Dove's "Ask a retired stripper" thread.

[Anonymous]

12. Do you feel differently about yourself after having that job? Of course. But not in a negative way, anymore. It's an intense experience and those experiences change you. It certainly opened my perspectives.



13. Do you feel the need to keep that time in your life private/secret/down-low? I used to, but not so much anymore. I don't put it on blast, but I'm also a recovering heroin addict, so I mentor others and talk about my journey and recovery.



14. Would you want your daughter or loved females in your family to do sex work? Absolutely not. It warps your view of yourself, money, men and intimacy.



15.  Did it affect your perception of society? Yes. It was an eye opener.  My time in NO, was right after Katrina, so I saw a lot of human nature I was not really wise to.



16.  Do you feel more or less safe/able to protect yourself after doing that work? Oh I've never felt unsafe.  And I'm confident in my ability to protect myself.



17.  Did it affect your dance skills or athleticism? I was all lean and had excellent muscle tone. So yes, it's a great work out. It's pretty acrobatic lol. I would always have bruises on my calves and my side. Lol



18.  Did it affect your perception of men, generally? Yes.



19.  Did it affect your perception of the men that you have relationships with (currently or during that period of work)? Yes. I've worked on this.



20.  Did it affect your perception of music? Mmmm...not really. I love music. Always have. I'm not too sure what you mean by this?



21.  Did it motivate you financially? I made a lot of money that I have nothing to show for. I think that easy money ruins the way we value our selves and accomplishments. I've never been materialistic. This was just a means to an end, as I was a single mother fleeing an abusive marriage.

[Anonymous]

Very informative, Dove. I applaud your courage for being so open about it. To be honest I already knew the answers to many of the questions because I have a niece who was a stripper for a few years before she ODed, woke up in a hospital ER. She then smartly got the fuck out of that lifestyle and profession.



I guess I don't need to tell you that you are fortunate that you got away from that world reasonably intact. Too many of the girls don't. Good for you.  

 I know. To be honest, I'm convinced I got out of all of it 'in tact'  because God uses me to help others like me do the same.  And that's what I do. Me and few other women in the mission have talked about a 'strip club' ministry. I'm not above going right into the dressing rooms and bringing girls out.....but those bouncers lol.

[Anonymous]

Fixed it for you Dove, i hope you dont mind  ac_smile

Haha! Thank you! You gonna stick around for the next round? Lol

wouldnt miss it, some good questions and VERY interesting answers  ac_lovestruck

 Females are always the most inquisitive. I've had the deepest questions asked of me by females...often accompanied by confessions and sexual fantasies. Asal just asked a load of deep questions....I'll have to wait until the kids are at day camp to answer her lol

I don't mind if you give a quick answer.  You answered a lot of them already (your family background).  You're in New Orleans???

not anymore, I'm a Michigan native :)

[asal]

12. Do you feel differently about yourself after having that job? Of course. But not in a negative way, anymore. It's an intense experience and those experiences change you. It certainly opened my perspectives.



13. Do you feel the need to keep that time in your life private/secret/down-low? I used to, but not so much anymore. I don't put it on blast, but I'm also a recovering heroin addict, so I mentor others and talk about my journey and recovery.



14. Would you want your daughter or loved females in your family to do sex work? Absolutely not. It warps your view of yourself, money, men and intimacy.



15.  Did it affect your perception of society? Yes. It was an eye opener.  My time in NO, was right after Katrina, so I saw a lot of human nature I was not really wise to.



16.  Do you feel more or less safe/able to protect yourself after doing that work? Oh I've never felt unsafe.  And I'm confident in my ability to protect myself.



17.  Did it affect your dance skills or athleticism? I was all lean and had excellent muscle tone. So yes, it's a great work out. It's pretty acrobatic lol. I would always have bruises on my calves and my side. Lol



18.  Did it affect your perception of men, generally? Yes.



19.  Did it affect your perception of the men that you have relationships with (currently or during that period of work)? Yes. I've worked on this.



20.  Did it affect your perception of music? Mmmm...not really. I love music. Always have. I'm not too sure what you mean by this?



21.  Did it motivate you financially? I made a lot of money that I have nothing to show for. I think that easy money ruins the way we value our selves and accomplishments. I've never been materialistic. This was just a means to an end, as I was a single mother fleeing an abusive marriage.

Thank you Dove.  Your answers were excellent.  You're right to be open to people about everything (#13) so they know exactly who you are when you advise them.  :)  



I'm glad you're out of it.  I'm glad it made you athletic.  I'm glad you are realistic about human nature (#15).  The music question - I was wondering if you sometimes think of what you could do with a song expressively related to when you used to dance.  That was one of the angles I was thinking of.  And also, maybe, if you felt betrayed by music that you had liked that was now associated with those times (reading into my own experiences with music).

[keeper]

Dove i cant help notice everytime i look at your picture you remind of the actress Thandie Newton (Mission Impossible 2)  no?



http://i62.tinypic.com/nx845i.jpg">

Dove? am i wrong or am i close?

