G-Strings and Sympathy: Strip Club Regulars and Male Desire (Paperback)

~ Katherine Frank (Author)
Key Phrases: commodified sexualized services, contemporary strip clubs, modern strip clubs, Diamond Dolls, United States, Tina's Revue (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Among the recent plethora of books by and about strippers (e.g., Toni Bentley's Sisters of Salome, Lily Burana's Strip City, and Elisabeth Eaves's Bare), Frank's work, an obvious doctoral dissertation, stands out in that she uses anthropological tools to analyze the male customers' experience while working as a stripper herself. Her research is sound-she works in a variety of clubs to get a full picture of the experience-and she documents her research exhaustively, with 25 pages of footnotes and a 14-page bibliography, in addition to extensive verbatim quotes from her subjects. Unfortunately, this rigorous approach has robbed her thesis of its inherent bathos and humanity, resulting in a tedious, laborious read weighed down with academic jargon. She also includes some of her own fiction, which does not enhance the reading pleasure. Her conclusions are not enlightening: although it upsets their wives and girlfriends, men continue to frequent strip clubs. One question she does not address is economics: how do middle- and working-class men justify spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars a night at these clubs? Of appeal exclusively to a handful of academics, this work is not recommended.
Ina Rimpau, Newark P.L., NJ
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Frank has created a surprising, entertaining, and thought-provoking read. . . .." -- Kim Diorio, Popmatters

"[A] brutally honest and interesting, if unsettling, read." -- Meleah Maynard, Rain Taxi

"[A] unique, intelligent, sympathetic, politically-aware look behind the curtain of . . . strip (and lap dancing) clubs across the nation." -- David Steinberg, Spectator Magazine

"[F]ascinating. . . . Frank’s writing is so clear and concise it’s easy to forget that one is reading an academic text. . . ." -- Laura Barcella, Bust

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Duke University Press (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822329727
• ISBN-13: 978-0822329725
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,948 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understand the book for its actual theme, December 12, 2003

By	Michael Booker (Arnold, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While this is obviously adapted from academic material, Frank uses her experience as an exotic dancer to dig into the question of why men frequent strip clubs.

I'll grant that, superficially, this is a darned easy question to answer.

Still, one of the real strengths of the book is that Frank was able to see past her academic preconceptions and discover an emotional terrain that was not what she anticipated. The standard feminist analysis (male power and domination of women) didn't shed much light on male motivation. She considers a range of possible agendas, from the obvious to the esoteric, and never settles on a trite or doctrinaire analysis.

The book keeps feeling like its on the verge of a profound insight but it never seems to find it. Frankly, even though the author wasn't trying to focus on the women who work as exotic dancers, it was fascinating to learn the tricks and scripts used to create the illusion of intimacy and authenticity.

16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Extremely Anthropological Disection Of The Male Psyche, May 16, 2003

By	Synthpopguy - See all my reviews

I've read a number of books dealing with this genre, but this was (by far) the most dry. It is extremely clinical, and reads more like a doctoral dissertation than a book. That's not to say that there weren't some interesting points made in the book, but you REALLY had to dig through the anthro jargon.

Franks cites other source a lot -- more than any other book I've read. Nearly every paragrah refers to an exterior source. I found this a little distracting.

Overall, I'm not sorry I read the book, but be prepared -- it does not wisk you along -- you really have to fight to glean Frank's points.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the other dynamic, without which there is no club....the guy, July 27, 2008

By	George Albright, Esq - See all my reviews

Until now there have been many many tales written by erotic dancers and few to none about the guys who frequent the thousands of establishments on a regular basis. Why indeed do we keep showing up? Frank peels away some of the layers, giving us thoughtful insite.

Please consider reading yet another book, written by a guy with assistance from the dancers in his life. ENVELOPED BY VENUS, also featured here on Amazon, may add depth to your understanding and enjoyment of the state of mind best described as, enraptured and ENVELOPED.