girls ... do you mind if your men go to strip clubs?

Clearly there's a demand or there wouldn't be any strip clubs. While it may not be essential that doesn't mean it should be outlawed. The vast majority of people work jobs that are not essential for survival in the strictest sense.

I think there should be too. I'd always prefer to give a woman the chance to pursue any career she wanted. I don't see how limiting one possible option does anything to help that.

You don't see it because it's not something you would ever see. That doesn't mean it's not a reality. It means you have a limited world view. If a woman becomes a sex worker to help put food on the table and pay the bills she has helped herself and her family. And she did without caring about whatever judgement you wanted to put on her for it.

Just because there is a demand doesn't mean that there should be a supply. A good example would be illegal drugs. Just as drugs cause problems in society, so does the exploitation of women via pornography, strip clubs, etc. How many people do you think would like a strip club built in their neighborhood?

And although stripping is a paying job and legal option for a woman, it doesn't make it a good option. It's just an option. And a poor one at that. There is so many things that a woman could do and can do without putting herself in a position to be exploited. Would you want your wife or daughter stripping?

And I'm not judging any woman who choses stripping as a job to put food on the table either. Unfortunately many of these women feel that they have no choice but to put themselves out there like a piece of meat. It's sad. The reality is that there is a demand for it and unfortunately many women feel that they don't have the skill set to do something else. Stripping does pay well; but at what cost?

I feel it isn't my place to tell others what they "should" be doing with their lives.

You say you're not judging them. But then you say that their chosen career is a bad option. That they've made poor choices. That they've chosen to exploit themselves. That they put themselves out there like pieces of meat.

Just what would it sound like if you WERE judging them?

Here's my thing - I don't equate sex with love... and I don't think objectifying beauty is a bad thing. Sex and sexuality are so vilified in the US (especially), and everyone is raised to believe that bodies are dirty, sex is dirty, and if you like either, you're dirty. IMO, it's the most absolutely natural part of being human. Moreso than love, more than enjoying fine wine, or understanding sarcasm ... it's essential for our survival.

And really, I'd much rather have a man that can appreciate a woman's body without feeling 'bad' about it than a man that pretends like he only sees me. That's a one-way ticket to resentmentville.

objectifying beauty IS a problem. it has been at least partially responsible for the uptick in eating disorders. i do agree that americans are prudes when it comes to nudity. i'd rather have my kids see a naked body than an act of violence. in our house nudity and sexuality are mutually exclusive. they don't go hand in hand. we don't think that the body is something to be ashamed of. HOWEVER, sexual subjugation is NOT the same as nudity. we also teach our kids (5 and 2) that there is a time and place. and just because you shouldn't be ashamed of your body does not mean you have license to dance naked in our living room overlooking the neighborhood with the curtains wide open. i understand what you are trying to get at. but the objectification of people is bad because it means you aren't viewing them as a person. and don't you think the world would be a much better place if we all viewed each other as people vs. objects or enemies, etc????

Well! This has turned into a massive debate :laugh:

A girl I knew in my nursing program (she has since graduated and is in graduate school) was a stripper at a very popular club here in Miami. Beautiful girl with a banging body. My ex boyfriend and I had actually put a few dollars in her g-string before I knew her (I knew I recognized her from somewhere LOL). She's now a really good friend of mine

She paid for her tuition, cash, in full. She's not addicted to drugs and I know this because in order to be in her program, you have to pass random piss tests or you get kicked out, she has an awesome family (met most of them), graduated with honors and said stripping at her club was actually fun and helped maintain her figure. She never did anything she wasn't supposed to. Believe it or not, at higher end strip clubs, anything beyond the lap dance, can have the whole place shut down in a heartbeat. No judgement from me. Just down right, dirty, filthy ENVY

Sure, there's always going to be those "I have daddy issues" type of strippers but you can't shun the whole industry because you know or have heard of only the drug addicted, sex crazed, dirty ones.

My man had never been to one, so I'm the one that took him!

I glad someone has the same view on it as me. If my man wants a lap dance he should be getting it from me! Not some cheap, dirty hoochy with no moral values.