Strippers: Trash or respect?

[Yoshikko]

I can respect a person while not respecting their profession. In general. Independent of stripping or not.

What does that even mean?

 

[ActualRealJamz]

I personally can't see any issue with stripping at all.
You want to do it? Great, go and do that. You feel that you have to do it? Great, so long as you don't have any moral objections or generally feel uncomfortable with it.

Sexuality is so frequently treated as a kind of taboo subject (although much less so recently) that many things relating to it, even mildly, are given a bad name. Stripping is definitely one of these things, and I feel it's because strippers challenge two norms.
The first of these is the issue of casual nudity - so many people are not okay with is, particularly where others can see (whether that was their desire or not). For some reason the human body is seen as something to be ashamed of somehow, despite us all being fully aware of what we look like (except for the opposing gender in places where the education wasn't available and nudity wasn't commonplace, although I can't see that being particularly relevant to this argument). Obviously, given the nature of the job, some people are already going to be opposed to it.
Secondly, people are still largely fixated on monogamy being the only way in which romantic/sexual relationships can be healthy and, because of the above reasons, people may see exposure as sexual in some way - in that sense, people may consider stripping to be a form of polygamy and immediately see it as a negative.

So far as I'm concerned, so long as the practice is regulated to ensure consent, stripping isn't hurting anyone - it's easily avoided if you don't like it: not like anyone is rubbing it in your face. I'm in favour of (or at the very least neutral on the subject of) anything that doesn't do harm - so this is very much included in this.
It certainly may not be seen as the most respectable of things, but does that really matter - so long as the individual concerned is content?

 

[maccrash]

What does that even mean?

I think he's saying that he can still like a person regardless of what they're doing with their life regardless of what they're actually doing with their life. like, he can look past that while still finding it abhorrent or something. but he loses me with the last sentence.

 

[OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire]

I see Strippers as people, not objects. I think a great deal of them are doing it because they don't see/lack another way to make a living, not because they want to do it. Even if they do want to do it because they like the proffession it doesn't give one the right to spit at their faces or call them names and harass them.

 

[Lotus the Cat]

There's no supply without the demand. Maybe the focus needs to shift from the individuals stripping to the people who pay to watch. Surely if there is moral issue it lies with the demand and not the supply.

I have no problem with people that strip for a living, but I might take a closer look at those who pay for the service.

Edit: I feel I should probably elaborate on my spin.

As an example, I have friends who had surprise male strippers at their bachelorette parties. In this case it is just a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun on both sides. The bride-to-be gets embarrassed and everyone else gets to laugh as she gets a lap dance. The stripper is an entertainer.

I feel any humiliation of being a stripper comes from the audience and therefore it is the audience that should be questioned.

 

[Yoshikko]

I think he's saying that he can still like a person regardless of what they're doing with their life regardless of what they're actually doing with their life. like, he can look past that while still finding it abhorrent or something. but he loses me with the last sentence.

Imo that is like saying you don't have anything against gay people you just don't agree with it. Which is bs. It doesn't work that way. It's the same kind of thing.

It shouldn't be a question whether these girls deserve respect. If anything they deserve more respect because they're doing something that is potentially dangerous, takes a lot of skill and takes a lot of courage.

There's no supply without the demand. Maybe the focus needs to shift from the individuals stripping to the people who pay to watch. Surely if there is moral issue it lies with the demand and not the supply.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[maccrash]

Imo that is like saying you don't have anything against gay people you just don't agree with it. Which is bs. It doesn't work that way. It's the same kind of thing.

uh. no, it's not. being homosexual isn't a choice, but your occupation is (to an extent).

but regardless I'm not sure what we're debating here because I agree with you in that they do deserve respect.

 

[Yoshikko]

uh. no, it's not. being homosexual isn't a choice, but your occupation is (to an extent).

but regardless I'm not sure what we're debating here because I agree with you in that they do deserve respect.

Well that's true, I didn't mean it that way anyway, I meant the principle of saying that. Anyways that is arguable but that is a whole different point. Glad we agree though!!

 

[twocows]

There's no supply without the demand. Maybe the focus needs to shift from the individuals stripping to the people who pay to watch. Surely if there is moral issue it lies with the demand and not the supply.

I have no problem with people that strip for a living, but I might take a closer look at those who pay for the service.

Edit: I feel I should probably elaborate on my spin.

As an example, I have friends who had surprise male strippers at their bachelorette parties. In this case it is just a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun on both sides. The bride-to-be gets embarrassed and everyone else gets to laugh as she gets a lap dance. The stripper is an entertainer.

I feel any humiliation of being a stripper comes from the audience and therefore it is the audience that should be questioned.

What sort of moral issue do you suggest might exist with patronizing this sort of business?

 

[Sir Codin]

If strippers or other sex workers are doing it voluntarily, then no, they're not trash.

If they aren't doing it voluntarily, they're not trash either. They deserve respect. And help in freeing them from their predicament.

 

[Lotus the Cat]

What sort of moral issue do you suggest might exist with patronizing this sort of business?

Nothing in itself. But where there may be is if you treat the strippers with disrespect or consider them as objects, etc.

 

[Saki]

I think everyone deserves my respect as a fellow human being ^_^
I am completely fine with men/women paying strippers and men/women stripping for money. If that is the job they choose, I respect that just as I hope they respect the job I choose! If they're there to simply get some cash when needed then that is fine too, I work a retail job on the side to just get some cash too. So I can understand that! If they're in any sort of danger at their place of work I will feel badly for them and hope they are protected under some sort of law in the future/or get some help... just as I would for anyone who has any issue in their work place (mild to severe).

It's not belittling or pathetic to strip for money, even though it's not something I would do! Where there is demand there will be jobs, and people filling them. :)

 

[BatsyDarling]

I have no problem with them, I don't understand why people are so offended by "sex" and the human body. Also I respect them for the things they have to deal with everyday, I myself know a few exotic dancers and would never have the patience to be able to do what they do if that's even the right word.

 

[Cerberus87]

Why would anyone say strippers are trash? They're just entertainers. Entertainers aren't trash.

Even if they were prostitutes, they wouldn't be trash. Prostitutes are also entertainers.

 

[Belldandy]

I don't like the idea of stripping. It's degrading. It's backwards. The only good thing about it is that I can figure out which women to avoid (by knowing that they are strippers) and which men to avoid (by knowing that they frequent such places). I find it immoral on both parts. The human body does not offend me. I do not think stripping is "entertainment". I think it's oppressive. Others might find it empowering, but at the end of the day you're appealing to the patriarchy. That's really the bottom line.

However,

Though I have the right to an opinion, I only express it when asked. Since that's the topic here, it's the only reason I'm saying anything. I therefore wouldn't call anyone out on it. I would just simply avoid. It's their life at the end of the day. In some cases, it's the only option for women of more unfortunate backgrounds. I don't know their full story. All I can do is use their actions to figure out which people not to hang out with lol

I'm glad my boyfriend does not go to strip clubs. His friend took him to one once, and he said the environment and ambiance was raunchy. As would be expected anyway.

 

[Son Growku]

I don't think there's anything wrong with stripping/strippers. I think the environments can be dangerous, but stripping in and of itself is perfectly fine with me. If you've got the balls, then more power to you. Everybody is so quick to judge, as if there's inherent rights and wrongs. Everything is subjective. Literally, everything. The only difference between any of us and a suicide bomber is that we were brought up being told that that's wrong, and have gone on to form opinions that reinforce that. It's the same thing with stripping. It's degrading because you think it's degrading, it's sinful because you think it's sinful, it's scummy because you think it's scummy. To them it's just a job. We're on a website that's predominantly about Pokemon, talking about the morality or stripping. Do you know how many people would think that's weird and lame? Does that mean we're weird and lame? No, of course not. Open your minds people! {XD}

A bunch of my cousins brought me to a club when I turned 18, and in-between sets we talked to some of the girls. Talked. Human to human. They weren't being paid, and they didn't single us out when they went back on stage. It was like talking a stranger at the bus stop, only the stranger was shirtless :P A few said they'd gotten into it simply because they needed the money, they had school loans, bills in general, or just liked nice things. A couple others said they started because of they money, but they later found it empowering, that mastering their bodyweight made them strong, and having men literally throw money at them made them feel in control and attractive. They are people, and they deserve to be treated like people. If you're truly against stripping for whatever reason, keep it to yourself unless you're asked about your opinions on the subject. Don't be that person who goes on Facebook and randomly posts some anti-stripper rant, as if your beliefs were suddenly under attack.

 

[Powerserge]

They are trashy and disgusting. Any one who works in the "sex trade" is merely profiting off of humanity's greatest weakness. I have no respect for people that lead others down a path of lust, that only distracts them from true productivity.

