×

Our award-winning reporting has moved

Context provides news and analysis on three of the world’s most critical issues:

climate change, the impact of technology on society, and inclusive economies.

Feminist strippers win fight to keep UK club open

by Sonia Elks | @SoniaElks | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Friday, 18 January 2019 13:25 GMT

Sex work and stripping have long divided feminists, with critics arguing it encourages the objectification of women, while those in favour saying women have the right to use their bodies as they wish

By Sonia Elks

LONDON, Jan 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A strip club in Britain has won a battle to remain open after local authorities were told many of the dancers who work there are feminists.

The Urban Tiger club in the western city of Bristol had faced calls for its licence to be removed, but argued that stripping was not inconsistent with women's rights.

"It was the right decision,", Bristol-based burlesque dancer and stripper Tuesday Laveau told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"Feminism is about women making their own choices and what I see in this criticism is a deep discomfort with women who are comfortable with their own sexuality."

Sex work and stripping have long divided feminists, with critics arguing it encourages the objectification of women, while those in favour saying women have the right to use their bodies as they wish.

Urban Tiger, which offers both full and partially nude dances, had faced strong opposition to its application for a licence renewal as a sexual entertainment venue from some women's rights campaigners.

"I am unable to avoid seeing Urban Tiger whenever I go to the city centre. I experience this as a constant reminder to me of my place as a woman in society and of Bristol's tolerance of sexism in our city," wrote one objector.

Another said: "Sexual entertainment venues promote the inequality and objectification of women. However well-run they claim to be, that remains the message their presence conveys."

However, the lawyer representing the club told Bristol City Council's licensing committee that dancers working there considered themselves feminists.

There were also some messages of support from women.

"Just because a small group of women are against these venues does not mean they should be closed," wrote one woman.

"I for one am a female who chooses to visit these venues on a night out with my friends."

A spokeswoman for Bristol City Council confirmed that the club's licence had been renewed.

(Reporting by Sonia Elks @soniaelks; Editing by Claire Cozens. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

-->