Media Coverage

Stacey Clare, a 'stripper activist' with 12 years experience in the industry discusses how feminist objectors "continue to ignore the voices of the majority in the sex industry and undermine us" by using similar tactics to "sleazy strip club boss" Peter Stringfellow, who paid investigators to film dancers undercover at rival clubs.

"But if it’s true that many women are working in the sex industry because of their lack of choice (which in so many cases is true) then where is the benefit in making those choices even more limited, by removing their work options?"

Saskia Hagelberg outlines how "sex work does not need to be empowering to be a justifiable livelihood, just like no other job ‘needs to be empowering’ in order to exist (Feministripper, 2018)."

While empowerment is important because it focuses on "women’s sexual agency and liberation, which problematises the persistent victimhood narratives", Hagelberg describes how "the concept of rights may be more helpful ... as it allows for the articulation of diverse needs of each worker, including fair wages, safety, and dignity.".

"it is important that we allow sex workers to speak for themselves about their working conditions"

United Voices of the World Union condemn actions taken against their members.

"Dancers have made it clear that they don’t need rescuing, They need a dignified workplace where they can earn a living to support themselves and their families.

Women choose to work in strip clubs for the same reasons people choose a wide variety of jobs: funding university studies, family needs, a disability and a scarcity of other work options. All of them are working because they need to make a living under increasingly difficult conditions — extortionate housing costs, inaccessible and inadequate benefits, lack of childcare and falling wages in other industries. "

Sex workers have revealed how they’ve been left feeling “violated” and “betrayed” after the Women’s Equality Party covertly filmed dancers inside a legal strip club in an attempt to get the club’s licence revoked.

One lap dancer, Chloe describes how "anti-sex-work campaigns and movements like the one Women’s Equality Party has run, have left her feeling “silenced in society”.

"It’s like my voice, opinion and experiences are not valid or important.""

United Voices of the World Union representative Shiri Shalmy and Sassy, "a stripper who is using the profession to fund a law degree" discuss undercover filming, lap dancing and workers rights with Matthew Wright at Talk Radio.

Sophie Hemery speaks about unionising, feminism and the undercover sting operation, which UVW describes as “a misguided, self-appointed mission to ‘save’ dancers” that “puts women’s livelihoods at risk, whilst ignoring the explicit wishes of the women involved.”

"Steph, a dancer from one of the targeted clubs in Manchester, said the workers there “can’t understand why a group of women who say they are feminists are threatening to take away our source of income that feeds our kids, pays our rent and our education fees.”"