No, I’m not going to comment on the Duke incident per se, cuz all that needs to be said, has been said, by somebody. No need for me to come along and add anything else.
But I would like to comment on the idea of funding…whatever, by working as a stripper. Cuz what infuriated me the most about much of the Duke incident commentary, that came from women, was that it was all about not implying in any way that homegirl shoulda thought about some things, before deciding that stripping was a good avenue for fundraising.
Too many of us throw common sense out the window, when it comes to evaluating our lives and how we relate to the opposite sex. Many of us refuse to accept the sad, but accurate truth: we made some bad decisions, and we need to change the way we think, which will result in better decision making, next time around. We’d rather play the victim, which is sometimes just easier to handle. I can understand that. But at some point, in the quietness of introspection, we need to be honest and admit that we didn’t count the cost. We didn’t crunch the numbers. We took a long walk, on a short pier.
Stripping is not a noble profession. I seriously doubt that it’ll ever be. Many men (and women too) view strippers/exotic dancers in the same way they view prostitutes. Hope that’s not news to anybody. Plus, it’s very difficult to live down that kind of past, even when you’ve walked away from it. There’s always somebody who will remember your face, and your…behind, in their face. They won’t hesitate to remind you of where you came from, sometimes in some less-than-ideal social situations. That’s the nature of people. Yes, we’ve all made mistakes. Yes, you can overcome your past (praise God!). God is good at re-constructing a messed up life. But let’s never forget that there are blessings that come from doing the right things, in the days of our youth. We spend so much time and energy, trying to fix mistakes, rather than devoting more time to preventive measures. Preventative “medicine” is always less expensive.
“Sensible people foresee trouble and hide from it, but gullible people go ahead and suffer the consequences.” Proverbs 22:3 (GWTTN). Selah, indeed.
Okay. Then, there’s the element of safety. A room full of drunk/high/horny young men, and a scantily clad female, dancing suggestively, don’t mix. Yet, that’s a common scenario. There’s always gonna be some guy, who thinks he has a right to take things further, because you’ve aroused him on purpose, and he’s put a twenty in your g-string — and he’s drunk/high. Don’t think having a “bodyguard” is sufficient, cuz sometimes they can be paid to vanish, leaving you alone and defenseless. I’ve heard of that happening. So, if you’re not strapped with an assault rifle, you’re on your own. Now what?
So, am I saying that women deserve to be raped, when they choose to strip for a living? Of course not. Just like I’m not saying that women who get drunk at frat parties, deserve to be raped. But the truth still shines forth (as truth always does): You shouldn’t get drunk, at frat parties, to lessen your chances of getting yourself into compromising situations. If you’re gonna strip for a living (which I don’t recommend), then make sure you know it’s not like working retail. It’s all about knowing what you’re getting into, when you decide to get into something. It’s about prudence, and foresight.
A Nappy Girl
