sociological explorations in site-specific social control: the role of the strip club bouncer

This paper reports the results from a participatory ethnographic investigation into a traditionally perceived deviant setting concentrating on perceptions, communications, and enforcement of site-specific norms and behavioral regulations. Much of the sociological literature covering strip clubs tends to focus on either the strippers or the customers. The current paper moves beyond this discussion to focus on the power arrangements from the perspective of a security team member or “bouncer.” This unique, exclusively male role is responsible for enforcing the unwritten rules pertaining to both female employees and males customers. This rule enforcement utilizes perceived notions of masculinity found in society in general and exploits these perceptions. Additionally, similarities between bouncers' use of masculinity and similar features of the public police force are addressed.