degrading at all! Who has the right to tell someone not to do something? In no way is anyone at loss apart from the stripper. I don't care if blokes strip for money, it's none of my business. Ok so I wouldn't respect them but that's just me. I don't hate them though.

Gotcha - So what about male strippers? Or do we not count because we are men and s*x driven pigs anyway? As i said, as a male I don't feel degraded because there are male strippers. No respect for them but I don't have a problem with them.

Answer 24

I think the main problem people have is that stripping is a job manipulating others.  It is also harmful to women in general as males who view  strippers see women as s*x objects and not  as ordinary people.   For a stripper it does not matter what kind of person observes them, just the color of their money.

Answer 25

I have more respcet for hookers and strippers than these undercover goldigging ho's . Atleast hookers and strippers are honest about what they do unlike the evil golddiggers who are only with guy's because of there money. In my mind most woman are in some way a prostitutes because most woman go for guy's with more money than they make. Atleast a real prostitue admits what she is up to.