Yesterday, I asked: Why do men go to strip clubs?
As part of my ongoing look at the strip club economy, I wanted to know the psychology behind the demand.
I put out a call to my readers, asking them why they go to strip clubs. I heard from commenters on Google+, got responses on Twitter, and received three email letters from men revealing why they pay for lap dances.
Recommended by Forbes
Here’s what I learned.
On Google+, one woman commented: “I’m from Vancouver and I went to strip clubs with guy friends because the beer was cheap and hockey was always on the TV.”
A man on Google+ commented: “IDK; after the novelty wore off (pretty quickly), it became boring and then kind of sad. So empty….” Another opined: “If I could give you just one short answer it would be: because they can.” Another asserted: “If you like music, go to a rock concert; football, go to a football match; naked women, a strip club.”
ADVERTISING
On Twitter, a male follower tweeted: “I go to strip clubs when I know the feature. I get plenty of stimulation at my work, I don’t have to go out and LOOK for it.” (Open Salon has a handy definition of a feature dancer versus a house dancer.) A woman wanted to know: “why do they assume only men go? My girlfriends and I go and have a great time.”
In an email, a strip club patron offered a poignant peek at why he goes.
The primary reason that I go to strip clubs is #7 on your list: loneliness. In the dead of night, alone at home, the loneliness sometimes becomes unbearable. There aren’t many places to go in the middle of the night, and most of those choices don’t necessarily ensure any kind of reasonable human interaction.
I like to think I hold up my end of the bargain; I spend money, tip well, and am clean and polite. In exchange, women talk to me and there is usually light non-sexual touching which I find very comforting. Sometimes I will calm down enough to find parts of it arousing.
This can be particularly exacerbated on business trips; in a strange city where I may not know anyone or speak the language, in the blandness of a hotel room, strip clubs are places where I know I’ll be chatted up.
Another emailer said his reasons for going changed over time.
I go to strip clubs for the fantasy. Many women I see and meet are so guarded.Women at strip clubs are friendlier and much more open to have a conversation with you. Many women at work are stuffy and quite rude.
Of course, being a male, we go to ogle the girls and enjoy the women. Being married and seeing other naked women, in a controlled setting makes the experience very comfortable. Even have taken the wife to the place in Myconapy with nude dancers and great food. She was a good sport about it and enjoyed it. Live life, enjoy it, and do things your parents would not do!