Female Exotic Dancers: Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Perspectives

Philaretou, Andreas G.

doi:10.1080/10720160500529243

Cited by 18 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The social validation of femininity in this context can therefore also be seen as economic. These findings are well supported in the extant literature on exotic dancing (see, for example, Bradley‐Engen and Ulmer, 2009; Lewis, 2006; Philaretou, 2006; Ronai and Ellis, 1989).…”

Section: Doing Gender Wellsupporting

confidence: 72%

Doing Gender Well and Differently in Dirty Work: The Case of Exotic Dancing

Mavin

Grandy

2011

Gender Work & Organization

108

201

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Exotic dancing, as a form of sex work, can be considered dirty work that is physically, morally and socially tainted. For some dirty workers, exaggerating aspects of the work associated with masculinity or femininity can re-position the work as clean, good work and serve as a strategy for dirty workers to construct positive self-identities. This process however, is not easy or effective for all dirty workers. We consider the experiences of 21 exotic dancers and theorize that the doing of gender well (exaggerated expressions of masculinity or femininity in congruence with sex role) can be a strategy for some dirty workers to re-position their work into good work (or less dirty), while for others (specifically these exotic dancers) the doing of gender well, will have different consequences. In doing this, we also explore the possibilities of doing gender differently for these exotic dancers and extending this to our understanding of other types of sex work and dirty work.

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Section: Doing Gender Wellsupporting

confidence: 72%

Doing Gender Well and Differently in Dirty Work: The Case of Exotic Dancing

Mavin

Grandy

2011

Gender Work & Organization

108

201

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“…Some dancers choose not to disclose the nature of their work to certain loved ones, particularly family members. Similar to the experiences reported by dancers in Thompson and Harred's (1992) and Philaretou's (2006) research, by "dividing up the social world" (Goffman, 1963) dancers protect their self-image, avoid facing the stigmatised aspect or negative views of outsiders (Ashforth et al, 2007), and prevent shaming loved ones. Ivy keeps her work a secret from her family and grounds her decision in the religiosity of her family.…”

Section: Stigma Awarenessmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…Indeed, given the extant literature (e.g., Ashforth and Kreiner, 1999;Thompson and Harred, 1992), the first author's expectations about dancers' lived experience was that they would be marked by both positive and negative emotions. However, she was also aware of the reported differences in experiences across the industry (e.g., Bradley-Engen and Ulmer, 2009;Mestemacher and Robertis, 2004;Philaretou, 2006) and wanted to remain open to the unexpected. To garner a better understanding of participants' unique experiences a semi-structured interview guide was adopted with broad or grand tour (Spradley, 1979) questions asked initially to allow participants the flexibility to tell their story (e.g.…”

Section: Sample and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is also an industry where the lived experiences of those working in it are emotionally charged and diverse. Accounts from the media and scholarly work acknowledge differences between and within categories of sex work (Weitzer, 2000), diversity in clubs operating in the industry (BradleyEngen and Ulmer, 2009), and similarities and differences in the experiences of those working in the industry (Mestemacher and Roberti, 2004;Philaretou, 2006;Sweet and Tewksbury, 2000). Sanders and Hardy's (2011) initial findings from a recent large scale study of more than 200 exotic dancers in the United Kingdom reveal findings similar to previous work in that dancers express ambivalence in their emotion work and they report competing feelings of both exploitation and empowerment (see also the work of Deshotels and Forsyth, 2006 on "strategic flirting").…”

Section: Exotic Dancing: a Dirty Work Site Marked By Ambiguity Contrmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Emotion management as struggle in dirty work: the experiences of exotic dancers

Grandy

Mavin

2014

IJWOE

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Abstract:We further the research to date on ambiguity, ambivalence and contradiction in organisation studies by integrating the dirty work and emotion management literatures. Our intent is to better understand the complex cognitive processes underpinning everyday experiences of those working in what has been perceived to be a high-breadth high-depth stigmatised occupation, that is, exotic dancing. Dancers' stories reveal they are acutely aware of social and moral taint associated with the work and in turn their self-identities. They adopt a number of strategies to manage their spoiled identities and we contribute by unpicking the cognitive processes that underpin these strategies. In extending strategies of emotional ambivalence at work and stigma management, we conclude that through a lens of emotion management as struggle, exotic dancers, and more broadly dirty workers, do not 'resolve' the ambivalence, contradiction and ambiguity they confront but can be seen to experience at best a type of contingent coherence in their everyday work.

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“…More recently, Pasko (2002) explained the dramaturgy of stripping as a Goffmanesque confidence game that requires particular emotion work skills (Hochschild 1979). Other studies on exotic dance have also focused on such individual level topics as socialization, identities, motivations, and specific management techniques and strategies (for examples, see Enck and Preston 1988; Forsyth and Deshotels 1998; Lewis 1998; Murphy 2003; Philaretou 2006; Ronai 1998; Ronai and Cross 1998; Weseley 2003a, b).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stripping in the New Millennium: Thinking about Trends in Exotic Dance and Dancers’ Lives

Bradley

2008

Sociology Compass

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With the increasing presence of sex and sexuality in American popular culture, the stripping industry is undoubtedly undergoing important subcultural and organizational transition. What are the implications of these changes for the individuals involved? The current paper reviews much of the literature on exotic dance to consider the potential transformations in the organization of the sex industry and how these changes may impact the lives of those involved. Specifically, I note some key differences in the literature that suggest how exotic dance has shifted. I then pose some questions for empirical inquiry. I argue that transformations in the exotic industry are creating new opportunities and challenges for women, and may be particularly deleterious for poor and minority women. I call for sociologists to investigate the consequences of organizational transferal in sexual labor, reevaluate the dynamics of agency and exploitation, and consider the potential differential impact of these trends on poor women and women of color.

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Female Exotic Dancers: Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Perspectives

Cited by 18 publications

References 35 publications

Doing Gender Well and Differently in Dirty Work: The Case of Exotic Dancing

Doing Gender Well and Differently in Dirty Work: The Case of Exotic Dancing

Emotion management as struggle in dirty work: the experiences of exotic dancers

Stripping in the New Millennium: Thinking about Trends in Exotic Dance and Dancers’ Lives

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