One in four lap dancers in UK has degree
One in four women who works as a lap dancer in the United Kingdom has a university degree and the majority of those involved in the industry enjoy their work, earning up to 48,000 pounds (RM234,029) a year, academic research has found.
Researchers from the University of Leeds found that many of these women chose to get into lap dancing for the money rather than being pressured or forced into the job.
"These young women do not buy the line that they are being exploited, because they are the ones making the money out of a three-minute dance and a bit of a chat," said Dr Teela Sanders, one of the researchers, told the Independent newspaper.
"You have got to have a certain way about you to do it. They say 80 % of the job is talking. These women do work hard for their money - you don't just turn up and wiggle your bum."
Those working in the industry included actresses and models who found it fitted in with their other careers or training, while unemployed graduates realised dancing paid better than other forms of employment such as bar work.
The research, which involved interviews with 300 dancers, found there was a high level of job satisfaction but dancers faced a lack of security and were open to financial exploitation from clubs.
The study comes as lap dancing clubs in Britain face tighter restrictions following a change in the law by the previous Labour government which gave councils the right to demand that all strip clubs apply for a sex establishment licence.
Dancers took home an average of 232 pounds (RM1,131) a shift after paying commission and fees to the club, with most working between two and four shifts a week - giving them annual incomes of between 24,000 pounds (RM117,014) and 48,000 (RM234,029) a year.
Source: talktalk.co.uk