[J0E]

I don't see what's wrong with girls stripping. Works for me.

If gay people can have their pride parades with old men dangling their private parts in front of young children, then strippers should be able to do what they like in the privacy of a club or party.

The politically correct shoot themselves in the foot by on one hand condeming strip clubs and pornography and at the same time conding gay pride and homosexuality.

If they're gonna condone one perversion they should also embrace the other.

Ideally, the homos and the politically correct ought abe forced to go to a strip at least once a week so they can get a taste of what they impose on the rest of the population who don't wanna see their chit on public display.

[priscilla1961]

Whoohooo!



1. Is it true about the drugs?  That strippers are drug addicts and broken women from nasty back grounds?



2. What happens to men who touch you?



3. Did you ever sleep with any of the club patrons?



4. Does the club owner take a cut of your wage or tips?



5. Did you have a special talent or theme?



6. Who paid for your clothing and make up?



7. If someone touched you, what would happen?



8. How did you feel about women looking at you?



9. Was the money "good"?



10. What got you into stripping in the first place?



That should do it for now :)

I want to see the man strippers.

[Anonymous]

22. Does someone clean the dancing pole between sets so STD's don't get spread?

Actually, I used to take a rag and wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. Not to prevent an sti...but just...just cause.

[Anonymous]

12. Do you feel differently about yourself after having that job? Of course. But not in a negative way, anymore. It's an intense experience and those experiences change you. It certainly opened my perspectives.



13. Do you feel the need to keep that time in your life private/secret/down-low? I used to, but not so much anymore. I don't put it on blast, but I'm also a recovering heroin addict, so I mentor others and talk about my journey and recovery.



14. Would you want your daughter or loved females in your family to do sex work? Absolutely not. It warps your view of yourself, money, men and intimacy.



15.  Did it affect your perception of society? Yes. It was an eye opener.  My time in NO, was right after Katrina, so I saw a lot of human nature I was not really wise to.



16.  Do you feel more or less safe/able to protect yourself after doing that work? Oh I've never felt unsafe.  And I'm confident in my ability to protect myself.



17.  Did it affect your dance skills or athleticism? I was all lean and had excellent muscle tone. So yes, it's a great work out. It's pretty acrobatic lol. I would always have bruises on my calves and my side. Lol



18.  Did it affect your perception of men, generally? Yes.



19.  Did it affect your perception of the men that you have relationships with (currently or during that period of work)? Yes. I've worked on this.



20.  Did it affect your perception of music? Mmmm...not really. I love music. Always have. I'm not too sure what you mean by this?



21.  Did it motivate you financially? I made a lot of money that I have nothing to show for. I think that easy money ruins the way we value our selves and accomplishments. I've never been materialistic. This was just a means to an end, as I was a single mother fleeing an abusive marriage.

Thank you Dove.  Your answers were excellent.  You're right to be open to people about everything (#13) so they know exactly who you are when you advise them.  :)  



I'm glad you're out of it.  I'm glad it made you athletic.  I'm glad you are realistic about human nature (#15).  The music question - I was wondering if you sometimes think of what you could do with a song expressively related to when you used to dance.  That was one of the angles I was thinking of.  And also, maybe, if you felt betrayed by music that you had liked that was now associated with those times (reading into my own experiences with music).

nah. My taste in music had changed over time but I don't feel betrayed by music I associate with the clubs.  However, songs I used to listen to a lot during my active heroin addiction have been known to trigger me, not as much....but there are certain songs I couldn't listen to for a while and still get kinda turned off by.  I should start a music threa .

[keeper]

There is a Music thread Dove, its pinned at the top and called the Pulse.

[Anonymous]

I don't see what's wrong with girls stripping. Works for me.

If gay people can have their pride parades with old men dangling their private parts in front of young children, then strippers should be able to do what they like in the privacy of a club or party.

The politically correct shoot themselves in the foot by on one hand condeming strip clubs and pornography and at the same time conding gay pride and homosexuality.

If they're gonna condone one perversion they should also embrace the other.

Ideally, the homos and the politically correct ought abe forced to go to a strip at least once a week so they can get a taste of what they impose on the rest of the population who don't wanna see their chit on public display.

Who's saying strip joints should be shuttered? What consenting adults do in a private club is nobody's business. If they were shaking their bare money makers in the faces of children like the homo parades, I would have a problem with that.



However, aren't a lot of strippers controlled by outlaw motorcycle gangs, particularly the HA? That's what I read anyway.



Hey Dove,



How long were you a stripper? Any truth to what I read?

[Anonymous]

Off and on for 10 years. Yep.

[Anonymous]

Off and on for 10 years. Yep.

Basically the property of an outlaw motorcycle gang eh?

[Anonymous]

Off and on for 10 years. Yep.

Basically the property of an outlaw motorcycle gang eh?

No. What? There isn't truth to the motorcycle gang thing. I assumed you were questioning the integrity of my responses.

[Bricktop]

You must forgive Shen Li.



She's part Chinese.