I started dancing thinking I was the exception. I had it in my head that all of these other girls were high school drop-outs who were ditzy and immature. I thought that since I was a university student in a serious relationship, who has two very prestigious and well-known government worker parents that I would be the odd one out. Over time I have come to realize that I was very, very wrong.
Yes, there are some girls who are not the brightest, or the most mature, or the friendliest, but for the most part, these women are the epitome of what our society is built on and about. These women, like me, work as strippers but that's not who we are. During the day, we are well-adjusted members of society who you may or may not even notice as anything but ordinary on the street. We do our groceries, we take our dogs to the park, we go to the bank and we get stuck in traffic. Just like everyone else.
In fact, I've come to realize that a fair amount of these women are some of the smartest people I have ever met. And by smart, I mean the whole package: street smart and book smart. In the last year, I have met several dancers who are either in school for or have already earned degrees in humanities, business, engineering and even medicine. One woman runs her own business during the day and earns extra money once or twice a week at the club on the side. One woman is graduating from medical school next year, and does internships at a local hospital during the day, and pays her tuition through dancing. Another woman racked up $60 000 in student loans getting her undergraduate and masters degrees, so she dances in order to fast track her payments.
I've learned over the last year, not only in this situation, that not everything is what it seams and you absolutely cannot read a book by its cover. Some of my closest friends now are dancers, and they're some of the most incredible women I've ever met. I now have the utmost respect for women in this career and even more for those who are using this job to further themselves in life through education.
There are good days and bad days but in the end, I love my job and the women I work with.
21 November 2011
16 November 2011
Looking Back on the Year
My one-year anniversary of starting dancing has come and went without me really noticing. You know, this is the longest I've held a job. That said, I haven't had too many jobs. I'm only 19 and wasn't allowed to work during the school year in high school. I've done the generic summer jobs everyone has: lifeguard, camp councillor, secretary, etc.
Looking back on the last year, I can honestly say that I don't regret starting. I was afraid it would change me, in a negative way, or hurt my relationship with Boyfriend through jealousy or disinterest. But these things never happened. Yes, I've changed, but for the better I think. I'm more confident, both at work and not, and I'm happier, more relaxed and far less stressed than I used to be.
And I wouldn't attribute it to simply just money. For me, the greatest thing about this job is the freedom. It gives me the freedom to spend time with Boyfriend, our dogs and my family. It gives me to freedom to have days when I just stay in bed all day and watch cheesy movies. It gives me the freedom to choose when I work and for how long. It gives me the freedom to not have to worry about getting generic/unhealthy/cheap dog food for my boys. I can get the good brands of food for myself, the organic foods, good cuts of meat and expensive cheeses. I know it may not sound like a huge perk but believe me, good food is so much better than cheap food. And I still don't spend a fortune on groceries anyway.
Do I think anyone could do this job? No. But if you're considering starting, the reasons behind possibly not being able to be a working girl are probably not what you think. A lot of this job is about how you can communicate and think on your feet, not about looks. But there are exceptions as well. There is an older Asian woman who works sometimes at my club and she is by no means overly attractive, nor is she good at conversing. Her accent is very thick and it can be hard to understand her even when there's no music playing, and yet somehow she manages to get almost everyone she talks to into the VIP.
If you're considering starting a career in this field of work, I would definatly recommend doing your research and thinking very hard about how it could effect you and your life. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. I'm here to help if you want specific questions answered.
Looking back on the last year, I can honestly say that I don't regret starting. I was afraid it would change me, in a negative way, or hurt my relationship with Boyfriend through jealousy or disinterest. But these things never happened. Yes, I've changed, but for the better I think. I'm more confident, both at work and not, and I'm happier, more relaxed and far less stressed than I used to be.
And I wouldn't attribute it to simply just money. For me, the greatest thing about this job is the freedom. It gives me the freedom to spend time with Boyfriend, our dogs and my family. It gives me to freedom to have days when I just stay in bed all day and watch cheesy movies. It gives me the freedom to choose when I work and for how long. It gives me the freedom to not have to worry about getting generic/unhealthy/cheap dog food for my boys. I can get the good brands of food for myself, the organic foods, good cuts of meat and expensive cheeses. I know it may not sound like a huge perk but believe me, good food is so much better than cheap food. And I still don't spend a fortune on groceries anyway.
Do I think anyone could do this job? No. But if you're considering starting, the reasons behind possibly not being able to be a working girl are probably not what you think. A lot of this job is about how you can communicate and think on your feet, not about looks. But there are exceptions as well. There is an older Asian woman who works sometimes at my club and she is by no means overly attractive, nor is she good at conversing. Her accent is very thick and it can be hard to understand her even when there's no music playing, and yet somehow she manages to get almost everyone she talks to into the VIP.
If you're considering starting a career in this field of work, I would definatly recommend doing your research and thinking very hard about how it could effect you and your life. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. I'm here to help if you want specific questions answered.
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