Geek Weekly #6

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Naked Chicks: who gives a damn?

Last November, some kid from the Daily Texan took a bunch of pictures of me for a project he was working on. He wanted to document a day in the life of a stripper. When he showed up at my house that Saturday, I was fixing migas and he said, "Oh, wow, you're cooking. I should get some shots of that." Then he took pictures of me putting my pants on one leg at a time, too.

Well, a few months after that, a young features writer called to tell me she was writing an article about students who stripped and wanted to interview me. Leah, the writer, used to work as a door girl at a titty bar in Austin, so I figured she wouldn't write anything too off base. I talked to her, and a week later, the article was published.

So, the story is published in which I and my friend Shea are quoted talking about the many positive aspects of dancing. I said that I always wanted to be a stripper, ever since I was a little girl, and Shea said that dancing was a great way to study human nature. And basically, we both said we liked our jobs and wanted to keep them as long as possible. The Texan utilized a ton of those photos that had been taken of me — so there I was, everywhere I went on campus that day, splashed all over the damn front and back of the paper. It was kind of cool, but I'll tell you this: it didn't even help me get laid!

The best part about this was the ensuing shitstorm of letters to the editor which came in the following week. I'd like to reproduce those letters here, since this is my fucking forum and I can respond. I never cease to be amazed at how uptight and condescending folks can be about my profession, and in kind, I never cease to be glad that most of the folks I know personally are enlightened enough not to have some of these reactions to my work. Some people, though . . . Here's a few of my favorite letters to the editor that ran about the "Student Body" story.

Last edit almost 7 years ago by lerivoir
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Stripping ain't intelligent I am all for women's rights and gender equality, but the article on the "Student Body" went too far. It is certainly a far cry from being newsworthy! I think that the exotic dancing these girls discuss is a blatant contradiction of their claims to be feminists. By my definitions, feminism is not taking your clothes off and wearing a G-string for the sole purpose of male gratification. In essence, it is to be ladylike, effeminate, and act like a woman. [This has got to be my new favorite definition of "feminism."] I certainly don't consider dancing around on a pole feminine! [My first thought was, well, it's sure not masculine, but then I thought, my god, what could possibly be more feminine than swinging your crotch around a pole?] I do wonder if these girls came from single parent homes where their mothers were more concerned with themselves than their impressionable daughters. When Shepard says "I've always wanted to be a stripper, ever since I was a little girl," I cannot imagine what kind of home life the girl had. [Well, as long as Momma made the trailer payment on time, it was all right.]

Araminta Everton Undeclared sophomore

'Texan' pushes porn A couple days ago I picked up a Daily Texanand was appalled to find a front page feature on stripping as a means of obtaining an education. Upon reading the article I was disgusted not only with the girls interviewed but at the Texan for running the article. Once you got past the pretense of journalism, it was a simple glorification of girls selling their naked bodies for money. Now, I know shock value will indeed bring an audience, but it is extremely poor journalism. If you wanted a legitimate feature, perhaps you could have found out what went so wrong in Susan Shepard's

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childhood that made her want to be a stripper as a little girl? [I didn't want to be a stripper as a little girl - now that's wrong. I wanted to be a stripper as a grownup.] Well, let me tell you a slight situation that you overlooked in your advocacy of pornography. The pay doesn't go up and when you get older the yearly sum dips drastically. Oh, well, you can find a decent husband, right? Well, I dare you to tell this decent man what your college profession was. Maybe he'll understand, maybe he has no problem with sharing you with random people of the western world. Then again, if he is okay giving up what is solely his by right, what else won't he protect? [Boy, if that's an issue, what will he think when I ask him to fuck me up the ass?] Then maybe we can take his perspective. He is decene\t and successful . . . does he choose girl A that is all his and promises to be faithful, or girl B who is currently lap dancing for a trucker. I think the decent choice is abundantly clear. There are other stories than portraying the lowest class of women as normal and, for me at least, there are other papers if the Texan ever promotes a dead-end road again. [Hey, housewives rank lower, they don't even get paid.]

Christopher Miller Aerospace Engineering Junior

Student strippers There are several forms of feminism, but for the most part, they all tale as their task the promotion of economic and social equality between the sexes through the identification and critical evaluation of forms and concomitant means of oppression. So, the standard of being "lady like" (read: deferential to the male authority, subservient and passive) tends to restrict the options available to women.

Women have traditionally been seen as less capable, as objects of exchange between men (their guardianship passing from father to husband), as only situated for the private sphere, and as male-owned sexual objects. Several of these sexist assumptions are present in Christopher Miller's letter. As a (prospective?) husband, Miller is most

Last edit about 7 years ago by lerivoir
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upset about nude dancing because the more popular it becomes the more likely other men might have seen "his" wife naked.

Rather than looking at the stripper's childhood, as Miller suggests, we should look at the situation of women in our society. Nude dancing, though seemingly an act of freedom and independence, reinforces widespread cultural assumptions about women and reflects their cultural and economic oppression. [That's my favorite - hey, don't blame me, I'm a tool of the patriarchy!]

Aaron Smuts Philosophy graduate student.

Chapter 2 EVADING THE ENEMY

2-1. Planning: a. Evasion - the responsibility of every fighting man (figure 2-1).

U.S. FIGHTING MAN'S CODE OF CONDUCT [military symbols?] I I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

II I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist.

Figure 2-1. Code of Conduct.

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In-Store Schedule This week, there'll be a bunch of in-stores going on, and as part of GW's commitment to public service, here's a partial listing.

Sound Exchange 2100 Guadalupe 476-2274 Friday 3pm The Urinals, Vaz Saturday 3pm Grace Braun

Thirty-Three Degrees 4017 Guadalupe 302-5233 Wednesday 4pm Phyler Thursday 2-5pm Golden Hour Records w/ The Crack Pipes, Search Party, Knife in the Water, and Leschi Auld Cootie 6pm Richard Davies Friday 2pm Handsome Family 3pm Pilot Ships 4pm two guys from Windsor for the Derby 5pm Bardo Pond 6pm Eight Frozen Modules 7pm DJ Lunatic 8pm To Rococo Rot Saturday 3-6pm Peek-A-Boo Records w/ The Kiss-Offs, Poopiehead, Vidi Vitties, Junior Varsity and Silver Scooter 6-8pm Sandwich Records w/ Trasona Five, Vena Cava and My Friend the Atom.

(You know, I think that one of the guys in that Vena Cava band is the same guy that accused me of being a groupie at a Grifters show a couple of years ago in Dallas. That's right, yeah, then he sent me a tape of his band, and I'm pretty sure it's this Vena Cava. KVRX is playing the shit out of their single, which as far as I can tell is some pretty blatant Galaxie 500 worship. So, Kenny if you're lucky you're lucky you'll see me do my "groupie" thing around Austin this week. By the way, wasn't there a band named that already?)

Last edit about 7 years ago by lerivoir
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