Mental Health Benefits of Stripping for Sex Workers And Therapeutic Implications
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Authors
Jade, Tempest
Issue Date
2025-01
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
stripper , sex worker , positive , mental health , resilience
Alternative Title
Abstract
The goal of this capstone is to both explore and propose the mental health benefits of stripping. Gaps in research will be addressed by putting forward valuable input based on personal experience, emerging studies and sex worker community collaboration. A brief look at North American colonial history rooted in systems of oppression sets the foundation for understanding the problem of why negative beliefs about women who engage in stripping have been perpetuated across centuries. In the literature review, an analysis of recent empirical research and psychological literature about sex workers underscores the field's focus on unhelpful pathology and stigma. A critique is made of inaccurate, biased research that has compounded over time, highlighting the need for resilience-focused research informed by stripper and sex worker participation and meaningful consultation. The result in chapter 3 is a bold redefining of stripping through its experienced mental health benefits compiled by an award-winning stripper with 20 years in the industry along with contributions from sex worker colleagues. The proposed benefits of stripping may be employed as an educational resource to inform counsellors, future researchers, the larger field of psychology and anyone seeking to be a sex worker ally, including pole dance hobbyists. Implications for counsellors working with this population are provided towards clinical practice that is anti-oppressive, grounded in client-centered care and sex worker advocacy.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess