In my latest piece, I took you on a strip through time as I unpacked why burlesque performers need to be sex work allies. There is an invisible pact you make when you teach, and profit, off an artform whose history is interwoven with that of sex workers. It is the expression of anyone’s femininity that is so harshly punished by patriarchy and burlesque studios are a place to celebrate feminine expression in many of its variants. It would be hypocritical and ahistorical not to include sex workers in that celebration. For many, sex work is where they reclaim their feminine power. Like pole fit studios, burlesque studios owe it to sex workers to be allies. Lucky for you, I’m here to offer some tips and tricks on what burlesque studios can do to support sex workers rights.
Educate your students
In 2021, I attended a burlesque course. In the first session, the instructor sat us down to discuss the history of burlesque and how it links to sex workers. Through celebrating our shared history, the instructor discouraged students from subscribing to the “burlesque is stripping but classy” mentality. This made me, a sex worker, feel extremely welcome. Which I believe is the first step to being a sex work ally: making sex workers feel safe and welcome around you and in your communal spaces. Especially when those spaces share a history with sex work.
Do what my instructor did, start your courses with a brief overview of the history of burlesque and stripping. Your students are looking to you as a guide, you have the responsibility and opportunity to educate them away from whorephobic rhetoric. If you are teaching burlesque, you likely know the history. If not, you can check out my article. Burlesque studios are a place of historically feminine, sensual, expression, and it would also be hypocritical to police that expression by saying, “it’s ok when we do it, but not when strippers do it.”
Stay up to date and be LOUD in your support for sex worker rights
Social stigma is arguably one of the most consistent challenges that comes with being a sex worker. That’s why it’s simply not enough to be a silent or even quiet supporter of sex workers while operating a burlesque studio. We need to know without a shadow of doubt that you are our ally. The louder, the better.
Does your burlesque studio have an Instagram or Facebook? I would highly recommend following sex work orgs and activists to stay up to date with issues that impact sex workers. Reposting sex work orgs/activists to your page is a simple yet effective way to show up for sex workers. At the time of publishing this piece, there are many current issues that your studio can direct people to learn and care about. In September of 2023, a harmful anti sex work bill known as the Swedish Model was introduced to the South Australian Parliament and in Washington, a stripper bill of rights has been created by Strippers Are Dancers. In Aoteroa New Zealand, a group of strippers known as Fired Up Stilettos are fighting for the rights of adult entertainers. Social media is a great tool for activism and allyship.
Provide sex work friendly resources at your studios
This may not apply to all burlesque studios, but most studios I’ve attended have a waiting room area with pamphlets and posters. Looking into local sex work orgs in your area and maybe grabbing some of their pamphlets and informative posters to place at your studio. This will make any student who is or has been a sex worker feel immediately safer in your space. It also sends the message to civilian students that sex workers are welcome in this space, therefore they need to leave any whorephobia they may have at the door.
Offer free rehearsal spaces / Scholarships for sex workers
Sex workers may be eager to sign up to burlesque classes, but due to the inconsistency of our income, are unsure if they will be able to maintain a membership. Having a steady income is a privilege not always afforded to sex workers, doubly so if they occupy other marginalisations. Offering scholarships to sex workers is one way to mitigate some of that inequality. It can be up to your studio how this process works, but I suggest prioritizing indigenous sex workers. There is also the potential to offer free rehearsal space time, for sex workers to book at their convenience. This can provide a sense of community for sex workers, as well as providing a safe space for strippers to practice their moves and connect with their bodies.
Be ok with upsetting or losing students that are anti sex work
You can educate your students on whorephobia and why it doesn’t belong in burlesque studios as much as you like, but it is up to the individual whether they internalize this knowledge. There is always the likelihood that you may have students openly voice their discomfort at a pro sex work stance, even after educating them away from this. You might have to get comfortable with the possibility of removing students that refuse to leave their whorephobia at the door. Everyone has the right to their opinions, but it does not make sense to me why someone would sign up for a burlesque class, only to shit on sex workers. To be anti sex work is to be anti bodily autonomy. And in the end, is performing burlesque not meant to be a celebration of owning your body?
Are you a sex worker with a story, opinion, news, or tips to share? We'd love to hear from you!
We started the tryst.link sex worker blog to help amplify those who aren't handed the mic and bring attention to the issues ya'll care about the most. Got a tale to tell? 👇☂️✨
