Freedom, 1996, Acrylic Gouache, Ink on Bristol, 13"x20"

Sometimes to understand morality, one has to go to a place of immorality.

Exotic dancers in San Francisco face financial anxiety as a common part of everyday life. Since the strip clubs do not pay them a salary, they are wholly dependant on the tips from patrons. Furthermore, strip clubs are notoriously ageist. This contributes to the anxiety, because as young women, the dancers know they only have so many years of beauty and sexuality. Under such conditions, the temptation towards corruption is high, and boundaries can become blurred.

If the place that they are working at is considered immoral, then what can they do that is moral? What is sacred to them? How do they protect their integrity? Many dancers realize that it is important to set boundaries, to learn to say ‘no’ to questionable requests. Some even discover that the patrons appreciate them more, tip better and become their ‘regulars’.