This project is a discourse analysis of first-person and ethnographic writings published between the years 2000 to 2012, written by cis-gendered women who have worked or are working as erotic dancers. Utilizing frameworks of “whore feminism” and whiteness I argue that the works under examination within this project assail the victim/agent dichotomy that has historically dominated discourses surrounding sex workers, which ignore what erotic dancers themselves have to say about female empowerment and how they choose to define themselves. By examining the issues of self-presentation that arise within the context of autobiographical work, I interrogate the tensions inherent within the erotic dance industry surrounding assumed motivations for engaging in the industry; measurements of success for erotic dancers; and how stigmatization impacts the lives of dancers and their loved ones. The project highlights ways in which erotic dance memoirs at once open up new critical and theoretical spaces and also problematically reinforce patriarchal stereotypes. / Thesis (Master, Gender Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-28 21:16:23.247

Amidst a considerable body of literature on erotic dance, the voices of third parties, that is, the people who organize, supervise, manage or coordinate the labour of dancers, seldom appear. Yet, these third parties provide a setting and services that are vital to dancers’ entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, perceptions of third parties as exploitative and coercive perpetuate framings of erotic dance – and sex work in general – as harmful, which in turn invisibilize dancers’ work, as well as their skills, labour rights and grievances. Drawing from qualitative interviews with 15 third parties and 15 dancers, as well as regional regulatory texts, this dissertation seeks to trouble these stigmatic assumptions by shedding light on the work of third parties and the organization of labour in Ontario’s erotic dance sector. Mapping the occupational roles and relationships amongst third parties (e.g., managers, bouncers, disc jockeys) reveals the organizational structure and peripheries of the strip club. Through this map, we see how third parties together form the organizational structure, which operates as a parallel entity to dancers who, as independent contractors, are for the most part responsible for their own work activities and income. At the same time, because dancers and third parties must equally provide quality service to their shared customers, they are both interdependent on, and independent of, each other. This relationship ‘plays out’ through occupational and situationally adaptive performances, which reiterate and resist normative gender, racial, and class scripts to produce the ‘party’ environment of the strip club. Simultaneously ambiance and organizational culture, the ‘party’ environment shapes third parties’ and dancers’ occupational performances for, and perceptions of, each other. The continuity of performance required to maintain this environment also results in third parties reproducing certain regulatory discourses and mechanisms in their surveillance and rule enforcement practices, and disregarding and subverting others, which in turn impacts upon dancers’ safety. Third parties’ relationships with each other and dancers are also permeated by stigma, stereotypes and perceptions of risk that echo regulatory and broader social discourses. These findings demonstrate that third parties’ engagement with regulation and normative discourses are deeply inter-related and impact the quality of the services they provide to dancers. On this basis it is argued that the context and conditions of dancers’ labour will be improved by rethinking narrow-minded regulatory frameworks and social norms.

Il existe des associations entre les bars de danse érotique et les activités illicites, dans les écrits journalistiques et scientifiques. Nous avons vérifié ces associations en menant une description des crimes et déviances associés aux bars de danse érotique. Puis, nous avons tenté d’expliquer l’organisation et la structure de ces crimes, en nous appuyant sur l’approche du crime organisant et la théorie de l’écosystème du crime, de Felson (2006). Des entretiens semi-dirigés ont été conduits avec dix femmes danseuses, une femme shooter girl, un propriétaire, un portier et deux clients. Une analyse thématique à deux niveaux a montré que les délits se rapportent aux stupéfiants, à la prostitution, au proxénétisme, aux déviances, et à divers actes de violence. Des distinctions importantes, quant au contrôle selon les établissements sont notées. La structure et l’organisation des crimes peuvent s’expliquer par une logique propre aux relations symbiotiques et interdépendantes, tel que le suggère la théorie de l’écosystème du crime de Felson. Ainsi, la structure des délits peut prendre une forme mutualiste ou parasitaire. L’interrelation propre au neutralisme explique l’organisation générale de ces délits. Le milieu criminogène de la danse érotique offre de multiples opportunités, qui seront saisies par les acteurs motivés, en vue de réaliser un bénéfice personnel. Deux constats étonnants : les données suggèrent que l’implication des organisations criminelles est relativement limitée; et les conséquences occasionnées par les activités du milieu présentent un caractère inquiétant, particulièrement pour les femmes. Des efforts en matière de prévention situationnelle seraient appropriés pour réduire les opportunités. / Erotic dance clubs are perceived as being linked to numerous illegal activities. In this study, we describe crimes associated with erotic dance bars in Quebec, focusing on criminal and deviant acts, and aiming to establish their level of organization and structure. This analysis is guided by two theoretical frameworks: the organizing crime approach and Felson’s (2006) crime ecosystem theory. Fieldwork was undertaken by conducting guided interviews with ten female dancers, a shooter girl, a club owner, a doorman and two patrons. A thematic analysis was conducted at two levels. Findings illustrate that crime in such settings are generally linked to the consumption and sale of narcotics, prostitution and pimping, deviances, and various crimes of violence. The analysis also revealed that control mechanisms and management varied greatly across clubs. The structure and organization of crime could be understood, in Felson’s (2006) crime ecosystem terms, as symbiotic and interdependent relationships between mutualistic and parasitic parties. Overall, the criminogenic environment of erotic dance clubs, offers many opportunities to be seized by individuals motivated to make personal gain. Additional findings suggest that the involvement of criminal group is relatively limited; and the consequences caused by various legitimate and unlawful activities pose a great deal of concerns, in particular for women. In such contexts, situational prevention measures would be adequate to reduce opportunities.

Il existe des associations entre les bars de danse érotique et les activités illicites, dans les écrits journalistiques et scientifiques. Nous avons vérifié ces associations en menant une description des crimes et déviances associés aux bars de danse érotique. Puis, nous avons tenté d’expliquer l’organisation et la structure de ces crimes, en nous appuyant sur l’approche du crime organisant et la théorie de l’écosystème du crime, de Felson (2006). Des entretiens semi-dirigés ont été conduits avec dix femmes danseuses, une femme shooter girl, un propriétaire, un portier et deux clients. Une analyse thématique à deux niveaux a montré que les délits se rapportent aux stupéfiants, à la prostitution, au proxénétisme, aux déviances, et à divers actes de violence. Des distinctions importantes, quant au contrôle selon les établissements sont notées. La structure et l’organisation des crimes peuvent s’expliquer par une logique propre aux relations symbiotiques et interdépendantes, tel que le suggère la théorie de l’écosystème du crime de Felson. Ainsi, la structure des délits peut prendre une forme mutualiste ou parasitaire. L’interrelation propre au neutralisme explique l’organisation générale de ces délits. Le milieu criminogène de la danse érotique offre de multiples opportunités, qui seront saisies par les acteurs motivés, en vue de réaliser un bénéfice personnel. Deux constats étonnants : les données suggèrent que l’implication des organisations criminelles est relativement limitée; et les conséquences occasionnées par les activités du milieu présentent un caractère inquiétant, particulièrement pour les femmes. Des efforts en matière de prévention situationnelle seraient appropriés pour réduire les opportunités. / Erotic dance clubs are perceived as being linked to numerous illegal activities. In this study, we describe crimes associated with erotic dance bars in Quebec, focusing on criminal and deviant acts, and aiming to establish their level of organization and structure. This analysis is guided by two theoretical frameworks: the organizing crime approach and Felson’s (2006) crime ecosystem theory. Fieldwork was undertaken by conducting guided interviews with ten female dancers, a shooter girl, a club owner, a doorman and two patrons. A thematic analysis was conducted at two levels. Findings illustrate that crime in such settings are generally linked to the consumption and sale of narcotics, prostitution and pimping, deviances, and various crimes of violence. The analysis also revealed that control mechanisms and management varied greatly across clubs. The structure and organization of crime could be understood, in Felson’s (2006) crime ecosystem terms, as symbiotic and interdependent relationships between mutualistic and parasitic parties. Overall, the criminogenic environment of erotic dance clubs, offers many opportunities to be seized by individuals motivated to make personal gain. Additional findings suggest that the involvement of criminal group is relatively limited; and the consequences caused by various legitimate and unlawful activities pose a great deal of concerns, in particular for women. In such contexts, situational prevention measures would be adequate to reduce opportunities.