Our guest blog is from Rhona Foulis, actress, tutor and writer of the anecdotal blog Coco Tucker
A few months ago I was being interviewed as PA to a wheelchair-bound performer: physically disabled; vocally, artistically and soulfully very enabled. I’m nodding along to a précis of her extensive portfolio when she pipes up: “I also do burlesque.” What?! “Oh, yeah. I can work nipple tassels.” It’s not that disabled people can’t be sexy. It’s that burlesque isn’t sexy; it’s sexist. So why appropriate an “art form” that is retro-sexually oppressive?
The revival of cabaret entertainment has brought about a resurgence of burlesque. You’ll be hard pressed to find a trendy, themed club night without there being some burlesque act attached to the line-up, which you’ll also be expected to find harmless fun or risk being labelled a prude. Burlesque now pops up in mainstream bars and pubs, too; the cinema (lest we forget the colossal waste of $55 million that was the 2010 film Burlesque); TV (Christina Aguilera’s promotional performance on The X Factor is now infamous); and is tutored on many a hen weekend.
“Burla” means “joke” in Italian, but for whom is the joke intended? Don’t be fooled by the middle-class ruse of sophistication and creativity. I’m with Laura Barnett, who calls burlesque “stripping for posh people”[1].
The nudity in burlesque isn’t liberating; it’s sexually objectifying. Burlesque artists claim to enjoy their bodies on stage for their own sakes, but by definition the performance necessitates an audience to perform to, in this case, a titillated, heterosexual crowd. You simply can’t ignore the sexual politics at play.
Burlesque is aimed at arousing heterosexual men and encouraging heterosexual women to flaunt their sexuality for male approval. Through its burlesque classes, Polestars (actual name) promises to “build confidence” and “change the way you see your body”. It makes false promises because this so-called “confidence” is dependent upon heterosexist logic, trapped within a patriarchal system.
We learn sexual codes of attractiveness through our culture (there’s nothing innately sexy about a nipple tassel) and our culture remains male-dominated, female-oppressive. As a result, burlesque is about as empowering as the Spice Girls were. In fact the word “empowering” is inaccurately bandied around so much that I want to ban it from the English language.
Burlesque doesn’t enable women to love their bodies; it forces them to sexualise and objectify their bodies for others. Mainstream burlesque performers may not be size zero, but they still reinforce a type of sexual attractiveness that is unattainable for most women: curvaceous, but not fat, and radiant with porcelain skin. Indeed, there are racial implications here, as flawless, white skin is idealised, while black and Asian performers are notably absent from the burlesque circuit. Curvy has replaced skinny, but the principle of sexual objectification endures.
Dita von Teese, dubbed the “International Queen of Burlesque”, who began her career as a stripper, does not represent a natural, womanly body, but an artfully and artificially constructed one. She sees a dermatologist to maintain unblemished skin; dyes her naturally blonde hair black; had a breast enlargement at the age of 21; and wears a corset to reduce her already petite waist to 16″, to enhance those fake boobs and cut an hourglass silhouette.
The oppressive beauty myth is still being re-told and sold.
[1]http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2010/dec/13/burlesque-stripping-posh-empowering?INTCMP=SRCH
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Hi there Rhona Foulis. This blog is wrong and insulting to many people. Its a real shame that you consider your self a progressive women? Your blog seems to preach more hate and predigest views? Burlesque is definitely part of the feminist movement not because I love being naked! But because Burlesque stands for and promotes women who have healthy attitudes about their bodies and their sexuality. And because Burlesque embodies the movement aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Before the sexual revolution of the 1960′s Burlesque reigned supreme as the adult entertainment. And then came the porn explosion and yes the modern Lap dancing houses. In my view the revival of Burlesque is about taking some class, beauty and creatively back to our sexy late night entreatment. I love that I can feel beautiful or sexy on stage. I’m excited to imagine all those people being turned on my me. The Men, the ladies. the gays, and who ever else? I’m also excited about the fact that I challenge stereotypes within popular culture, politics and modern sexuality. I have an act which you can catch about London where I play a Beauty Queen who get her period in the middle of her jazz dance solo on stage. The blood gets worse and worse. Its a comedy about embarrassment and a giggle at those lovely beauty queens who’s aim is to be so clean and perfect. You really need to get out and see more Burlesque? Have you seen Mark Windmill the King Of Boylesque? From the amazing show Briefs? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-H9VnHadHo To say “white skin is idealised, while black and Asian performers are notably absent from the burlesque circuit” Is just wrong! Have you seen the great Perle Noire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq92F4WfraY or Fancy chance just to name 2 out of many black and Asian Burlesque artists. And guess what? We even have people with disabilities who love Burlesque too? Have you seen Mat Fraser brilliant striptease? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bowcovDD4E Rhona Foulis You need to get out and see more Burlesque. And leave Dita alone. Her whole concept is that anybody can look amazing. And that she has created her look and anybody can?. Why should women just put up with things they don’t like about them selves? “There are no ugly women in the world, just lazy ones” ~ Coco Chanel
I am surprised no comments have appeared. Are you publishing comments. Either way Can I please ask what burlesque shows the author has watched. I would assume she has not visited many shows?
