Highlighting Contradictions: Sexuality, Objectification, and Gender Roles Displayed in Exotic Dance Clubs

This study explores sexuality, objectification, and the gender roles displayed in exotic dance clubs from a qualitative approach. Field notes were accumulated from 30 hours of participant observation at two male and two female strip clubs located in Northeastern Ohio and Los Angeles, California. Twenty strip club websites (10 male club websites and 10 female club websites) were analyzed using both latent and manifest content analysis. The results revealed that there are significant differences in the way gender and sexuality are presented depending on whether dancers are male or female. Specifically, major differences relate to the aggression of dancers, the sexual fantasies of men and women, the objectification experienced by dancers, and the prevalence and acceptance of homosexuality in exotic dance clubs. The results support theories advances by Chodorow, Broverman, and Kimmel. Implications for further research on strip clubs are also discussed