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amanda_readingnwritinglife's review
4.0
Well, this was another one of those books that I might have skipped over had it not been part of a challenge I'm doing (reading the NPR book concierge). Instead, I'm really glad I picked it up. It was really more entertaining that I thought it would be.
We follow Jennifer Worley as she makes her way through college and graduate school in San Francisco working in a strip club. First of all, it was nothing like what I expected strip clubs to be like. I mean, my only reference point is TV shows, and this was nothing like that. Anyway, the cool part about it is that the dancers came together and formed their own union when they wanted to negotiate with their bosses, and then later, when the place was going to be shut down, they worked together to run the place by themselves.
Jennifer also did some research into the history of stripper's unions, and had some fascinating data on all of that. I just found this book to be really enjoyable and educational and not at all like I was expecting.
We follow Jennifer Worley as she makes her way through college and graduate school in San Francisco working in a strip club. First of all, it was nothing like what I expected strip clubs to be like. I mean, my only reference point is TV shows, and this was nothing like that. Anyway, the cool part about it is that the dancers came together and formed their own union when they wanted to negotiate with their bosses, and then later, when the place was going to be shut down, they worked together to run the place by themselves.
Jennifer also did some research into the history of stripper's unions, and had some fascinating data on all of that. I just found this book to be really enjoyable and educational and not at all like I was expecting.
librarysays's review
4.0
Not me listening to the audiobook in my car, cheering out loud from the sheer force of girl power happening here.
Not me getting all emotional and literally tearing up at the thought of former strippers coming together, years after the fact, for a final reunion dance before their club is closed for good.
This is freaking fantastic.
Everything I "knew" about strippers clearly came from movies and, um, is wrong. Loved learning about experiences completely new to me, from someone who lived it.
4 stars
Not me getting all emotional and literally tearing up at the thought of former strippers coming together, years after the fact, for a final reunion dance before their club is closed for good.
This is freaking fantastic.
Everything I "knew" about strippers clearly came from movies and, um, is wrong. Loved learning about experiences completely new to me, from someone who lived it.
4 stars
bswanntastic's review against another edition
5.0
Great book for the baby feminist who is learning about sex positive and body positive movements. Good introduction into decolonizing purity culture and women in the sex work in industry.
writerrhiannon's review
5.0
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
In one of my college classes, The Commodification of Gender, we studied the unionization of San Francisco’s Lusty Lady, learning how the women fought back against their management (unfair rules, hidden cameras in the dressing room, etc) to create the world’s first ever strippers’ union. We studied their legal proceedings, magazine features, and interviews. Jennifer Worley’s first hand account of her experience in the unionization gave me an even greater insight into this topic, movement, and achievement. A must-read for anyone interested in the topics of gender, the sex industry, sex workers, feminism, capitalism, classism, and power dynamics.
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In one of my college classes, The Commodification of Gender, we studied the unionization of San Francisco’s Lusty Lady, learning how the women fought back against their management (unfair rules, hidden cameras in the dressing room, etc) to create the world’s first ever strippers’ union. We studied their legal proceedings, magazine features, and interviews. Jennifer Worley’s first hand account of her experience in the unionization gave me an even greater insight into this topic, movement, and achievement. A must-read for anyone interested in the topics of gender, the sex industry, sex workers, feminism, capitalism, classism, and power dynamics.
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readalotwritealot's review
4.0
When I read the synopsis—a story about a stripper fighting for unionization while getting her PhD in the 1990s—I was intrigued.
I really enjoyed so much about this book. I learned a lot about the sex industry but so much more about the people participating in it, especially Worley. I loved that Worley told it like it was, her doubts and feelings, her experiences, her relationships with coworkers. Even the details of code words and phone lists were included. But I loved that at its heart this was a story of feminism and empowerment.
I highly recommend picking this one up if you’re a nonfiction/memoir fan.
(I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.)
I really enjoyed so much about this book. I learned a lot about the sex industry but so much more about the people participating in it, especially Worley. I loved that Worley told it like it was, her doubts and feelings, her experiences, her relationships with coworkers. Even the details of code words and phone lists were included. But I loved that at its heart this was a story of feminism and empowerment.
I highly recommend picking this one up if you’re a nonfiction/memoir fan.
(I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.)
mountainreader's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75