I just moved to a new area and have been trying very hard to prioritize making friends and new connections here. I’ve been using Bumble BFF to try and make some girl friends. I finally met up with someone I met on there, and she was very sweet and nice and the hang out was going fine up until I mentioned what I do for work. She immediately started talking about how sad it was that I have to do that to make money, how she feels conflicted because she feels like I’m contributing to a problem, and she also asked me if I had any interests I was passionate about that I could make into a career. Shortly after she asked for the check, which I know was just because she had to get back home since it was late but the timing was just…not good. It was hard to hear honestly. But I handled it with grace and validated her right to her perspective. But my actual thoughts? I am not a victim. I don’t HAVE to do this. I choose to because I enjoy it. I like my job. I’m not contributing to any problem. I’m capitalizing off of my own oppression. Men objectify us, rape us, murder us, etc. THEY created this problem. It’s not the strippers fault. Also, strip clubs don’t have to be a place of inherent objectification. They can be spaces where people come for connection, to appreciate sexual expression, to appreciate art, etc. And lastly, I have many interests and passions outside of stripping that I engage in and have no intention of monetizing. I don’t need to aspire to anything else. This is a career for me and what works best for me. I make enough money to sustain myself. I save my money. I’m hoping to retire early. I treat this like a job, because it is one. It is a valid job and career choice. Anyway…I was just sort of surprised by this interaction because I haven’t run into anything like that in quite awhile, and it just hurts more coming from women honestly. A lot of women don’t support sex workers. It’s disheartening. Anyway, I just had to vent. That’s all!