Defining the emotional contours of exotic dance

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed a surge of investigative and reflective writings about sex work, many by sex workers themselves. Katherine Frank and Elisabeth Eaves’ books are recent additions to this growing field of study. In G-Strings and Sympathy: Strip Club Regulars and Male Desire, Katherine Frank analyzes the contexts and meanings of strip clubs for heterosexual male clients. In Bare: On Women, Dancing, Sex, and Power, Elisabeth Eaves recounts her experiences as a peep show dancer and stripper. Though covering similar territory, their analytic paths diverge widely. As a reader at the cross-roads of choosing either book, the choice is a matter of intellectual standards, taste, and purpose.