Randomnymity: A lot of people look at strippers like we are the...

20:15 12th Oct 2012

Notes: 5707

A lot of people look at strippers like we are the worst. No, no, no. I’ve danced with a lot of girls that their parents have AIDS or their children have cancer. They’re trying to pay to go to college to make a better life for their family and their kids. I’ve danced with some girls that their parents put out at 16 because their parents were on drugs. What are you going to do when you’re that age? What else can you do? I’ve never met a bad stripper in my life. I always meet young girls that are trying to do something with their life. I can say this for a fact: Strippers are not what people make it seem like it is, because we just want to make it like everybody else.

—

Joseline Hernandez, in an interview with GlobalGrind. (via ashesforjustice)

[I dislike this sentiment a lot of people have for “unsavory” jobs and the people that work them. Those jobs are filled by people just trying to make it.

Recently at a company meeting, one of my bosses said our jobs make a difference in people’s lives, thereby implying our jobs are superior and we are better people. This is a for-profit school that very much has a corporate atmosphere, so it just strikes me as a way foist positivity into everything we do. I don’t doubt that we make a difference to some, but the point was made at the expense of devaluing all other professions that don’t “touch lives” and the people that work in those jobs. Plus I’m sure that some people are doing their jobs just for the money, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We shouldn’t all feel like we have to have some inspirational purpose for our jobs.

I think there was a comparison made between what we do and people flipping burgers. In my mind I was thinking, that person flipping the burger could be trying to make ends meet, trying to turn his/her life around, doing something! Just because they’re not working an inspiring job, doesn’t mean they’re not an inspiring person. So many jobs go unappreciated, and so many people are so narrowly defined by their occupation.

I visited Japan and was struck by how different the work environment was there. Store clerks, garbage men, and cashiers at McDonald’s took pride in their jobs. I think it’s because there they recognize everybody working is a productive citizen in society.

Good on the person working as a stripper making this point. This is just part of the variety in Americans trying to achieve the American dream.

So fuck this whole, “my job is better than yours, so I’m better than you” attitude. How about having some common decency and respect for your fellow person?]