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I was a stripper for a year. I started when I was 18 and it was my first job. I was desperate for money and the clubs I worked at would hire anyone they found attractive so I applied out of desperation.
MY 18 YEAR OLD SELF WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE EXPLOITATION
People are underpaid, exploited, trafficked, raped, sexually assaulted, etc
All of us have been SA.
I'm a WOC and have been called racial slurs, racist comments, fetishized, hate crimed many times along with almost every WOC in the clubs. The managers did NOTHING about it.
I would get bullied, exploited by the clubs and managers.
The industry is pedophilic too! I avoid telling them my age because of the weird shits they say.
I never understood it when people found it "eMpOwErInG". Performing on stage was fun ig but being gawked at by disgusting males was not fun. I cried every night.
I had so many horror stories regarding the industry. Males would bring their gf, wife, stag party, and I would always feel awful dancing for those taken people and tried my best to brush it aside. Even other women SA strippers. Even strippers SA each other. The industry normalized shits like that. It made my mental health so much worse and my body image, self esteem so much lower. The coworkers were pick mes, racists and both at the same time. The things they told me about their relationship made me cringe and I felt pressured into being like that due to the lack of self worth I had. Whoever said it's empowering is lying to themselves or just weird.
I'm recently enrolled into esthetician school because I love skincare and finally gets to do what I love. My dad knew about the stuffs I've been through when I was a stripper and made me quit, I was reluctant but I complied because I HATED IT but addicted to the money, now I get to do cooler stuffs! I'm glad I quitted.
Funny how you can legally get married, have babies, join the military, take on six-figure-debt and become a sex worker at 18 ... all of which facilitates the exploitation of women, poor people and minorities...
...but still get tried as a youth if you commit a crime and expect lenience as long as you are under 21 (at least where I live) ... which obviously benefits young men who famously lead every crime statistic. Oh, and everyone will freak out if you want to take a sip of beer if you are in the US.
That's the dystopia we live in. We don't protect an 18 year old girl from being pushed, manipulated and coerced into the sex industry - because she's an adult, right? - but if the same girl gets raped by her 19 year old classmate he will very likely get off with a light sentence (if he gets sentenced at all) because he is sooo young, he didn't understand the consequences of his actions and we don't want to ruin his whole life over one little mistake.
I'm so sorry that happened to you, OP, and you are so, so strong for making it out.
I’m so sorry you had to endure through all of that. The entire porn and stripping industry is far too gone and cruel and perpetuates rape on every level. It’s beyond disgusting how women especially any brown, black or asian woman are groomed into it.
i’m so happy for you that you got out and are in a much better place now!
Good for you op. I have experienced many women be stuck in this spiral for DECADES. I’m so proud of you!
Also men who go to clubs think they are not exploiting anyone but they are a part of it !! Imagine being such a Degenerate bring your partner who is equally bad to the club for amusement where women are being exploited and degraded . Shame on those women too
Iam so sorry you had to go through that . What Is our crime that we have a reproductive organ if men had it we all know nobody wud be able to sexually assault them . Iam so glad you got through it and are in school doing things you love . Much love ❤️