Undressed for Success: Beauty Contestants and Exotic Dancers as Merchants of Morality
The journal article I chose for analysis was an article entitled Undressed for Success: Beauty Contestants and Exotic Dancers as Merchants of Morality by Brenda Foley. The article touched on how women are exposing themselves albeit in different arenas in different scenarios. Foley speaks about beauty pageant contestants, exotic dancers and even those that dance or pose naked. Foley explains that while these display of talent, for a lack of better words, are in different areas, they are actually one in the same.
The art of burlesque started back in the early 1840’s. Since then the art has transformed into many different versions. You’ve got your striptease used mostly by exotic dancers and also just the eye candy that you’ll find in most pageants. In the analysis of Foley’s book, there’s mention of the comparison between dancers and beauty pageant contestants. A very good point was made when this comparison was done. Pageant contestants often enter the competition for scholarship money when exotic dancers average $1000 on days they work. It thought that if a pageant contestant were to enter a wet t-shirt contest, they’ve have a better chance of paying for their college education quicker than winning a pageant. Actually if you were to watch some of the movies that featured exotic dancers, you’ll hear the majority of them say that they are dancing for college money.
Foley writes that some American women’s idea of achieving success financially and becoming a socialite may prompt the actions of entering beauty pageants and exotic dancing. The analysis not only touches on the areas of beauty pageant contestants and exotic dancers but also women that are apart of wet t-shirt contests and any other arena that women are portrayed or allow themselves to reveal a great percentage of skin for viewing pleasure and even to be judged.
Brenda Foley wrote Undressed for Success: Beauty Contestants and Exotic Dancers as Merchants of Morality in 2005 and it was published by Palgrave Macmillan. Her book has been read by many college students and professors highly recommend this reading because it’s enlightening and also thought-provoking about the similarities between pageant contestants, strippers or exotic dancers, and women of burlesque. She is praised for the awesome comparisons and exposure of cultural history.
Reference:
M.J. Bumb (2008) Undressed for Success: Beauty Contestants and Exotic Dancers as Merchants of Morality The Journal of Popular Culture 41 (1) , 164–166 doi:10.1111/j.1540-5931.2008.00497_4.x
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8 comments:
I understand the business of selling sex. It is all through our culture. I read the article and the analysis and, if I understand this correctly (and we are at a disadvantage when the analysis is one of an analysis of a book) that basically Miss America swimsuit and burlesque and strip clubs are one and the same? Speaking from one who used to go to a lot of strip clubs in his early years, I fail to see the connection, except in the generality of selling sex.
I thought the analysis written was good. I cannot say that, if I did understand the conclusions, I agree with it. But it was well constructed and easy to read with specific points shown.
I never would have thought of beauty pageants and striptease as being the same artform. I agree that women who strip make more money because sex sells. I guess my opinion is that I would rather do a pageant rather than strip to make money, but I'm not going to criticize those who do it. I think you did a great analysis. It was well-written and easy to read. Good job!
After reading the article I also could not find the connection between Beauty Pageants and exotic dancers. I have watched several beauty pageants and their outfits (swimsuits) are more tastefull but I can not see where they sell sex like the exotic dancers who ultimately where tasteless clothes. I understand your analysis of the topic and you did a great job on it but I disagree with Pageants and exotic dancers being one and the same.
Exotic dancers have been a very good business for many years, and probably will be for much longer. Miss America will be as well. Miss America is about beauty, but I guess I never really thought of Miss America in the same aspect of Exotic dancers. But now that I think about it, on Miss America they are selling their beauty which Exotic Dancers do the same thing, just a little less clothes.
I'm not sure that I would say that Beauty Pageants and dancers are similar. Although the women in pageants have to meet the requirements of Americans classification of "beautiful", their purpose is also to provide a service to the community once they win. They contribute a lot of their time by volunteering and assisting various organizations. So I also disagree with the author of your article but your analysis was well thought out.
I think that your analysis was well written. I never would have linked beauty pagents with exotic dancers. I do not believe that they are the same. Yes, they are both trying to make money but the pagent contestants are doing this with all their clothes on. I liked your analysis but disagree with the author of the book.
I have to agree that I did not make the connection in the article of beauty queens and exotic dancers. I think they both shed light to the female body thought. I like the analysis that you gave though. All in all it just reflects that the society we live today is one that is filled with body and sex. We judge and critique them all the time. I guess now that I have said that, the article could be leaning towards that notion. If you look at the bigger picture "are they really one in the same"? I enjoyed reading the article and your analysis.
I can see some similarities, but I can't say I agree with the conclusions in this article. As a previous poster mentioned, it does make it a little bit harder when the analysis is done on a book review; but from what I'm gathering, I still don't agree. If we want to say that the swimsuit portion of Miss America is equivalent to a striptease, then we are also equating public swimming pools with strip clubs. Honestly, many of the bathing suits I've seen in pageants are MUCH more modest then what I see (on much younger girls I might add) at my local pool.
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