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| Dishonorable? |
Benedict Garrett was one such casualty. He lost his job as a high school teacher because his students found out that was a stripper side (read the full story: here). Garrett also worked as an adult movie star. Of course, Garrett disagreed with the notion that "porn and stripping has a negative effect on society." He further argued that other teachers aren't so perfect themselves.
He has a point. Many professional jobs would fire an employee if word got out that he or she worked as a stripper or porn star. Interestingly enough, not all profession jobs would fire an employee for having a minor criminal record. Strange, isn't it? It's better to commit a misdemeanor crime than to work in a perfectly legal occupation.
I've heard many degrading terms about male strippers. In the comments section of this blog post (click here to read), Mustang Sarah uses the terms "insecurity, narcissism, and irresponsibility" to describe all male strippers, even though her only experience with one was a guy she dated. I've even had one guy criticize me for "giving up my dignity so a bunch of whores could treat me like a piece of meat." As Garrett noted, many people feel that stripping has a negative effect on society.
Is that really the case? Do strippers, especially male strippers (for sake of this blog), really cause problems in society.
No. Negative individuals and their destructive collectivism cause problems.
For instance, I also worked as a teacher like Benedict Garrett and stripped on the side too. As a teacher, many people treated me with respect for working a noble profession. Take this article, for instance. However, I have gotten to know many teachers, and I assure you that some of them shouldn't be around children.
Several male teachers, whom I have worked with, took a very unhealthy interest in their high school students. If I had a daughter, she sure as hell wouldn't be going into their classes. One teacher has since married a female student. Another got fired for dating a former student. And another, who used to be my teacher when I was in high school, got arrested for possessing child pornography.
So are male strippers the problem here? No. Are teachers the problem? No, the bad individuals are the problem. You have bad strippers and bad teachers. They're just bad employees, and they slide through the cracks at every job.
Many male strippers are just like Benedict Garrett and myself -- they work professional jobs and strip on the side. According to one of my agents, many of his male dancers work as lawyers, teachers, firefighters, personal trainers, and bankers. The list goes on. Many of his younger male dancers are college students or guys going to into medical school. Just because they're male strippers doesn't mean they're deadbeats who with no goals in life.
Some male strippers are scumbags and fit the stereotype that Mustang Sarah alluded to, but so are some cops, teachers, politicians, priests, and doctors. Hell, I knew a federal law enforcement agent who was the biggest liar and crook that I have ever met, and he cheated on his wife with prostitutes constantly, but his position is one that prides itself on honesty and integrity, and everyone assumed he was a good guy on first impressions based on his job. Therefore, judge an individual by his or her personality and virtues, not by status and position.
Unfortunately, many people out there still like to label themselves and others into groups, all complete with generalizations and stereotypes. It's human nature, and until humans stop being humans, you probably shouldn't list your ventures into the stripping and porn industry on your resume if you're ever planning a professional career. Mr. Garrett had some great points, but he just wasn't careful enough.
How do students always fin these things. What about some teachers makes a child want to look up and dig into their past. It can't be easy either, since I am sure he want by an alternate name in his other line of work.
ReplyDeleteHe probably told some people about it, who in turn told some other people. Never underestimate society's ability to spread gossip.
DeleteI know a quite a few guys who think they could be or wish they were male strippers. The job appeals to a lot of men, even if professionally they wouldn't admit it. Maybe it's a popular fantasy. I would never have the confidence to be a stripper, but I've always admired men who do have that confidence and enjoy having women or people in general admire their bodies.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about that. I guess it's the same as porn fantasies. Many people watch it and vicariously live through the actor.
DeleteThe article about this story also mentions that he sent inappropriate texts to students in his classes. You didn't comment on that in this post. It's likely why he was fired. Inappropriate communication with underage students is always a valid reason to fire someone.
ReplyDeleteThat's one possibility, and a good reason to get fired. I imagined that he messaged students on the side, and probably told a few high school girls about his side gig. In turn, the students gossiped and word got out about his secret.
DeleteI'd like to interview him, myself, and ask many questions that the article left unanswered.
That would be awesome if you could interview him but I'm sure he'd probably say no and want to continue leaving it in the past and focus on the present.
ReplyDeleteThats a great point about employers keeping workers with minor criminal records but not ex-strippers. Being a stripper is unforgivable and social status is everything. Sex is just too taboo I guess. At least when a stripper strips, what you see is what you get and he isn't hiding anything...unlike a corrupt cop, politician, teacher etc.
