opinion
EMPOWERMENT OR
EXPLOITATION?
Kim Lucas responds to Julie Bindel’s
tirade against the lesbian stripping
industry, which we ran in our last issue
(Page 68.
www.g3mag.co.uk)
Julie Bindel is a bigot, shamelessly hiding Faye says: “Where on earth did this notion same way as many women feel when they
behind feminism to justify her censorious come from that a striptease performer in come out as gay.”
views. Feminism is about a woman’s right to the UK is in the same situation as a woman
choose. And if a woman chooses to work in locked in a ‘closed’ brothel in India, or a Cat Harding (feminist & lesbian
the sex industry, or enjoy the entertainment woman smuggled here from Eastern radio presenter/compere) says:
and sexual freedom that it provides, then Europe? Having worked in the striptease “Julie Bindel quotes feminism and yet
that is her choice. industry for 10 years I fi nd this article manages to objectify and degrade the very
I created Candy Bar and ran it for 13 astonishing.” women she writes about. The right of
years before myself and my wonderful crew women to create and enjoy erotica by
left the premises just over a year ago. I fought Abbey says: “Having worked in many women, for women and the choice to
hard to have a new striptease license clubs with lesbian strip nights, I can say I have indulge in and create their own erotica is
granted there, and ran many of the fi rst pole never met a woman (either on the stage or empowerment. Sexual liberation means
dancing and lap dancing nights for women. in the crowd) who feels like they’re being that we are able to do whatsoever we
I am proud of my part in bringing the sex exploited. The atmosphere is always cheery, choose, consensually, as adults for sexual
industry for women further along for those but respectful. Nobody is doing anything gratifi cation.”
who choose to enjoy it. they don’t want to do.”
Julie’s article, Selling Out, in last month’s Joy London says: “I used to work at the
g3, provoked outraged responses from a Rachred says: “The lowest form of Candy Bar and still strip as my main job. I
variety of women, many of whom work or journalism is lazy research. Although I don’t know who Ms Bindel has spoken to in
have worked in the sex industry. She claims: understand that this was an opinion piece, order to reach her conclusion that all
‘I have interviewed strippers and lap-dancers. one should endeavour to at least base it on strippers despise their audiences (and their
Some of them were lesbians but none of truth. As the co-promoter of the holiday to jobs), but I would personally invite Ms Bindel
them enjoyed their work and all of them Lesbos which Julie Bindel mentioned, to come and see me dance and meet after
despised their customers’. I would like to clarify that we took 30 for a good old chat – anytime! In my
In my experience of professionally women by plane (not a cruise ship – that previous career in media I faced a lot more
interviewing the same group, I got very was gay men being turned away from Tur key exploitation of my human and working
different answers – particularly with regard the same summer) on a well-organised fun rights than ever as a dancer.”
to how it felt about performing for lesbian package holiday. If Julie did her research she
audiences. Some of these views I will share would be aware that although Skala Eressos Aphra says: “As an ex Greenham
with you now: relies on its 80% lesbian tourism trade, at that woman, who also worked as a lesbian
time it was presided over by a bigoted stripper in San Francisco in the 1980s and
Mayor who consistently used the police to then continued my career for 17 years back
69
Lana says: “Firstly, as a former dancer I try to close the lesbian-run bars and here in the UK, I have never felt belittled by
would like to add that most dancers earn businesses in the town.” either men or women. It was a truly
well above the national average annual wage, empowering, exciting time! I was there
and are working as dancers because they Cllr Laura Willoughby MBE says: because I enjoyed it and it gave me great
generally enjoy the attention. Not at any “I have long debated with colleagues about independence and freedom. Demanding
point in my dancing career did I feel the regulation of the sex industry in order to the right to enjoy each other in a sexual way
exploited or ‘abused’. At most clubs you’re provide safer environments, get rid of pimps, without feeling guilty is our right. But here we
treated exceptionally well.” and stop traffi cking and drug abuse. It is not go again being told how we should behave.
an easy debate. But what I cannot abide is Shame on you Julie!!”
Jo says: “My ex used to make between the fact that some women won’t even
£600 and £1,000 a night in a club in Euston. entertain the discussion because they feel Caz Gorham says: “Julie Bindel has yet
Strippers in reputable clubs in this country to do so would be condoning selling sex again published an article with little
are well protected and well paid. Julie Bindel’s and would be anti-feminist. What is foundation (as she famously did a couple of
argument that by going to see them you are anti-feminist is doing nothing. Suggesting years ago in an equally nasty piece about
abusing them is laughable. There is real abuse normal sexual behaviour is wrong and transgendered people entitled ‘Gender
going on in this country – this is what we masculine and equal to abuse is also Benders Beware’).”
should be worrying about, not an area that is unfeminist; it makes women afraid that there
well policed, legal and consensual.” is something wrong with them, in much the
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