Margaret Atwood defends women's right to work in strip clubs because she thinks it's 'empowering'

I am just glad I don't have the attention I used to get off creepy men - I feel sorry for the young women of today. As for the strippers, prostitutes - it is their choice and if it stops vile men from attacking innocent women or even raping them - just carry on exploiting desperate men for their cash. It makes me laugh that these men think the women are actually enjoying the sex they have with these creeps!

Oh Courtney, look beyond your own echo chamber. I’m glad that you and your 300 friends found your experiences empowering. But that’s just your experiences. You can read from this thread other women who have not had an empowering experience. Their lived experience is just as valid as yours.

Oh Courtney is a right laugh isn't she? Calling women shameful for being concerned for the welfare of trafficked teenagers.

I was just mulling over, if I had all the money in the world, is there anybody I'd pay £480 an hour to talk to?

I've concluded I might pay that to talk to Sheila Jeffreys.

l thought most strippers only lasted until they were mid twenties. And she managed to carry on after bf her child. No saggy tits for her. Who is this superwoman

That's again, because like everyone on this post, you don't have a fucking clue

Most are late twenties to thirties. Most of us stop somewhere between 33-38. Half of us have children, and no, sadly we don't have saggy tits. Sorry if you do.

Why are there no male strip clubs, look at me being so clever for pointing that out

It's one of the most boring and I'll thought out arguments frequently peddled by the clueless. I'll tell you why there aren't, apart from a few gay strip clubs. Because I'm 5ft 4. Pretty average size. If a 6ft guy sits down and I sit on his lap, it's sexy.

Role reversal. 6ft man sits on me, it bloody hurts. Trust me. I've had enough customers offer to give me a dance to know it doesn't physically work. So that's why women go to stage shows like the Dream Boys, or whatever they call themselves these days. That's what's popular for women, watching from the audience. What's popular for men is strip clubs. Although I did have two regular female customers. Both lesbian.

Oh. And I'm not superwoman. You're just proving my point exactly that you can't bear to accept that it's how it is. For all you know, your midwife is a dancer. Or your lawyer. Or your kids teacher. Like I said I've worked with all those professions.

Some really sad women on this thread. Shameful.

How can taking your clothes off for men to look at be empowering

I really don’t get that

It’s like the only thing that you have as power is your body for men to look at

I could never knowingly contribute to the idea that women's bodies are purchasable by men

This, with (nipple) tassels on.

Yes, if it's so empowerfulising, how come men aren't doing it.

And yes, I am aware of the existence of the Chippendales - but it is very much a minority thing.

I'm glad that some people working in such places are happy and not abused. However the existence of such places and the whole concept that women's bodies are a commodity has an impact on my life, how men treat me and the dangers I face. The strip clubs don't operate in some kind of moral vacuum, the men who use them then come out into the world.

Is there an entire industry based around the objectification of men's bodies? No? Why is that, do you think?!

And this.
Nobody can ever answer this or the previous question I re-posted.

Courtney is a 'chartered accountant' and doesn't know what money laundering is 😂

I'm in my mid 20s now. I used to work as a shots girl in clubs and bars I would get touched up assaulted in bars full lighting cameras loads of security and I just can't believe that it would never happen to a exotic dancer?

I would make hundreds for few hours work I was covered head to toe as didn't want any unwanted attention but I still got it. I just can't believe that any stripper isn't going to of had some horrible stuff happen to her at some point.

I also then briefly worked for myself and I would go cash up other girls to find them often crying because a guy put his hand down her top and touched her breasts.
I stopped as it became really distressing.

I want to believe that strip clubs are places of respect ect but I can't see it when there isn't places of men stripping aswell which I don't get? I read these threads always wanting to hope my feelings will change. I have two daughters and just want them to grow up in a equal world.

'I'm all right, Jack.'

Since when did feminism equate to "I'm fine, therefore fuck off"

Feminism is for every woman , including the ones you don't like, including the ones you don't agree with.

And as far as I'm concerned, if there is even one woman who is being abused and damaged by "sex work", it is one too many.

Is there an entire industry based around the objectification of men's bodies? No? Why is that, do you think?!

Can people please engage their brains on this topic? One person's personal experience do not equate to population analysis. FFS.

BarbaraStrozzi

StopthePlanet's post on page one was excellent, btw.

Thanks!

And it is 2:48am here (insoooooomnia), thanks body!!!! Been up since 7am but brain is so tired it won't shut down.

YippeeKayakOtherBuckets

Thank you! I had decided to leave that tell alone hoping someone else would pick up on it. I spend all day dealing with financials and doing analysis so I don't want to engage directly with the topic atm.

/Brain tired

Im happy to take most posters as face value

I am happy to believe that there are ‘dancers’ like courtney

What i am NOT happy to accept is that all ‘dancers’ have the same experience

Cos that would be a truly fucking stupid thing to believe

StopthePlanet's post on page one was excellent, btw.

I find it is always worth remembering that any multi billion dollar industry uses paid astroturfers on social media as part of their strategy. I also find it interesting to look at timestamps on posting history and compare and contrast where the poster says they're based with where in the world someone would realistically be awake at any given time. I'd also recall that every single sodding thread I've ever seen on any aspect of this (strip clubs, the Nordic model, prostitution in general, porn) attracts brand new posters out of nowhere, again often at odd times of the morning.

The whole ‘happy hooker’ cliche rears its head again. It appears that Courtney555 has her own issues. I would take what she says with a rather large grain of salt. Empowering indeed

Money laundering is generally putting your unearned income through the books, so saying you had 50 customers spending a grand each when actually you had 5 spending a hundred.

It’s the opposite of not declaring the cash.

Are you quite sure you’re an accountant?

If its all so empowering, how come male chartered accountants arent taking their clothes off and dancing around for money of an evening?

This. With tassels on.

Perhaps Margaret is generating material for her next book?

Oh, Margaret. Didn’t think you’d fall for the fools gold of “empowerment”.

And yes, exactly, josepheen. It’s not about what benefits might accrue to the individual stripping. It’s what the impact of living in a culture where women’s bodies are entertainment does to all women.

The strippers I have known have not been like Courtney, whose experience does seem quite...extraordinary.

If its all so empowering, how come male chartered accountants arent taking their clothes off and dancing around for money of an evening?

“I (used to) cost £480 an hour.” Very telling choice of words, that. You don’t generally find women in my profession (lawyer) describing their hourly rate like that. Nor do you find many of them working in strip clubs - they don’t need to.
The other observation I’d make is, if true, it proves a fool and his money are soon parted ....