Sub Culture in San Francisco
Rebels of Society Stripper Life
Urban Sociology by Jenaid Jenaid
Summer 2015
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CONTENT It is hard to deal with random people but we find a way!
MOST STRIPPERS WORK SECRETLY.
RELATIONSHIP with KIDS
I DON’T WANT MY KID TO BE A SRTIPPER!
COCAINE, DUGS, AND ALCOHOL ARE THE BEST WAY TO SURVIVE.
LARRY GOT SHOT BECAUSE...
$2000-$3000 PER NIGHT IS NOT BAD! It is not easy to go against the social
Free Schedule..A Lot of Money.
norm, there is usually someone who put
Why does this group exist and what is its history?
His/Her life into a big risk to make other people life’s easier. But, they have to think
Working As Stripper Impact My Life... We Live Against Social Norm. Sometime I Feel Shy! Stripper Life Is Very Complicated.
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How does this group give meaning to the lives of
if it worth it or not and it is not always end
individual members?
with a happy ending that they wished. It
How does this particular location (Hustler) play a
result showed up very late.
is only a few people who made it but the
role for members of strippers? What are some distinguishing social behaviors and norms found among strippers? What roles do gender, ethnicity and age play with this strippers?
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Intro son) But, first nude stripper with a
different sub cultures in urban
participation of audience started in
sociology, particularly in the city of
Britain 1960. (Goldstein, Murray)
San Francisco, something grabs my
In addition, I decided to interview
attention and makes me wonder
a stripper who works at Hustler
about everything about this group.
strip club located in San Francisco
I choose Strippers as a subject to
between Kearny & broadway street
dig deeper into it and to find out
but it was not that easy because
about their ambiguous and secret
it is very hard to go there and take
life style especially for me; for I am
picture or videos due to the regu-
from a country which has con-
lations of the club. Then, I remem-
servative regulations in regards to
bered that my friend Juliet became
what women are permitted to wear.
a stripper at Hustler last year. I
Stripper means a nude woman or
asked her a lot of questions and
man who remove his or her clothing
she replied to all of them patiently. I
to sexually excite the audience.
asked her (Juliet, which is her mid-
The term striptease first known
dle name, and the name she uses
was in 1938, but the nude dancing
at the club, her stage name, and
started more than 400 years ago. It
she is the muse of this particular
started in several places around the
accumulation of information I have
world as a combination between
gathered about the experience as a
music and nude dancing in order to
stripper. ) The polite term however
willing to sacrifice to achieve this success? ”
entertain the audience or it could
is an “entertainer”. I also met Sofia
Larry Flynt
be individually. First seen in theatre
and she is from Salvador, and I
for Fully nude dancing was in New
asked her a lot of questions as well.
York city 1878. (Robert, Hendrick-
Urban Sociology Studying a complex society and their social behavior.
Sub Cultures In modern societies there are many groups that share a lot of things and they are proud of it.
I asked Juliet How does this group give meaning to the lives of individual members? Juliet replied that strippers took initiative against social norm and they ignore social consensus about the way they think of them. Also, strippers give feelings of strength and freedom to encourage other people to do what ever they love and that is the meaning of Agency. And they ignore some people who are very ethnocentrism and they are judging people baste on their culture or religion. But because strippers are not living in Gemeischaft society so they think living in Gesellchaft which is a modern society that allowed them to do what ever they like.
“
“The only question to ask yourself is, how much are you
“
Juliet
As I am doing my project for
||| History of Larry Flynt & Hustler Strip club
Larry Flynt
Larry Flynt is the owner of Hustler strip club in San Francisco and other cities in United States of America
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Hustler is a very famous and very well known strip club, with a historic background, and people seek it because it is considered the best strip club in the city. The history of the club has to do with the man called Larry Flynt, himself. He started out as a strip club owner managing 300 strippers with his future wife in a town called Dayton Ohio. He later started “Hustler” magazine as a result of desiring to create a nude and provocative magazine which appealed to the common man. He was in and out of court as a result of what many people found to be perverse and obscene. He used The First Amendment to fight his case, as he said “Freedom of Speech”, is his entitlement. The court ruled against him, sentencing him to 7-10 years, but was revoked shortly after. Not too long after, he was shot causing him to be paralyzed for the rest of his life. He is still alive, and still opening strip clubs in different states; specifically the most visited cities. Because of the reputation which must be upheld, regulations in these clubs are strict, and security does their best to keep the clubs “clean”. The environment, the workers, management and dancers are very nice people that make the customer feel comfortable and satisfied which gives a good reputation about the club. Also, the security guards make the strippers feel safe and secure.(biography.com)
Stripper
is a nude woman/man who remove his/her clothing to sexually excite the audience in order to make money.
