Merf. Thinking is Hard.

kinkyturtle:

everythingbutharleyquinn:

chat-with-quill:

ms-doodle-pants:

big-poppa-snorlax:

bearded-snorlax:

I’m really disappointed that this is so over sexualized because pole dancing is really cool

okay, so first of all: this example is not “over sexualised” - this is someone who very possibly has never done a day’s worth of stripping in her life performing some moves in a dance studio. She’s very likely to have had a lifetime of dance and gymnastics training behind her and decided to take poledancing classes when it became the new hit craze. She’s learned in a formal class environment.
But poledancing was developed by strippers in a stripclub environment. Many of those strippers also had a lot of dance and gymnastics and cheerleader training behind them and they developed pole moves partly as a way to kill time when the club was quiet. They taught each other in an informal setting and innovated and created for themselves. Without getting paid explicitly to do so.
Their talent at being able to do things like this has never been recognised. Even though the first pole schools were opened by strippers and taught by strippers, it has now been appropriated by hundreds of people who have never done sex work and who have no respect for sex work, who think it is “sad” that poledancing has a history inextricably entwined with sex work, who only view poledancing as a legitimate artform once it becomes detached from its sex work context despite the fact it was conceived and built in a sex work environment by sex workers.
Poledancing is not “overly sexualised”. It IS a sexualised dance/athletic art and rightly so - it belongs to strippers and it is strippers who made it. Its beauty and athleticism and skill doesn’t change because it was used in a sexualised environment to help its practioners make more money (although now it is seen as just for middle-upper class non-sex workers to pay big bucks in a formal class environment to learn to titillate boyfriends and husbands whilst staying appropriately fit!). That’s a part of its history. Sexualised things are not inherently worth less because of their sexual nature. To believe so is just to devalue the hard work of the sex workers who innovated it and that is done more than enough as is.
Poledancing is still cool and amazing and requires great skill and talent to execute even MORE SO when it is sexualised. Just being able to perform it impressively is one thing; being able to make it a fluid part of a character performance (which is what stripping entails) is another. If you can’t appreciate that, you don’t understand it, so STFU.

this fucking commentary is perfect

everythingbutharleyquinn:

chat-with-quill:

ms-doodle-pants:

big-poppa-snorlax:

bearded-snorlax:

I’m really disappointed that this is so over sexualized because pole dancing is really cool

okay, so first of all: this example is not “over sexualised” - this is someone who very possibly has never done a day’s worth of stripping in her life performing some moves in a dance studio. She’s very likely to have had a lifetime of dance and gymnastics training behind her and decided to take poledancing classes when it became the new hit craze. She’s learned in a formal class environment.

But poledancing was developed by strippers in a stripclub environment. Many of those strippers also had a lot of dance and gymnastics and cheerleader training behind them and they developed pole moves partly as a way to kill time when the club was quiet. They taught each other in an informal setting and innovated and created for themselves. Without getting paid explicitly to do so.

Their talent at being able to do things like this has never been recognised. Even though the first pole schools were opened by strippers and taught by strippers, it has now been appropriated by hundreds of people who have never done sex work and who have no respect for sex work, who think it is “sad” that poledancing has a history inextricably entwined with sex work, who only view poledancing as a legitimate artform once it becomes detached from its sex work context despite the fact it was conceived and built in a sex work environment by sex workers.

Poledancing is not “overly sexualised”. It IS a sexualised dance/athletic art and rightly so - it belongs to strippers and it is strippers who made it. Its beauty and athleticism and skill doesn’t change because it was used in a sexualised environment to help its practioners make more money (although now it is seen as just for middle-upper class non-sex workers to pay big bucks in a formal class environment to learn to titillate boyfriends and husbands whilst staying appropriately fit!). That’s a part of its history. Sexualised things are not inherently worth less because of their sexual nature. To believe so is just to devalue the hard work of the sex workers who innovated it and that is done more than enough as is.

