In RL, one of my two jobs is to work as a dancer-cum-PR for a club. In a job where most of my earnings come from commissions from the customers who tip me with drinks and cash, it is often ideal to take advantage of what I have, and show it.

… or not. I do not strip naked. I do not sleep with the customers. I wear clothes that enhance what I know would entice men. I know how to dance to make them stare mouths open. I know how to talk to them and get them to drink, so that the tips come freely. I know what makes most men tick, and would go the extra mile to make them happy, and in return, be rewarded. In a way, I am more of an escort then an actual escort is!

And I do get quite a number of women that start getting rather invasive, and essentially trying to dissuade me from doing what I do. Some get the idea that I was forced into what I do. Some think that what I do (Or in particularly, what I wear and how I act) just demeans women. And some just think that I would catch a chill in the air-conditioned rooms wearing what I do, and <3s to them!

I work there for much needed extra money, yes, but I can't deny that it is fun too. I mean, free alcohol, playing around with men while hey, possibly finding one that I could really love, I don't think many would turn down that job if they were offered!

I usually smile, nod, and avoid going back to that table if a woman tries to impose her ideals on me. But hey, to any good-intention sisters out there, please do understand that more often then not, especially in this day and age, a choice made is due to many reasons, and for my case, I just find it more attractive then doing say part-time data entry in the wee hours of the morning and get paid less then half the amount to do so.

All I ask is to be treated with respect by both men and women alike, and I really can't ask for more!

I agree with most of what you posted, although not so much with this:

“The sex trade in SL is an “option,” a “hobby” in the way that it isn’t in RL. Unfortunately, what may be true is that many women find it appealing to strip because they have been conditioned to be excited by the idea that men are, in fact, objectifying them”

Of course our culture puts a value on beauty and fashion, on supermodel proportions and all that. No one can argue with that, and i’m sure that does have an influence. But I think you discount the possibility that there are plenty of women who just like this sort of stuff, or the idea of these ‘nasty’ and naughty things. In other words, i don’t think you give women enough credit to have brains to figure out what they like and don’t like.

We’re all a product of our culture, and it is impossible for a woman to escape these images or to avoid comparing themselves to the media and advertising ideals. In SL where we can all be beautiful and have great clothes (well, if you spend some lindens) and so why not go for it? I certainly do. It’s something i want to do, and while the details depend on our culture (a 100 years ago thin and tanned was bad) the basic motivation is not. I want to have a beautiful, sexy avatar because i just do, and the desire to be attractive to sexual partners one of those things that are hardwired into our brains, i would say.

Going into sl sex work strikes me as even less likely to be motivated by some media brainwashing. There are some who try it, or say they’ll try it, because it seems to be an easy way to make lindens. In a land where free sex is right around the corner it’s not. (no, i don’t, but i do know some people). The ones who do it and stick with it are those who have desires to do this, or who want money and are patient enough and good enough to be able to work that out.

So, i think that its far more likely that a woman will do some nasty, naughty sex things because sl is a place to express nasty, naughty fantasies than because their are programmed from reading too much Glamour when they were teens.

Same way not all SLers are the same. Or furries, geeks, Asians, blacks, homosexuals, etc.

It’s not what you think that matters in life, it’s what people label you as. Being labeled as a feminist has negative connotations in most respects because of the sole purpose that you are different from the majority and thus must be shunned. The easiest way to do that is turn you into a negative influence.

in that the choice of ‘brand’ has widened

this is inevitable given that women are not identikit clones

for example muslim women state the birka is enpowering while others see it as male based imposition

and inevitably also some women will be more pro sex than others

however the basic bottom line is the same
equal pay for equal work and access to equal social privelages to those that men enjoy
access being the key- as not all want access to the same things.

if you beleive in and uphold those basic principles then you are a ‘feminist’-
the details of what you consider comprises that ideal are just details

ps we would not need feminism if the world lacked men who oppose it

Great post! I agree. Other bits of “unfinished business” for feminism relate to trying to extend newly-won women’s rights to cultures outside of the West, which is (of course) problematic because of the issues of cultural and religious differences.

James – Spell check yes, however I apologize for the sentences that got away from me in the passion of the article.

Mary – I can definitely respect not wanting to be inundated with all sex all the time. I really hope to provide you with the variety you crave.

Rudi – I’m glad the content distracted you from my coma abuse! Thanks for the comment.