Oh dear,
Whatever happened to objectivity and researching facts as an academic or writer… Perhaps you need to see more burlesque shows rather than referencing the burlesque movie and Dita Von Teese. I teach and perform burlesque and flaunt my imperfections over all else. Most notably being a size 16.
As you say:
“Mainstream burlesque performers may not be size zero, but they still reinforce a type of sexual attractiveness that is unattainable for most women: curvaceous, but not fat, and radiant with porcelain skin.”
We do indeed see an entire range of body types in burlesque from a size zero to a size 22. I argue that instead of reinforcing conventional stereotypes of beauty, those seen on television, in the movies and in magazines, that burlesque performers throughout the international community encourage all women (and men) to gain confidence and self-esteem through performance art – learning to love yourself and let go of insecurities.
Furthermore, who are you to say that “The nudity in burlesque isn’t liberating; it’s sexually objectifying. Burlesque artists claim to enjoy their bodies on stage for their own sakes, but by definition the performance necessitates an audience to perform to, in this case, a titillated, heterosexual crowd.”
Are you a performer yourself, or do you merely watch from the audience? I personally do enjoy my own body on stage, and enjoy comments from other women who did not know that someone could be above a size 4 and still be sexy. I don’t believe that someone can comment on an experience if they have never tried it for themselves. Maybe you should don a pair of pasties and then tell us how objectified you feel – I always feel quite free…
Burlesque isnt about objectifying white bodies for male approval at all, its about lavishing and celebrating your own body, creating art through costume, props and theatre for pleasure and enjoyment of performing and to share that enjoyment to a female and male audience no matter what colour or size you are. perhaps you can do some further investigation of the burlesque performers today and see that there are all shapes, size’s, nationalities enjoying burlesque as an art form.
Yawn!! How boring! Yet another feminist who believes that any form of sexuality is to be negated. Let’s all be ASEXUAL shall we.
I agree with the comments above, and share their sense that perhaps you have not seen much in the way of real burlesque – in fact your references to Christina Aguilera reinforce this, as I think her film missed the point of burlesque in the same way your post does. In my view, burlesque performers and fans are reclaiming the right to appreciate sexuality, in a time when sidelining and hiding it has only served to enable exploitation. We are adults and we find confident, powerful sexiness entertaining. And we are not all men, or gay, although we’re happy to share our fun without exclusion. Why is this a bad thing?
This does seem to take a very narrow view of burlesque. Whilst some burlesque does involve nudity (at least no more skin on show than you see on a typical Friday or Saturday night in an entertainment area of most large towns and cities) most does not. Most of that that does is not actually burlesque but rather regular stripping claiming the tag to make it more acceptable to the licensing authorities. Male burlesque is similarly totally ignored. This blog has as much to do with burlesque as the Millie Tant comic strip from Viz had to do with feminism, a distorted stereotype presented as the whole.
Burlesque necessitates an audience, yes. But so does any form of performance art. I assume you don’t object to any other genre of dance, but when it really comes down to it the costumes in burlesque are only slightly more revealing than some of the things you see on ballroom dance stages. I would say most dance or performance costumes are conforming in some way to our culture’s definition of beauty or femininity. Yes, perhaps a fundamental difference is that burlesque involves striptease, but as you said yourself, there’s nothing inherently sexual about a nipple tassel. Therefore, there’s nothing inherently degrading about stripping for an audience. It is up to each performer as an individual to ensure that she is doing what she does for the right reasons and is not being exploited. That is no one else’s responsibility but hers, and to say that she should be chaste and virginal and not express herself sexually IS patriarchal and sexist. The performer wants to entertain an audience, but most performers I have spoken to are more concerned with entertaining the aforementioned audience than turning them on. They want to show the audience what they find sexy about themselves, without regard to who agrees with them.
Furthermore, I disagree that the audience is predominantly made up of titillated, heterosexual males. Judging from the burlesque scene in my city, the audiences are actually predominantly female, and of all ages, cultures and sexual orientations. I agree we can’t ignore that there is an erotic or sexual element to it, but the diversity in the audiences suggest that there is much more to it than just sexual titillation. Burlesque numbers involve striptease, but they can also involve character development, elaborate costuming, humour, and social or political commentary. All these elements make it more than simply a striptease and attract an audience that is not there exclusively to be aroused.
To say that it is not as inclusive as it claims to be is also a downright lie. True, I have seen mostly white performers, but there is certainly not a complete absence of other nationalities. If there is a lack of racial diversity, I believe it is more due to cultural barriers that would prevent some other nationalities from getting into burlesque rather than that these individuals would not be welcome. I have taken burlesque classes locally and everyone regardless of size, shape, colour, age and experience is encouraged to love themselves and their bodies. Yes, even people that would be considered “fat” by most definitions.
And yes, someone else said it, but the Christina Aguilera movie is not really an accurate representation of what burlesque is really like, so you should probably get a different frame of reference before forming a definitive opinion on burlesque.
Something that saddens me about certain feminist arguments is that they are trapped inside the box they are fighting to get out of- having seen nothing but those four patriarchal walls, everything is interpreted from the standpoint of dis-empowerment. Thus, no one can win even a small battle until the whole social and economic structure changes. This is a disappointing article, in that it offers nothing new, it is just the same article I have read so many times, interpreting burlesque through the same limited lens, refusing to listen to other perspectives. Carole Hanisch advised us to listen to our uninitiated sisters in order to move forward and this is what should happen- of course, it is incorrect to assume burlesque performers are uninitiated. Burlesque is a theatrical performance art that plays on stereotypes, sex, comedy and glamour, for predominantly female heterosexual audiences. It is not without its problems in terms of the look of glamour, but the problems come from the dogged interpretation of such displays of femininity and sexuality through tired rhetoric such as this. There are so many debates to be had about post-feminism, re-appropriation, parody and femininities/gender displays, that are just stonewalled by articles like this, and what a shame that is. Really, lets engage in discussion, listen to each other, exchange new ideas, disagree, agree, talk about the problems facing women, find new and useful ways forward, rather than just churning out articles like this, littered with obvious misinformation and short-sightedness. x
I liked the comment Gypsy until that Coco Chanel comment:
“There are no ugly women in the world, just lazy ones” ~ Coco Chanel”
That is awful, shame on Coco for that (although acknowledging the different times she lived in). To suggest that women are lazy if they don’t take measures to look the way society wants them to, is wrong. The point is that women should be able to put in loads of effort if they want, like Dita, or to not, if that’s what they choose, without people getting on their case. A woman is as worthwhile bare-faced, overweight, dressed down and unshaven as any dolled up, bejewelled, painted lady, and vice versa. Its about equality, be that a glammed up pin-up or someone who has never worn heels or make-up.
I can’t help but think that the comments by the author actually encourage the reader to misunderstand burlesque even more than many already do.
“Burlesque is aimed at arousing heterosexual men and encouraging heterosexual women to flaunt their sexuality for male approval”… Really? Oh, well then someone should tell the LGBT audiences that I’ve performed in front of that they shouldn’t be watching, after all, it’s not really for them is it?
” Mainstream burlesque performers may not be size zero, but they still reinforce a type of sexual attractiveness that is unattainable for most women: curvaceous, but not fat, and radiant with porcelain skin.”… Again, I didn’t realise this was the case. Perhaps I should shimmy myself off to the sideline with the other ladies and gents who aren’t curvy and radiant?
Burlesque is a form of entertainment, it’s classy and funny and nailbitingly painful and extremely beautiful, it’s also easy to ridicule and say that it’s performed by one type of woman for one type of audience – but you’re so wrong that I can’t even begin to explain where you’re wrong.
I do not feel it is worth it to address each and every one of the blatantly uninformed comments in this article. I would just like to say that “heterosexual” does not even begin to describe the Burlesque community and it’s audiences. Nearly all of the performers I know do not subscribe to this label. And, in any given crowd that I perform to (whether it’s at a mainstream even or more intimate) the over-representation of gay/lesbian/trans communities is very evident. They always nearly break my ear drums with their enthusiastic cheering for my flat-chested, big bummed, burlesquing self. The heterosexual male is not stupid. They do not come to a Burlesque show to get a big, fat boner. They know where they can get that. They come to a Burlesque show to be entertained just like everyone else. Whether it’s a sketch comedy Burlesque act, the radiating power of a female striptease, or anything in between.
P.S. Please take the time to hear Dita speak about her work before labeling her like you have. She is very self-aware, self-made and knows exactly what she represents and what she is selling. Smart lady who has made her dreams into a reality.
I love a thought provoking article. I’m not so sure your blog article does much beyond rehashing the kind of doctrine that sees women forcibly dancing to a moribund tune of your own design. Of course, at the outset, I declare my allegiances to burlesque because I occasionally perform. So at the risk of being identified as unenlightened to your brand of ‘our price’ feminist – a further point to which I’m ever so proud to concede – I’d like to be specific regarding a few items on your agenda.
I agree entirely that burlesque is popular. Phenomenally popular, that is, with women who make up two thirds of the audience at the majority of shows I’ve attended. I hang around the industry like a bad penny. I’m intellectual, culturally adept and academically sophisticated. It’s unpleasant because I, like you, enjoy being a minority voice. I enjoy being an ‘other.’ Alas amongst burlesque performers, I fit right in. I’m a lesbian, and so are a healthy quantity of performers. Far more than you could possibly hope to find in a random sample of women. I’m well versed in feminist theory and have studied to doctorate level. Damn it there again I’m absurdly representative. So very many of us are educated to a post graduate level. Those that didn’t take an academic route are nevertheless some of the most astute and creative people I’ve ever met (far more so than one would hope to find in the dusty refectories of the pseudo-intellectual student body according to my experience).
I am not going to go out on a limb and suggest that no man has ever not been aroused by a burlesque performance, but I can tell you in ten years of attending shows, I’ve never seen it. It’s a big excuse to dress up, whoop and hollar (because it is de rigueur, not because we’re obliging my colleagues to discard clothing), laugh, empathise, enjoy, participate……..my goodness from your description of a show I can’t imagine you’ve ever really attended an event. Two thirds of the audience are women. Many of these women are straight but, again, a significantly greater proportion than common or garden samples would provide, are gay or bisexual. This is why I started Lesburlesque, the only troupe in the UK dedicated to providing burlesque for mixed audiences where the pantomime elements of sexuality swing toward the female psyche. The only lesbian focussed burlesque troupe in the UK. We happen, also, to be one of the largest, if not, the largest troupe in the country, boasting a whopping 24 performers and several guest artists. Would you have me believe that what I am doing is helping to promote a hegemony? Myself and all of these culturally, intellectually, queer theory adepts, are all wrong and you are right? Then why do I find nothing in your blog entry compelling?
I won’t even begin to tell you about the magnificent boylesque performers in the burly world. Others can do that. I’m sorry but for my money your blog is infuriating because it is cobbled together from over-simplified reactionary anachronisms (by dint of utilising a dated idealism) and frighteningly inaccurate.
oh dear……it seems you’ve forgotten (or just didn’t bother to research your article and actually ask any performers) the fact that a lot of performers have actually built their own businesses around their performance. What could be more feminist than that? I have gone from someone on a low wage in retail to being self employed part time as a performer and also running my own online business selling costumes (that I taught myself to be able to make) to other performers and ANOTHER online business selling general items (with the business know-how I have gleaned from being involved with burlesque). I will be fully self employed by August next year and supporting myself with skills rthat I taught myself. But I’m just being objectified eh?? Sure, it’s always that simple when you have an article to whip off in ten minutes.
There are countless women up and down the country running successful burlesque and cabaret nights who employ other women (also self employed in the industry). I personally have employed over 50 performers myself this past year. There IS diversity in the burlesque scene if only you bothered to look for it, instead you reference Dita Von Teese (who opened a lot of doors and is a beautiful model but you’ll be hard pushed to find many performers who find her inspiring performance-wise) and funs but trashy film which COMPLETELY mis-represented the scene! Also you are forgetting the large amount of MEN who are involved in performing at burlesque and cabaret nights and the 90% FEMALE AUDIENCES that are present at my (and doubtless other) shows.
Alo there are women woking as comperes and stage managers, front of house staff and dressing room staff and other backstage jobs which do not require ANY nudity whatsoever. There are singers and magicians and comedians and fire dancers and jugglers and hoopers and contortionists, it’s not just flinging your bra off, as you’d know if you’d ever actually BEEN to a show. What you would see would be women who have taught themselves a craft, supported other women who are doing the same and had the brass balls to get up on a stage and entertain people with it. Or maybe we should just stay at home and look after the kids, wearing some sort of dowdy nonsense……
We are choosing how WE are seen. Having the freedoms that women have INCLUDES the freedom to CHOOSE to take our clothes off in public and being paid to do it. And damnnit, I just like sequins ok?
In short, you have no idea of what you speak dear! Try asking some performers and audience members how THEY see burlesque, because that’s who we do it for. Seriously, I will pay for you to come and see a GOOD show and talk to the performers and house staff, I’ll buy you wine and tell you how it all works!! It’ll be fabulous!!!.x.x.x.
*sigh* because of course burlesque is all about nipple tassels and has only female performers. A little research goes a long way though it appears only a little ignorance is needed for an on line article…
In fact let me match the offer from Miss Bruise Violet. Please consider accompanying us to a performance. We’ll pay, take you around, introduce you to the industry. We will sit and debate reasonably with you. I would be delighted to do that. Please don’t just recoil into ignorant hyperbole, come and see what we do. At the very least I’m confident that a revision will follow shortly thereafter.
“Burlesque is aimed at arousing heterosexual men and encouraging heterosexual women to flaunt their sexuality for male approval”…
Yeah, exactly how I’d describe what me and Dandy Von Diamond do! We’re really good at it too! :-p
Total lack of research for this article, and very depressing to think that ‘progressive women’ aren’t allowed to embrace their sexuality and enjoy being sexy, and god forbid, having fun with it!
To say that burlesque portrays only one aesthetic as beautiful is very mis-informed. I know many of the performers who have commented to this article, and they are all different shapes, sizes, hair, skin, eye colours, have different styles and are all beautiful, sexy and fabulous! They are creative, intelligent, witty and talented people, and this comes across clearly in their performances.
By all means, go to some shows with these lovely people, they will take time to chat with you and will be welcoming, go with an open mind. But ultimately, you might still hate burlesque, and that is fine. You have that right. If you don’t like it, never go to another show. It’s one thing to dislike something, but to dismiss a whole performance genre and its artists on the back of very little knowledge and experience is a little foolish. I hate reality TV, really annoys me… so I don’t watch it. People who want to, go right ahead!
You may have a point about nipple tassels though… they usually aren’t sexy, they are more often funny, especially on a really butch bloke! (although maybe that is quite sexy too!)
Wow, I’m really proud to see all my burly sisters (and brothers) some I know, some I don’t all standing up and being counted.
I don’t think burlesque as an art form is inherently empowering, but then I don’t see why it is expected to be. People don’t expect tennis or drawing or home wine making to be inherently empowering – so why should burlesque be? On the other hand though, I don’t see what’s so dis-empowering about it either. Striptease and partial nudity are parts of the form for many performers but they aren’t an obligation and they certainly aren’t the main focus for a large majority of performers.
Personally, I don’t see what would be so hideously offensive about an act that even if it did only focus on striptease. It may not be everyone’s taste (I don’t particularly like Chippendales style strippers) but that’s not the same as it being something that degrades or disempowers women (or men). As so many others above have said, I don’t think the women who perform feel forced to conform to pre-defined views of what is acceptible. In one of my acts (a comedic one where I pay a circus strong-woman) I remove my corset and enthusiastically slap my fat belly. This is so far from what the mainstream want to see, both in terms of how my body looks and what I’m doing with it, but it makes a burlesque audience laugh. I think that’s a good thing. A lot of men find it easy to laugh at their bodies but women are expected, by society in general, to either be sexy goddesses (if they fit the mold) who luxuriate in their gorgeous bodies, or ugly frumps who should hate their bodies and hide them and be ashamed. I say, what’s wrong with a fond laugh? Boobs are funny, bellies are funny, faces are funny. I’m sick of the mainstream telling me that when it comes to women they’re not.
If that’s considered a negative, degrading and anti-feminist thing to do, then so be it, but I’ll keep presenting myself the way I want to and hopefully keep like minded women (and perhaps a few men too) laughing.
If it’s not your cup of tea, that’s fine, but there’s no need to try and spin it as something that hurts women’s chances of a level playing field. If a man took his clothes off as part of a process of making people laugh nobody would bat an eye.
Anywho, I’ll leave it to more eloquent folk than me to say the rest.
By the way, totally agree with the comments above re the Burlesque film. It’s an amusing diversion but it’s not really anything to do with real burlesque, especially not in the UK. And I think Dita is a gorgeous woman but her style of performance has pretty much no bearing on mine. Apparently the star I most resemble in performance style is Les Dawson in drag (and proud of it!).
Oh Rhona Rhona Rhona. The sexually-effed-up hetero men barely go to strip clubs, much less burlesque shows. They get off on the internet for free.
Burlesque is an adults-only celebration of theatre. These aren’t prostitutes and immigrants sold into sexual slavery, of the few dancers/performers I know, one is white, one is a tranny, one is Asian and they are all totally different sizes. And I don’t even go to the shows! (Too expensive, alas).
But really, truly, I find burlesque girls to be EMPOWERING because:
1. They make ME feel good about my body.
2. Feathers and costumes are fun.
3. Being able to giggle and laugh and feel comfortable in an erotic situation comes home with me.
and
4. This particular tradition of theatre has been around for eons, an if anything, it’s more sex-positive and powerful for women and trans– than ever!
Go to a show and see who is weilding the power: the male gaze or the girl on the stage?
So, if Burlesque is JUST aimed at Heterosexual men and JUST about encouraging women to get their kit off….. where do I and all the other Male Burlesque performers fit into the scene? I’m a little confused now.
It seems to me that the ‘Burla’ is on the writer of this article. He’s obviously fallen for that old ‘Christina Aguilera doing a film called Burlesque’ gag. (The irony being that it’s more of a film about Showgirls than anything Burlesque related, but hey-ho). Repeat after me “The movies are not reality, the movies are not reality…”
I would certainly encourage the writer to come and see an actual show and, as Adrian rightly said, you may absolutely hate it and think it’s the worst thing ever to be unceremoniously dumped in front of a poor unsuspecting audience, but at least you’ll KNOW that, rather than having to ASSUME it as you obviously have. In fact, come and see me in a show. If I get all the Heterosexual men aroused with my act, then they’re either a) not heterosexual or b) not men.
This is an excerpt from a speech given recently at BurlyCon by Kate Valentine, and I think it makes some great points:
“State of the Union Address, by Kate Valentine
“There are many things I love about burlesque. On a personal level, it has given me not only an opportunity to perform but an ability to control my performance destiny which is a great gift. Without this specific form of live cabaret entertainment, many dancers and actors are left at the mercy of auditioning, agents and casting directors. The burlesque format keeps the performer in the drivers seat. Additionally, it is great for the performer that enjoys creating their own work. One can be the author of their own stories, which is unique to burlesque.
When I became involved in burlesque I came to be surrounded by a group of women who did not define themselves by what they were not, or in direct comparison to others. I found myself in rooms of women where the conversation did not automatically devolve into the standard rhetoric of self-deprecation. What a relief! And more of a relief because it was not a political group taking a stance. It was organic — we just had so much more to talk about.
I am so grateful to the group of artists and wild people that have I come to know through burlesque. My experience has almost always been that of a supportive family, which is a rare gift.
I love that the best of neo-burlesque presents a vision of female sexuality that lands distinctly outside of the white hetero-normative male gaze. It is so powerful and liberating to see women of all stripes expressing their sexuality in a fun and funny ways. I was always aware of this, even in the earliest days of the neo-burlesque movement, that it was such a relief for everyone (and that included the white hetero normative males!) to be able to explore their sexuality outside that narrow definition of what we are all supposed to find attractive.
I am also very glad that the neo-burlesque world has expanded to include not only men, but also the gender queer community. The inclusiveness of burlesque helps to side-step a sticky wicket within the form: why do women need to show their empowerment via nudity and sexuality? Does everything, including your power, need to be strained through the prism female objectification? Couldn’t it be argued that this is an Uncle Tom feminism?
Even as a fan and purveyor of burlesque I can only answer that question partially to my satisfaction, but I do think certain things within the burlesque “scene” go a long way toward a response. The first, is having men and gender queer performers. This opens up the discussion the sexuality and nudity as human expression general, not “female” this or that. Additionally, the brilliant tradition of having legend’s night at the Burlesque Hall of Fame creates a visual thesis of The Best of Burlesque: Because it shows the ultimate taboo: aging women, expressing themselves in a robust and unapologetic way. Stripping, stripped of its codifiers, such as youth and “beauty” leaves the audience to look at what burlesque is at its best, baring oneself unapologetically to the world — a true reveal.”
I really hope the authors of this blog page are reading these responses, and a lot of the other readers too. Its about time we shook up the standard feminist ideas about displays of sexuality and femininity and started engaging with and listening to women who have different, challenging ideas to those we are used to hearing. Feminism is so much an identity, a lifestyle, it can be threatening to have your views challenged, easy just to dismiss them and stay within your usual four walls, but now is the time to be brave and start engaging with some new ideas. THAT is how we will move forward.
Hello, everyone!
Gosh, what a lot of comments!
Thank you all for your feedback and particularly for the three generous offers from Pixie Truffle, Miss Bruise Violet and Doc Leroc (incidentally, Doc, I’m a woman!).
I’d like to apologise if anyone felt offended by the blog, which wasn’t my intention; it was a comment piece based on my experiences and observations of burlesque. I think it’s fantastic that you all feel energised, empowered and liberated by burlesque, but that has never been my own experience. Indeed, contrary to your comments, I have seen burlesque…! Four times live, several times on screen and I’ve participated in a burlesque class. I’m also a performer by trade.
I’d like to add that I’m not asexual and/or sexually repressed, as has been unfairly implied.
Like you all, I feel that this burlesque debate is an important one, but debates mean differences of opinion. In order to hear/see yours properly, I’d like to accept those three kind invitations to see Pixie, Violet and Doc perform, then post another blog with my responses. If there are other particular performances that any of you would like me to see within the next month, please let me know. Yes, I promise to keep an open mind and be honest in my re-considerations.
By the way, Coco Chanel has been mis-quoted. It was actually Helena Rubenstein who said “There are no ugly women, only lazy ones.” And I’m with Glorian on that one.
Firstly, apologies (obviously my typical male thinking putting he instead of she).
I am so glad you have decided to come and see some of our shows. I know there are a lot of ‘Burlesque’ shows and classes in the UK which are based on corsets, feather boas and stockings and not a lot else, and perhaps this has been your experience in the past, for which I truly feel sorry for you.
I do hope that once you’ve seen the other side of things you may come to realise that it’s not what you currently believe it to be, and that out of what has been seen by many (and I won’t lie, myself included) to be a narrow-minded view of a very broad performance sphere, will come some true education and a chance to tell the world what Burlesque is really all about and help to destroy some of the myths and misunderstandings that it regularly has to suffer.
So well done you for embracing open-mindedness. I shall look forward to hopefully meeting you soon.
So, if Burlesque is JUST aimed at Heterosexual men why was the audience for the last show I saw in London made up of 70% women.
Hi Rhona. Pixie told me last night that you had actually replied to this and I was so pleased! I would love to take you to some shows in London or Bath as my guest, and have a good old chin wag about the issue! Let me know if you would be up for this and I can arrange it x
Thanks for the apology Rhona Foulis. Do go and get out more. Also just to put you right one of Rubinstein’s numerous mantras was: “There are no ugly women, only lazy ones by Coco Chanel. But it was Chanel who famously said those worlds. Worlds you should use! If you wish to have some glamour in your life. If not FINE!!!!!! Don’t hate on those who do my darling!!!
[...] was something of a burlesque backlash to my recent blog. Performers questioned what, if any, burlesque I’d seen. Was I asexual? Sexually [...]
I dont know what to make omf modern day feminism. It appears that it leaves the real issues alone and instead picks at things people are choosing to do. The main focus of feminists apears to be the body size of other women, and sexuality issues like lap dancing, strip shows etc. Ive been attending a feminist group and these are the main subjects of focus there, no mention of the pay gap or the number of female mp’s. These women do appear to be anti sexuality of all kinds.
For me the biggest problem in todays world are gender roles, and the expectation of women to be feminine and men masculine. Being told one should look pretty and be a certin size and dress a certin way are all part of enforced gender roles, its got dam all to do with sexual objectification. There are male strippers, and strippers oin gay bars for gay men. There are even some things of this flavor aimed at lesbians.
Feminists cannot solve todays equality problem while they go on rejecting masculine women or any woman who does not fit the bill of middle class, feminine and and happly embracing her oppression. Most women today oppress there selves. The second a woman libarates herself in any way the others act like crabs in a bucket and pull her back down again.
Or censoring the views of male feminists.
Enough with the bullshit already. This burlesque revival is nothing but a lame attempt to make easy money off of bored (and boring) audiences. It’s a god damn fad and it’s quick money for those who can sell themselves. Essentially, it’s the perfect revival for this pathetic ‘me’ generation who’ve stopped reading books and who can’t think for themselves anymore. It’s all about quick gratification and you people should be ashamed of yourselves for turning it into something more than it actually is: entertainment for bored people.
Hey Dan, if you don’t like burlesque there’s a simply solution: DON’T GOTO BURLESQUE SHOWS NOR DANCE BURLESQUE! People like to be entertained and if you don’t, then please fill out of these and quit whinin’ honey.
And Rhona, it’s high time for us feminists to take the Sex OUT of ‘Sexism’!!! Hating on other women for being exhibitionists isn’t feminism, it’s resentment.
I completely agree with the original poster on all fronts. However it is enlightening to read the comments since majority of posters here exercise are exercising an obvious form of cognitive dissonance (psych 101). The reason being they are mostly within the said industry. People living within such an oppressive system (patriarchy) have to construct a reasoning why their system is not oppressive. In order to perform in a sexually objectifying manner, you must cognitively convince yourself that you are performing for sexual freedom. Simply because burlesque never exists in reverse – ie, men performing for women in any such way – is a strong indication that such performance has nothing to do with sexual freedom but only to do with sexual objectification. Men, who are sexually free by default, do not engage in such degradation.
what a biter old women!
clearly has no understanding of the performance
it is ashame when people keep there brains ‘corsetted’ in the victorian era
also ‘anon’ look up some boylesque!
The fact that the author’s criticisms of burlesque are answered by ‘ you can’t criticise something unless you’ve done it’ …..WHAT?…and ‘what a biter old women!(sic)’ -.. PLEASE!… or even someone who thinks burlesque must be OK if educated women and lesbians participate…….WHAT?… indicates the limited mindset of those who support this ‘acceptable’ form of female objectification. I have watched burlesque…carefullyl. I’m sure it does provide a hollow and momentary liberation for those who have felt sexually constrained and limited in an unequal society. But it is at the expense of those of us – men and women – who are trying to fight for equality and the possibility of sexual exploration within equal relationships.