And the fact that over 50% of the burlesque audiences seem to be female too. It's obviously their evil boyfriends forcing them to dress up and look beautiful in order to sexually exploit them into viewing something that they have no interest in.

Obviously when I set up this website I had no idea that in the eyes of some people, it would turn me into a pimp!

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Castlist - One Site To Rule Them All!

YES pole dancing can be a form of male titillation - however, just about any act will be titillating to someone. I personally find some ballet pieces sexual. Want to suggest that ballet is "wrong"?

YES burlesque does usually involve a level of nudity - however, so does having a bath or going to the toilet. Wether you find it sexual or not is up to you. (admittedly, I don't often have people watch me on the loo - but you know what I mean)

Many people are brought up with "This is wrong - This is right" ideals. Especially when it comes to sexuallity. If you start to question things we do - it challenges these beliefs and many people can't cope. Then they attack. It's their problem and they'll have to deal with it. Sadly, nothing we say will change everyones opinion.

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Boswall Park xx
"All this talk of Pasties and I'm hungry"
www.beautyinbedlam.co.uk
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Just been reading this article. At least there are some postive articles about burlesque.

http://www.ideasfactory.com/performa..._feature49.htm

People will have to accept we are here to stay!

x

i find this whole subject fascinating because if we were to put it into another society then the view on women showing parts of their bodies or dancing would be viewed oh so differently. I was lucky enough to live in Ghana for 6 years, 3 of those being spent up in the far north. Here women's breasts were seen as ways of feeding children - not in the least 'erotic' , however a gap in the teeth, hair,large calves - these were highly desirable. Dancing was about 'creative/sexual' energy . many of the woman were so powerful and very much in control - but as that was 'normal' it was acceptable. Over here I think as women we have found some equality in the workplace but with regards to complete autonomy over our sexual strengths - I still think it is seen as unacceptable because it can be viewed as very threatening by a majority of the male species. (MOBsters excluded!) The reason why burlesque is so powerful is that it is about women celebrating that energy - not just to manipulate and titillate men but because they as women love it, want to play with it, want to stand up and shout about how f.***ing wonderful it is to be a sexually/creatively powerful woman - that is a huge threat to many people who are not there yet and fear those who are.

I can't seem to open the link to the article (god, how I love technology.) but as a card-carrying feminist, I feel I ought to add my threepence.

Burlesque seems to upset the feminist majority and it gets right up my glittery knickers. A large part of the whole appeal for a lot of performers and (usually female) audience members is that it has implicit or even explicit femininst tones to it. Burlesque is largely organised by women, funded by women, performed by women, viewed by women, obsessed over by women, taught by women. It's owned by women, unlike lapdancing clubs (not that I have anything against sex work, on the contrary) this is almost sheer empowerment. Obviously, if you do anything at all for money, a part of you is sacrificed to "the man" (for want of better words), but the nature of burlesque, certainly neo-burlesque is verging on a feminist revolution. It's political and intelligent. A burlesque crowd isn't a boozy rugby player's stag night and while it's adult theatre, it IS theatre.

What people sometimes fail to realise is that there are as many types of feminism as there are feminists and what is seen by some as a purely feminist action is seen by others as anti-feminist. but the umbrella term of "feminism" gets attached with aplomb and people don't get the whole picture. I know what foxy means in the way that she doesn't want to call herself a feminist. I'm ambivalent about the word, at times. But there's very clearly still a place for feminism if we have these kinds of debates not to mention the raping, killing, lack of wages, lack of status etc etc inflicted on a person just because of her gender.

I seem to have got a little carried away there. but you know what I mean. I'll be post-feminist when the world is post-patriarchy.