Poledancing is still cool and amazing and requires great skill and talent to execute even MORE SO when it is sexualised. Just being able to perform it impressively is one thing; being able to make it a fluid part of a character performance (which is what stripping entails) is another. If you can’t appreciate that, you don’t understand it, so STFU.

this fucking commentary is perfect

(via karnythia)

Jan 27

the-robot-condese:

tiny-little-nebula:

taloa-nashoba:

thatthirstyniggafromclass:

misconceptions about strippers.

pussy preach more sense than the fuckin government.

I want to break necks when people shade strippers. Let’s see your janky ass get out there and look that cute in 6 inch heels for 8 hours, smiling the entire time, stroking egos, pretending a dude’s breath doesn’t smell like a rotten animal.

Truth.

My sister has a Masters in Education. She got a job at one of the poorest schools in the city, but didn’t make enough money to pay to keep her tiny house heated through the Oregon winter or buy enough food or take her dog to the vet (first person who drops the word rehome gets a kick in the face.) so she quit and the only job she could get because she’s “overqualified” to work at Fred Meyers was at a strip club because she minored in ballet. I think people forget that stripping is like any other job: you have to have some experience.

And all those crumpled one dollar bills? 20% of that goes back into the club because strippers are renting the stages they dance on. Sometimes it’s more.

Despite all of that, my sister makes more money than she ever did because she works 80 hour weeks and literally never takes a day off. She teaches classes to drunk white girls, she does private parties, she does entertainment for conferences and shows.

When I had to go to the ER last February and got a bill for $800 that I couldn’t pay, my sister sent me money so I wouldn’t be sent to collections.

My sister is the classiest motherfucker in a pair of six inch heels. Anyone who calls her a dumb slut or a hoe gets their shit wrecked.

that’s the best thing i ever just heard get said

(Source: pink-vulva)

Oct 11

tumblinfeminist:

I understand and agree with supporting the sex work profession in…

thesexuneducated:

I understand and agree with supporting the sex work profession in order to lower stigma. By lowering the stigma of sex workers, we also lower the stigma of sex positivity.

However, this is very problematic within a feminist context.

Having a developing sexuality fertilized by socialization directly causes and effects what and how one achieves and exceeds arousal. Therefore, even if sex work was recognized as a respectable profession, the sex workers themselves are most likely continuing to participate and enable their own socialization, the socialization of others and ultimately, their own oppression.”
… read on

I feel you are completely incorrect and am offended at many things you have said. I find it odd that you talk about how folks are effected by socialization, and yet can’t seem to see that your views of money for sex=/= objectification are directly related to your own socialization for starters. You deciding that all sex work clientele are chauvinists making real their “oppressive misogynist fantasies” come true is also obviously directly coming from your own (in many cases incorrect) ideas sprouted from your socialization.

As as sex worker I know that not all my clients are chauvinists or misogynists nor are their fantasies, their physical or emotional needs. Your assumptions about a very large group of people (many of whom are not male or straight) is appalling, dismissive and oppressive. There is no questioning those bad types of people exist but the notion that all or the majority are bad people is incorrect and offensive- and based directly on your socialization and social constructs.

As a sex worker I also do not believe my work is oppressing and I am certainly not taking responsibility for the oppression of other sex workers, the community at large or myself or for enabling such abuses. I honestly believe misogynists and people who tell me that living outside their ideal worlds and social constructs (such as you) implying I am causing my own and others oppression are the ones who are at least partially responsible for my oppression and degradation among other things.

Sex for any reason (including money) =/= auto = oppression

Sex for any reason (including money) =/= auto = being degraded

Sex for any reason (including money) =/= auto = objectification

Sex for any reason (including money) =/= auto = any less empowered in any way.

I’m tired of the notion that because someone is willing to spend time, money, emotional investment or anything else for my time means that they are obectifing me. It’s nonsense, and it’s harmful nonsense. Your assumption that all these things automatically make me a victim, make my customers smug misogynists who are empowered for something you consider degrading/oppressive/objectifying and the like are ALL based on your own personal biases and your socialization and social constructs.

(via -frabjousday)