 

[Shining Raichu]

I just love watching people who are really good at what they do. I don't care if it's stripping, painting, managing a staff, gymnastics... if you're good at it, I'll happily watch you do it.

Strippers get top respect from me, not because of the people they have to deal with in their line of work, but because they go out there and get naked every day despite the terrible things people not unlike some in this very thread say about them.

 

[Universe]

as someone who's had to dwell into other means of earning money due to crisis, i can say with full confidence that telling a stripper they should get another job because their's isn't "respectful enough" is just downright disgusting. like what would possess you as a human being to look down on someone else for doing their job. i'm sorry guys but sex sells and these "gross" people are just taking advantage of that fact. you don't know everyone's story and why they do the things they do, so don't just assume they can get another job. i'm sure if they could get another job they probably would.

i doubt any stripper enjoys dealing with the people they have to impress every working day.

telling someone they should be ashamed for displaying their own naked body to willing onlookers is what's really backwards.

edit: also --

"I think it's sad an pathetic for a women to dance naked for money. How does one even feel comfortable dancing for a bunch of men I don't even feel comfortable dancing for my bf. It"s really upsetting the lack of respect theses woman's have for them selfs they need help. That's not the only way to make money ...wh***s . Idk why I care . That money you make now your not going to be making later on when your ass and boobs are sagging . Then You're gona wish u went to school or had a real job . Call me closed minded idc it's just upsetting."

this comment is so sexist it causes me physical pain.

 

[Psychic]

I have zero problem with strippers or any kind of sex workers. The market always has and always will exist, and there always have and always be people who will meet that market. There is nothing wrong or shameful about that. The only issue I have with the trade is that it is not always safe for the workers, and that is something that needs to change. They deserve all of the safety and freedom of any other profession.

I also strongly believe in ending the stigma against sex workers and their patrons. This only hurts us a society. People should feel free to engage in any profession or activity without judgement so long as nobody is harmed or coerced.

If someone wants to strip for a job or is ok stripping as their job then cool. It's when girls start a spiel and expect a pity party that I think they're trash because they're just doing it for attention.
And anyone who goes further than just dancing is trashy to me IMO just because of my personal upbringing where just consider it dirty and I can't help but find it distasteful. I don't see how I can respect something that can, at times, condone cheating if taken further than just dancing; but I can respect the dancers if they remain just that.

So getting paid to undress in front of a group of people isn't dirty and distasteful, but getting paid to have sex is? Please explain. Also nobody likes attention-seekers, but I fail to see what this to do with stripping.

Ask yourself why you consider it dirty. "I was brought up to find X gross" is a poor excuse. It sounds just as ignorant as the people who say "I was raised to think all black people are cheats." Reevaluate what you were taught and why you believe it instead of blindly believing everything you were taught.

Also, your view on stripping/sex work and adultery are rather skewed. First of all, if somebody in a monogamous relationship seeks to cheat, then they are the only to blame, not the sex worker. Sex workers don't know who their patrons are or what their relationship status is - they are not responsible for preventing people from cheating. Second, don't assume that every person who pays for sex is in a monogamous relationship. That just makes no logical sense, unless you have some statistics to back that up. Third, some people consider going to a strip club cheating. Some people are okay with having open relationships where you have sex with other people. If you think all couples find strip clubs acceptable but outside sex not, then you are sorely mistaken.

I'm pretty sure the majority of people agree that you shouldn't cheat on your partner, but that seriously has nothing to do with the topic at-hand, and the fact that you are equating the two is very strange.

They are trashy and disgusting. Any one who works in the "sex trade" is merely profiting off of humanity's greatest weakness. I have no respect for people that lead others down a path of lust, that only distracts them from true productivity.

Strippers are not "leading" anybody down a path of lust. If you go to a strip club, watch porn, or hire a prostitute, then you are the only one to blame for being unable to "control yourself." That isn't the sex worker's fault - they are there to provide a service, and service that you want and sought and are willing to pay for. These workers are responding to a demand - if the demand wasn't there to begin with this might be another story, but it isn't.

Also, people should not feel guilty for either wanting or providing sex. Lust is a completely human and normal desire, and shaming people for that only makes things worse. Look at any sexually repressed society and you can see the price they have to pay. Your mindset is more harmful and dangerous than the things you rally against.

~Psychic