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Rebels of Society
internet/Jenaid
THANKS FOR READING Rebels of Society Text Written by Jenaid Jenaid
What Does It Mean To Be A Stripper?
-Who Cares?
Living in urban society makes people wonder about different sub cultures within their society. And it makes life easier if we understand and study other groups life’s. To have a better community we should understand and know about each-other and not judging people only from our perspective or our personal opinions, and also know the pros and cons about several groups and learn from them.
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Attitude, Education, Gender, Ethnicity, Age Strippers are very open minded in the sense that they are good
usually looking for black or bronze skin girls, black men usual-
listeners, patient, and tolerant. A lot of them are very pushy,
ly looking for blonde or asian. So, there is a diversity to make
aggressive to make guys spend more money on them. Most
customer satisfied. This however is only an observed generali-
of them didn’t finish their school but some of them are very
zation, and is definitely not always the case. There are the men
educated and have obtained high levels of education such as a
who come in specifically for their race as well, but these types
PHD. Also, flirtatious personalities are quite common amongst
of usually the minority amongst strip club goers. Juliet said
women who aspire to be dancers. Most of them feel at times
there is one white male (in particular) who comes in on a reg-
alienation by common social stereotypes of strippers, however,
ular basis, and he wants nothing to do with any girl that isn’t
one nice attribute about modern hiphop is that they glorify
black, and is actually rude to any girl that approaches him who
strippers; and because hiphop is such a popular music amongst
isn’t black; and will tell them straight out, that he only likes
such a big group of people, this causes strippers to be an ad-
black women. These sorts of situations are pretty common in
mired group of women. One example, would be an Usher song
the club, and the women who work in strip clubs need to have
called “I don’t mind”. But Sofia said that there is nothing in
a high tolerance for racism during certain points of their job.
common between all strippers we are different than each other,
Age:
every one has her own lifestyle!
There is no exact age, again it is about the audience and what
Gender:
they want to have, some of them are looking for young and the
Both genders dance, but in this particular industry, it is a
other look for older but its usually from 18 to 35 years old; and
“woman’s world”, as Juliet put it. She said herself that she finds
in reality, thirty-five is typically the absolute cutoff, similar to
much more entertainment watching women dance, and would
professional sports where most could not and will not contin-
never go to watch male strippers because it is a joke in her
ue after. And of course there are exceptions like other jobs or
opinion. Most male strippers attract gay guys and the girls are
sports. For example one of Juliet’s co-worker she is above 35
not interested to go to male strip clubs because it’s cheesy and
years old and she is still working and attracting the audience
they don’t want random penises shoved in their faces. Here in
and Juliet’s thinks she is going to work up to her 40’s. Sofia
San Francisco where there is a fair population of transvestites
said once her friend get better she will quit and find other jobs.
and of course the gay population to support it, there are also
I asked them How did you first become involved with strip-
bars/clubs which provide this to those who wish to see it.
pers? What made you want to get this job?
Ethnicity:
Juliet went as a customer and she liked the idea of making
Men usually want something different, for example, white men
money in a fast way with a flexible schedule. She also liked the
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concept of having a job where she felt she was her own boss,
body as Larry Flynt says “The only question to ask yourself is,
which most strippers accumulate a large collection. This job
and nobody would breath down her back, telling her what to
how much are you willing to sacrifice to achieve this success?”.
is like a constant test of social Darwinism, for the most fit,
do. She had just been let go at her waitress job, leaving her in
(brainquote.com) Sofia started when her best childhood friend
mentally and physically will thrive in this industry, which can
a financial bind, as she had to pay her rent, and had no savings
has liver epidemic that she has to help her to pay her hospital
be harsh at times, and “cut-throat”. There is a large percent-
to fall back on, and had too much pride than to borrow money
and other medicine expenses plus her rent and school stuff, So
age of dancers who use cocaine, as a way to cope with the long
from anybody. The first week was emotionally draining for
one of her friend told her the easiest and faster way to make
hours and to keep their weight under control. Alcohol for
her to say the least. She cried every day when she got home,
money which is to be a dancer in strip club. But other strippers
girls who are of age is allowed while on the job, and therefore
and she was not making any money either, because she had a
think as Crystal Woods quote “She lives like tomorrow isn’t
drinking habits increase significantly from performing this job.
difficult time pretending to be interested in people that were
coming and yesterday never happened.”
