Stripping the Illusion Lap Dancing: Exposing the Reality of ... - Object

Object: Challenging Objectification
Impact on Relationships:
“I think a lot of girlfriends or wives have this idea in their head of Moulin Rouge, or
those American clubs you see in films. As though men go to the clubs to watch
dancing. That isn‟t what happens! If you realised your man was actually kissing
another woman‟s breasts, or putting his fingers in her vagina, or being masturbated
by another woman, then would you still not mind?”
„Lucy‟ 60
“In February 2008, my immediate family and my ex-boyfriend (M) were in Australia
for my brother‟s wedding and, two days before, my brother had a stag night. The
possibility of the men going to a strip club on the night out had crossed my mind but
as these were intelligent, university educated, articulate men in their thirties, I had –
subconsciously, I think – judged them incapable of enjoying a strip club. Wrongly as it
turned out. It came as a huge shock to find out later that night that the group had
ended up in two strip clubs. My initial reaction was anger, quickly followed by
confusion...I felt as if M. had been unfaithful to me.
[...] I am wary of entering into a relationship now because I could end up in a similar
situation again.”
„Jessica‟ 61
“It took me a long time to recover from my experiences as a lap dancer. It took a
long time before I could look at men as anything other than punters. Working in that
industry distorts your perception of normal relationships.”
Karen Ex-Stripper 62
60 Banyard, K., 2010. The Equality Illusion. London; Faber and Faber Limited. p.138
61 OBJECT interview
62 From the forthcoming book Stripped: The Reality of Lap Dancing. Jennifer Hayashi Danns with Sandrine Leveque.
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