I'd love to interview him. I wonder what he's up to now. The unfortunate thing about stripping is that you cannot make money when you're old and ugly.
DeleteI believe you've made quite a few valid points in your argument. I'll be honest, I've never approved of the sex industry(yes, I believe stripping is a part of the sex industry) because, in my opinion, I don't find it proper and tasteful at all. On the other hand, I also believe that one should never allow such shallow interferences (i.e., status and position) to blind oneself from seeing individuals for who they truly are. The only judgments we must place on others are whether or not they embody moral traits such as honesty, integrity, kindness, and compassion. The one problem I have while reading this article is it allowed me to recall all of the dalliances you stated that you've had with your clients whom you knew were either married or engaged. I understand that no matter if they were drunk or not, it was still wrong of them to break their vows to their significant others because in the end, they determine their own actions; therefore, the consequences that occur is their own fault. However, you should have prevented any further interactions with those particular clients that you knew would lead to sexual acts. Even though it was dishonorable of them to cheat on their spouses, it was also unethical as well as disgraceful of you to succumb to your own desires and sleep with them while fully knowing they have siginificant others. What you should have done is reject their advances because of that sole reason. I apologize for being so blunt, but I find it a bit hypocritical of you to justify yourself as a person who defies the negative stereotypes of male exotic dancers (unless you weren't actually trying to refer to yourself as an example) when you have the same flaws as those you've listed in your article. I am referring to those who are expected to have noble traits based on their professions when, in fact, they're the opposite of what they're supposed to embody. Otherwise, I'm delighted that you made the decision to discuss the controversy of your work and argue against those who demonize strippers without even personally knowing them.
ReplyDeleteNo need to apologize. That's what the comments section is for: voicing your opinion.
DeleteI don't claim to be perfect, nor was I trying to classify myself as a shining example.
I want to clarify one thing. Most of the dalliances you refer to were done in my early 20s while I was drunk. Not saying that it was okay because I was young, horny, and intoxicated back then, but I go great lengths to avoid married women and such now. I also used to shoplift when I was in middle school... A LOT. That was 20 years ago. However, a couple months back, I threw down a shoplifter who pushed his way out of the store with some merchandise. The manager thanked me and discounted what I was shopping for. Would you still classify me as a thief for something I did 20 years ago even though I'm not now?
In that case, almost the entire of humanity would be guilty of various sins.
My actions were committed over a decade ago out of immaturity and stupidity.We live and we learn. Because of these actions, I get to share them with everyone so they can see through my eyes on what's out there.
In this article, I focus on actions committed by grown adults who know better. I think it's very inappropriate for a 50+ year-old man to marry his former student. Another 40-year-old man to hit on underage students. And the guy who had child porn was in his 60s.
Some of us grow out of nonsense. Some just retain the filth.
Hate to inform you, but the sex industry IS a dishonorable profession. Someone who makes a living as a prostitute, has no business teaching kids. Welcome to reality.
ReplyDeleteMight as well fire half the teachers out there then, because a lot of them indulged in questionable behavior.
DeleteQuestionable behavior & being a whore are two different things. With students that have access to the internet, therefore to his work, that is creating a VERY BAD and disruptive teacher-student relationship. Sorry dude. If you're an adult entertainer, you need to stay in that business. It doesn't mix with other professions.
DeleteI'll elaborate on questionable behavior. One teacher I knew was arrested for child pornography. Another was arrested for DUI (driving under influence). Then there were those teachers addicted to pills, alcohol, etc., and would come to work everyday high or drunk. These people are in every school. Would you say that they're more qualified to work? I'm not defending the guy's behavior, but people do a lot more seedier shit behind closed doors than you think.
DeleteI'm with Dion there. NO ONE is completely innocent and devoid of sex. BUT the reality is that people who have an opinion like bubbajolee's DO exist and their opinion dominates Dion's. That's just the way society works. No matter how hard Dion spins it and even if he is right, sex is taboo, sex is bad and always will be. Lust is one of the 7 deadly Sins.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the culture. A lot of sexual views stems from religion, effecting guilt for indulging in sexual activities. Other countries like Japan take a more open-ended view on this. The sex industry is a necessary taboo - people crucify it, yet almost every guy out there watches porn.
DeleteAs for Bubbajolee, I have a hunch that he's from bodybuilding.com forums. His comments are laced with spite rather than a mere interest in debate.