Juliet commented that it makes the job more fun when slightly
not familiar or nice from her eyes. She didn’t like when men tried to grab her because they thought she was just like some piece of meet. She pushed a lot of men away from her and in turn made almost no money. She had to change the way she
“
“She lives like tomorrow isn’t coming
viewed this so that she could survive at this place. She was
and yesterday never happened.”
on the verge of giving up on the day that she finally made a
Crystal Woods
guy who spent the money on her was genuine and not bad to be around to say the least. This day was the day which made her stay, as she made more money in one day than she had ever
“
descent amount of money, and this made her want to stay. The
intoxicated. Juliet has only this job and she wants another but she is so lazily content with her flexible schedule, that she hasn’t been thoroughly looking for an additional job. She works 3-4 days every week, which works out to be about 30 hours on average. She makes between $20-$1200, which has a very high range due to the lack of hourly pay; everything therefore depends on the mood of the customer. Sofia is working and going to school and she also work for 3 days and she makes the same as Juliet but some time more up to $2000 per night.
made before. That day was seemingly effortless for her. She
I also asked them what is day to day life like for you and other
I asked them do you think you made a perfect decision when
since, expresses that she has felt to be living in a perpetual vaca-
strippers? What do you think you share in common?
choose this kind of work? or you want to do something else? if
tion, which also she indicated can become undesirable because
Most strippers live a normal life like going to school, they hang
yes..what?
she wants to focus on her self improvement and her future.
out with friends, Tv, social media, they love their families and
Juliet think it is a sufficient temporary job. But if she would
Juliet said, “being a dancer was not only however just an abrupt
some are even mothers. Among the women who choose this as a
have to choose other jobs, she will do art, painting or on a
decision on my part”. It started when she was quite young;
profession, they are usually the sort who puts a large amount of
more practical note; marketing. Basically, she is a very creative
when she was fifteen, she had the secret desire of dancing in
effort into their appearance, and they also need to provide their
individual who has an ultimate desire to express herself artis-
front of people as an expression of her sexuality. The idea of
own work attire. Going shopping often is common, and they
tically, and she likes the fact that she feels it is artistic when
being in a spotlight and people admiring her, without striving
also are known to have their Nails and hair well manicured reg-
she dances, and it is liberating that she sometimes gets paid
for fame, appealed to her because of the carnal desire to be
ularly. A Victoria Secret credit card is very useful for their work
extremely well. It is very frustrating for her. However, when
free, sexually, without having to do anything invasive to her
attire and provides the most beautiful lace thongs and bras of
she leaves with $20 after working in the club for nine hours,
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Having a job with no boss, Making your own schedule, Dancing all the time, Random people touching your body, Using fake name and personality to introduce your self, Hiding your feelings to entertain rude people, Walking against the society. Making a lot of money. You are a stripper.
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Rebels of Society
against the dirty men that her daughter would be exposed to, and although she coped with these things, and survived while
Internet/Jenaid
TEXT WRITTEN BY JENAID JENAID
keeping her full dignity, she would not want her daughter to have to deal with such bullshit. Another relationship, such as having a serious relationship
she is quite upset, and she wonders ‘what the hell she is doing’.
with a man, (as men are her preference), she said that she
It is very rewarding however when she leaves the club with over
understands that complications can arise in having a job which
a grand after a normal eight hour shift. Sofia said that she has
requires close contact with other men, and would make almost
no other choice and this the only way to help her friend but if
any man who feels serious about the woman, very jealous. She
she has a choice she will be a dancer or a personal trainer.
