"Where am i going to stop?": exotic dancing, fluid body boundaries, and effects on identity

    Authors

    J. K. Wesely

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Deviant Behav.

    Keywords

    DEVIANT OCCUPATION; STRIP CLUB; STRIPTEASERS; STRATEGIES; CAREER; DANCER; Criminology & Penology; Psychology, Social; Sociology

    Abstract

    Female exotic dancers earn a living through particularly objectified and sexualized constructions of their bodies. In order to increase cash reward, dancers may allow their body boundaries to be "fluid," deciding on a customer-by-customer basis how they will interact physically. These body compromises can lead to a variety of identity problems for the women. This article thus builds on exotic dancing literature about stigma and deviance by incorporating a deeper look at these body and identity conflicts. Using in-depth interviews with female exotic dancers, this article explores the ongoing negotiation of fluid body boundaries experienced by the women who strip for a living, and the identity meanings and effects of related body compromises.

    Journal Title

    Deviant Behavior

    Volume

    24

    Issue/Number

    5

    Publication Date

    1-1-2003

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    483

    Last Page

    503

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000184456600004

    ISSN

    0163-9625

    Share

    COinS