Do women become exotic dancers because they have low self esteem?

Question

First off, I do not judge strippers for what they are doing. I am just curious as to why some women would actually want to strip in front of a bunch of creepy strangers? Are decent paying jobs so scarce that women have to do this to pay the rent? Do they do this because they need an ego boost? Why do women strip?

I don't have a problem with it. It's just that I can't fathom having a roomful of weird men seeing me naked and leering at me. It seems creepy.

Answer 1

Some do and some do not. I actually have a story published in an independent zine about a short stint as an exotic dancer when I was 24 (13 years ago for 5 months). The story based on my own experience first as a waitress then as a dancer was completely focused on the women and their side of it. There were college students that were pre-med and there were die-hards that only wanted to be in that kind of industry, there were prudish girls and there were fast girls. There were girls who could take money from anyone who swore they wouldn't part with a dollar to girls that couldn't make enough to pay the rent in spite of how hot they were.
Everyone was guilty of helping perpetuate female objectification however, myself included.
I would say that I actually met some women that had no sense of low self esteem to others that were obviously completely abused in their lives.
Women strip for many reasons but primarily because they are made to believe that their entire power lies in their beauty and objectification (and they think why not make money from this?).

Answer 2

I am sure each dancer you ask would give you a different reason. I actually knew some dancers down in the Orlando area that I hung out with. Most got into the business just out of high school because the money was tempting and then they just never were able to get out. They would give it one more week because they had a bill coming up but it would keep being one more week. Most are brought in by friends who they see making money and they encourage them saying they can do it too. Kind of like Mary Kay. I don't think a woman that feels bad about herself would be comfortable taking her clothes off, so I doubt the low self esteem is a huge issue, although after the initial shock the first few times, I am sure the attention they get is an ego boost.

Answer 3

I am a man, but I always thought that I had the looks, I would be a stripper, male or female.

I have known several strippers and they each have different reasons for doing. It can be easy money. Some are actually working their way through college. Stripping can pay well, let them drink and not have to work too hard.

Many also feel a thrill stripping. They may be natural exhibitionists. Others feel it is powerful. Although feminists say that strip clubs exploit women, it is the men who are being exploited. They pay a lot of money just to watch a naked woman and get nothing substantial out of it.

Some strippers get sugar daddies who buy them gifts and give them cash. I knew one stripper who was given a car by one of her regular customers.

Women become strippers because they have HIGH self-esteem if anything. They are beautiful and know it, and they have guys eating out of their hands.

Why would it be a matter of low self-esteem? Most feminists have low self-esteem. They are embarassed by their feminity or lack thereof.

Women who think stripping is demeaning usually have some notion that the female body is evil and should be hidden. This is common in American culture - just recall the Janet jackson Super Bowl fiasco. One breast ignited a firestorm in America. How bizarre is that? We all have bodies and we all know what bodies look like. Why should people be ashamed of them?

Answer 4

Well.. I can tell you why I do it... simply put, its called power.

When you are up on that stage, dancing in front of a man, and you can see him drooling all over himself like an infant, you realize that he's completely lost it, and you as the dancer have the control... you can get him to do anything you want, you can tease him, you can deny him, you can get him to keep going into his wallet and pulling out bills after bills after bills, even though at the end of the day he might go home and not be able to pay his gas or electric, and you just have complete control over him.

So no... I don't have low self esteem... I think I'm attractive, physically, but then again I know drop dead beautiful women with a body I would die for who don't make it as a stripper, because they don't have the attitude, they don't have the confidence. They lack the ability to read their client, and if for nothing more than the night, make him THINK he's the most important man on earth... because thats all a man wants... he just wants to THINK he's the center of your world. Give him that, and he'll give you anything you want. Be selfish, and he won't give you a second glance.

Plus... it doesn't hurt that you make more money in a night than most make in a week, not to mention it frees up my days for school, furthering my education, and taking care of the things I need to better myself. Stripping after all is a means to an end... not a career, not for me at least... but its fun having those men wrapped around my pinky, getting them to act like complete idiots... goes to show you how easily manipulated they are :)

Answer 5

I think some of them are making fast money based around an industry that has been and always will be a booming one. People will throw a lot of money out at things that encroach on a taboo subject such as sex. There are probably some women that can separate their personal feelings with the feeling of being objectified. I'm not a stripper, nor will I ever be one, but I know my friends and I have all chuckled at our desires to do it just one night...

Answer 6

For the money!.!.!.! Do you know how much they make under the table? No pun intended here, when I say under the table I talking of tax free cash! The other part from what I've learned by my friend who is a stripper is....."look what I got boys, and you can't have it". It is an "in your face" attitude that is predominant amongst the strippers.

Answer 7

Well since I am not a stripper I cannot honestly answer that, but I believe you must have low self esteem to do that for a living. I have a lot more respect for myself than that. I think that only certain people should get to see me naked and they are myself,my doctor and my boyfriend and that is it.

Answer 8

Well, a good stripper in a good club can make more in 1 night than I make in 2 weeks......and I make good money.

also, some strippers do it not out of low self esteem......but rather high self esteem, they are proud of their bodies, and like to "show them off"

There are many reasons, and I'm sure a different reason for each person, no one "black and white answer".

Answer 9

That may be part of it. More likely they have no education no training and no money. The strippers make a lot of money. I know of some that pay for college with the money and drive nice cars etc. Some are single mothers with no skills and some are drug addicts who need cash. I don't think any 'need' an ego boost even though they may get one at times. Overall they are degrading themselves.

Answer 10

What would You know about strippers? Nothing. No personal experience. No understanding. No kindness, consideration or compassion. Most do it to pay their rent or tuition. Some do it of or the pleasure of dancing and exhibiting Themselves. Most do it as a job that is strenuous, exhausting and thanks to the narrow minded, uneducated commentators such as Yourself, demeaning. If ever You had worked in the industry You would know what I am talking about. Get up the guts to try it for Yourself before You start casting aspersions as to the good character of My friends.