can understand this because she knows she would hate it too
In addition I asked them if working as stripper impact their
if the man she loved were in such intimate contact with any
relation ships. Juliet said that working as a stripper impact her
person but her. At the moment, she does not have a boyfriend,
relationships in a bad way at the beginning but within time
and she therefore does not have to deal with these complica-
some of them their opinions changed and they accepted, but
tions, but if she were to fall in love seriously, she would consid-
the rest still don’t accept it. Also, Most of her co-workers do it
er getting another job without much hesitation. She would not
secretly because their families and partners don’t accept them to
put the love of her life in jeopardy for something that is not
work as strippers such as Sofia. Moreover, there are a strippers
worth that, such as stripping. Sofia working secretly that no
who have kids and they don’t want to tell them what their job
one from her family knows about it because she said they will
is, because it is an adult topic that they don’t want to share
not accepted due their thinking of a stripper as a whore and
with them and they don’t want their kids to be a stripper in
she don’t want to waste her time explaining to them that is not
the future! Juliet said that if she decides to have children in the
true. Sofia she has no problem if her daughter become a strip-
future, she would not want her daughter to be involved with
per in the future but she said it has to have the same mentality
becoming a stripper because she would feel too protective and
to know how to deal with rude and stupid people. Sofia doesn’t
It is very rewarding however when she leaves the club with over a grand after a normal eight hours, But with all other challenges ... I don’t know!
Nothing worse than Rude customers!
In conclusion, strippers life are very complicated, most of them don’t want to be stripper but because of several reasons they decided to do it. The big reason is the big amount of money and the free schedule which is hard to find in anywhere else. In addition, they make their own decision which is against social norm, families, relationships, alienation that they feel inside them, normal life and more. Most of them are not educated they didn’t finish their schools and some are having problem with their fam-
have a boy friend and she doesn’t have time for relation ships, she only focusing at her friend and she wants her to
ily such as their parents divorce, child abuse, leak of communications between them and their families, single mothers. Under the
get better. Strippers facing a lot of challenges, for example rude customers are the worst and the people who treat them as an
paradigm and functionalism such as crime, poverty and more, makes me think of stripper as part of these things considering this
object. And that makes Juliet and Sofia feel angry and their reaction if that happens is to warn them to not to do that and
as a major part of society in different places around the world. I am not considering stripper clubs as a prostitution but it is part
they bring the security if it gets worse. Other challenges are based on men who have a twisted perspective on what strippers
of it because some stripper don’t do it because of the roles and law and if they allowed them they will do it, again not all of them.
provide to them, and they think that they are supposed to solicit sexual favors, which are absolutely forbidden. There are days
In addition, while I am doing some of my flaneur experience around the city and strip clubs, I found out that in some strip clubs
also, when both really don’t feel like being watched naked by guys, due to mood. There are days they wakes up feeling shy,
you can have sex inside VIP private rooms which is against the roles but sadly they do it, if the stripper allowed the customer and
and does not feel to engage with people in an intimate and sweet matter who they would otherwise have no interest in really
of course nothing for free. Finally, I think everyone should know what is good or bad of his life but we need to educate people and
talking to. But, of course because the objective in this place is to make money, there are days where they have to pretend and
help them as much as we can with their personal problems after that will leave them to choose their better life that they always
this drives them to drink because it speeds up the process of being more engaging, and making the situation much more fun,
dream of, because most of strippers if they have enough money to pay their rent and other life expenses will not work anymore.
which might be more boring without alcohol.
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Flaneur French word means endlessly walking alone with no destination as a solo experience to explore things.
Agency Human have to choose what they want.
THANKS FOR READING Rebels of Society
Ethnocentrism Viewing and comparing others through the lens of your own culture.
Gemeischaft German word means traditional society that people have the same tradition, value and harmony.
Gesellchaft German word means modern society that have different sub cultures, freedom, economy and more.
Alienation You feel different and not belong to certain group or culture.
Social Darwinism Only strong survive. Darwin theory. Social Norm Whatever your society believe it is normal. Paradigm Major theory used by a group of people/scientist as a framework to explain reality.
Functionalism How society function such as crime, poverty and more.
STAY TUNNED FOR MORE SUB CULTURES. —Robert Hendrickson (1997) QPB Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins. New York, Facts on File, Inc: 227 —Goldstein, Murray (2005) Naked Jungle – Soho Stripped Bare. Silverback Press —“Larry Flynt.” Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 05 July 2015. —”Larry Flynt.” Brainyquote.com, 2013. Web. —Crystal Woods, Write like no one is reading goodreaders.com
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