Girlfriends, Wives, and Strippers: Managing Stigma in Exotic Dancer Romantic Relationships

When romantically involved, exotic dancers must not only manage the negative image of their occupations, but also negotiate conventional relationship norms, including exclusive sexual access. This study investigates the process of partnering among exotic dancers. Interviews with 37 female dancers and 19 male partners reveal that these couples face particular challenges as dancers attempt to balance the expectations of their partners with the demands of their profession. Some of this stress is related to differences in role-taking behaviors, or the inability of male partners to take the perspective of workers. Furthermore, this study explores how women manage the “deviant” label of dancing. Specifically, although dancers often defend their occupation, many ultimately succumb to stigmatization, accepting shame and ridicule. Others manage relationship and job expectations by altering their selection of partners to avoid stigmatization.