In The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Tammy Joyner and Megan Matteucci attempted to write an article on the very controversial issue of exotic dancing in Atlanta. With very little cooperation from many employers and employees, the two were able to get some insight into the not-so-thriving industry. Joyner and Matteucci first discuss the impact the economic recession has had on the adult-entertainment industry, in regards to strip clubs, strippers, etc. They make an important distinction and recognize that although the exotic and nude clubs have experienced serious cutbacks, the number of aspiring dancers has not diminished. In fact, the Atlanta police say that the number of college students applying for the $350.00 work permit for dancing has increased since the recession began. In addition, the state of Georgia recently reduced the age of nude dancers to 18 opening dancing opportunities to more eligible women. It would be stereotypical to say that all dancers dance because they have to. In some instances that is true, but for others it is not. Some women do enjoy stripping. However, this article focused on a few women who had steady day-jobs but got cut when the economy slipped. Many women who would have never considered dancing are now applying to be strippers. But even though many more women are considering stripping, the industry is still getting hit by the recession. Joyner and Matteucci make a good point, in that there are no concrete figures because many employees in this industry do not want to spoil their reputations by giving their real names. However, strippers have said that they have experienced financial cuts in recent years.
While tips are lower and the “regulars aren’t so regular”, the stripping industry in Atlanta is still thriving. But at what point should a woman compensate her moral values for a steady paycheck? This issue seems to be a hot topic for both feminist and non-feminists alike. In Aisha Hakim-Dyce’s article, Reality Check, Hakim faces the tough decision of becoming a dancer in order to receive some type of income. She claims that stripping was her only option and she had exhausted every other opportunity for a possible career. It seems hard to believe that she couldn't find any other jobs but nevertheless this dilemma is not exclusive to Hakim-Dyce. Joyner and Matteucci’s article, they speak of the thousands of women who are in the same predicament as Hakim-Dyce. Many women, such as those previously mentioned, have to compensate moral integrity to make ends meet. Hakim-Dyce makes a valid point that Joyner and Matteucci would agree with, “Our reality simply is that we are sometimes faced with crucial choices that are limited-are that are neither easy nor simple to make”. Especially after the articles we’ve read this past week, it is easy to understand why someone might choose The Cheetah Lounge over McDonalds. Dancing may be a pretty raunchy job, but strippers in Atlanta know how to make money. As the picture implies, any amateur stripper out on the streets in need of money can win an easy thousand bucks or so. If Hakim-Dyce did choose a lesser paying job the possibility of her filing for welfare would certainly go up. And as we have learned, the welfare system is not exactly efficient or fair. For so many of these women, the dancing industry is either “a stepping-stone or a tombstone”, says former stripper Angelina Spencer. Hakim-Dyce was fortunate enough to use it as a stepping-stone, but some are not so lucky. Most women go into the business with the intention of getting out but when the pay is so steady it is difficult to get out once you’re in.
The recession has taken a toll on the entire spectrum of jobs in America. Unemployment rates have risen, and opportunities have become rare. The exotic dancing industry in Atlanta, Georgia, or across the nation for that matter, is no exception. The fact that Georgia lowered their age for nude dancing just shows their recognition of the high demand for any source of income. Exotic dancing has become a backup plan for numerous women in Atlanta because of the bad economy. Desperate times have called for desperate measures and these women have certainly had to lower their standards in order to pay the bills. They can only hope that eventually the economy will rise again and her choice to dance won’t become a tombstone.
Very good article, I hadn't really thought about how much the Stripping industry would be impacted, but now I realize that basically all their business is from people with some money to blow. But I wonder if they opened it up to 18 year olds because they realized that age is desperate or jobs? or because their customers want to see some young flesh up there workin that pole... While it's true that many women would think of at as going against their morals, things are sometimes more important.....
ReplyDeleteAlthough people want to protect their identities and things, it would be really interesting to see some statistics on how much money has been lost and things like that
Trey, I found the article you chose to explore for your News Flash to be quite interesting. You clearly present the relationship between the economy and fluctuations in the adult entertainment market. There is an apparent relationship between the downturn in the economy and women entering the adult entertainment industry. This inverse relationship suggests that women, who have been stricken with unemployment, turned to this industry. This is an arena that often provides money to pay for rent, groceries, and higher education. With the increased costs of higher education, limited scholarships, and decreased loans, female students must often turn to this field for financial support. Personally, I feel that if society continues to endorse this industry, women should not be criticized for their participation. As long as there is a market for such forms of entertainment, it will persist. Perhaps after the economy recovers, policies should be enacted to provide unemployed women with more viable occupational choices. Gender inequality has and does continue to exist within the workplace.
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