Are strippers the new "It" girls?
These days stripping seems to be able to launch women into high-profile careers – pop stars, actors, entrepreneurs and even wannabe politicians. Using social media as a platform to build their brands, some strippers like No4eign have over 165,000 Instagram followers and get booked for work directly via the platform – and they are making a swag of money. Seems like strippers are definitely trending, but in a new Slutever, host Karley Sciortino explores whether there is still shame associated with the fame.
Pop culture is changing the way we view strippers
Sciortino speaks to sexologist Michelle Hope who says language and music are responsible for taking a lead in the way society views things, and hip hop music has contributed to elevating the status of strippers and changing our perception of them. American rapper and celebrity Cardi B was forthright in coming out and announcing she was a stripper, and Rihanna used her own stripper-inspired moves alongside real pole and exotic dancers in the ‘Pour it Up’ video.
Rihanna used strip culture in her video for ‘Pour It Up’. Source: Def Jam Recordings
Who goes to strip clubs these days?
Strip clubs seem to have come a long way since being the domain of shady characters and standard venues for bucks’ parties. Allison and Matt are a married couple who go along to strip clubs together and watch each other have lap dances. They say it reinforces the trust between them and even brings new sexual energy that helps their own sex life without any messy strings attached.
Do strippers have the perfect job or are there still problems?
Although the climate of strip club culture has definitely evolved into something more mainstream, there are still issues that adult entertainers have to deal with. “Strange Bedfellows” is a podcast about strippers’ rights which has been set up by and features strippers identifying and discussing the problems they still face. Problems like getting a lease on a house, payment processors like PayPal refusing to work with them, and men believing that it is OK to assault them particularly while at work.
Stripping is like an Olympic level sport
Turns out that pole and exotic dancing is not just about putting your body parts on show to strangers – it requires some pretty serious core strength. Sciortino gets some tutoring from a professional and tries her hand at pole dancing. The result? Probably best that she holds onto her day job.
Slutever: Strippers airs on Tuesday, 7 May at 10:00 pm on SBS VICELAND, straight after Slutever: Alternative Sex Ed at 9:30 pm. You can also watch it now at SBS On Demand:
