Female Exotic Dancers: Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Perspectives

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to explore and understand the various intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics associated with the lives of female exotic dancers from an essentialist, social constructionist, and critical perspective. This study uses informal interviews and an autoethnographic field study approach as its primary methodological modes. The act of unearthing the intrapersonal experiences and motivations of female exotic dancers helps deconstruct their limiting and oppressive gender and sexual narratives, thereby exposing the negative influence on their self-concept, -esteem, and -efficacy. Throughout the process of collecting and analyzing data, a variety of recurrent interpersonal themes also emerged, such as: (a) the extent of anticipatory socialization experiences acquired by the dancers prior to their entering the profession, (b) their on-the-job socialization, (c) the typology of exotic dancers (career vs. transient) and reasons for entering the profession, (d) the management of their stigmatized identities through various neutralization and normalization techniques, (e) the various processes associated with becoming a good performer, and (f) the negative impact of their dancing careers on their relationships with their significant others.