Comments on: Is Lap Dancing Prostitution?

By: Bridget Crawford

Bridget Crawford — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:36:06 +0000

In response to Maggie, above, please note that the proposed Rhode Island legislation does criminalize the “users.”

By: Stephen P

Stephen P — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:26:21 +0000

Is a model in a bikini on the front of a holiday brochure prostitution? Is a photo of a nude woman prostitution? Is anything less than a woman in a full burka prostitution? Where exactly should the line be drawn? Should skirts be worn above or below the knee? Should skirts be worn at all?

There’s an interesting paper forthcoming on lap dancing and community pressures for regulation in the UK by Professor Phil Hubbard available in draft form at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6461796/Encouraging-sexual-exploitation-The-licensing-of-lap-dancing-clubs-in-the-UK

By: maggie

maggie — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:45:16 +0000

The need for women to earn a living within the context of patriarchy means that criminalising any use of their bodies to do so will impact negatively on the women. This kind of legislation does not criminalise the users of the service, not does it provide any useful alternative social strategies.
Isn’t it time middle class women stopped excusing their men’s somewhat pathetic sexual dalliances and see it for what it is – no different from prostitution, just a woman trying to earn a living and a man prepared to pay for it.
I would much rather have a world without it – without any moral judgement at all to the women who do it, I think it is a sleazy, unpleasant industry. But without changes in the way men and women relate to each other, it will continue. So how about challenging these middle class wankers ( literally) about their behaviour instead of normalising it, and challenging anything which further criminalises women who have limited choices.

By: Is lap-dancing prostitution? « Din of Inequity

Is lap-dancing prostitution? « Din of Inequity — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:44:51 +0000

[...] at Feminist Law Professors, Bridget Crawford has recently asked,Â Is lap-dancing prostitution? It really is a squillion dollar question, with so much of the world interested in restricting [...]

By: bob coley jr

bob coley jr — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:35:34 +0000

Though I would agree that not criminalizing lap dances has a nefarious side, I can also ask myself a few questions that might be relevant. Are lap dances not criminalized for any and all possible gender configurations? What economic factors were examined in regards to criminalization? Who lobbied for what outcome? Who benefits, and how, from this course of thought?

By: David S. Cohen

David S. Cohen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:15:22 +0000

I think you’re looking too theoretical here Bridget. My guess is that too many legislators get/have gotten lap dances and they just don’t want to ban them. Either that or they, like you, know lots of guys who get them and don’t want to criminalize what they do. If in fact the legislation’s language was intentionally written to not cover lap dances, I really think this is nothing more than not criminalizing what they and their friends do!