# What does 'dancer' suggest as a vocation? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455 "2016-11-30T14:37:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/81 "2016-12-02T13:46:25Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Wait a minute - am I understanding correctly? > > She got better tips as a _pregnant_ stripper? My mind is officially boggled. I’d like to be the first one to formally welcome you to the internet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/82 "2016-12-02T14:22:05Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Overall I think the true dancers don’t want “their” term stolen from them by Those People - the strippers. > > So at least some of them are aggressive about defending “dancer” as meaning non-stripper and would insist that “stripper” is the word for a, well, stripper. On the flip side, I think some just aren’t worried about it because they don’t see “stripper” or “exotic dancer” as something to be ashamed of even if that’s not what they do. Or view pole-dancing as equally legitimate in the spectrum of “dance” as ballet in terms of athletics, artistry and skill. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/83 "2016-12-02T14:22:17Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > If she ever danced in front of a poll, it would be be for fitness. This might be the breakthrough for all those sad little political gubbineses who earnestly bemoan low voter turnout. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/84 "2016-12-02T14:34:13Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > On the flip side, I think some just aren’t worried about it because they don’t see “stripper” or “exotic dancer” as something to be ashamed of even if that’s not what they do. Or view pole-dancing as equally legitimate in the spectrum of “dance” as ballet in terms of athletics, artistry and skill. There’s nothing wrong with being a stripper IMHO. Unfortunately the job often involves more than simply dancing. Good pole dancers and strippers are quite skilled and truly are artists, doing nothing different than the so called legitimate dancers. But many aren’t that artistic and make much of their money from other work at the clubs. Dance skills aren’t really a qualification for the job at many venues. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/85 "2016-12-02T14:36:47Z")
There should have been a _pole_ with this thread. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/86 "2016-12-02T14:51:52Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Wait a minute - am I understanding correctly? > > She got better tips as a _pregnant_ stripper? My mind is officially boggled. > > Regards, > Shodan The bewbs get bigger well before the belly… that’s my guess. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/87 "2016-12-02T20:55:14Z")
I would assume, without any judgment whatsoever, that she was a stripper or exotic dancer. I’ve never known a professional dancer – and I have known very few – who didn’t identify themselves with a qualifier: ballet dancer, or dance instructor. Professional dance positions are pretty rare, and must be outnumbered by strip-tease dancers by at least a 10:1 margin. So statistically I think I would be safe in the assumption. The exception would be if the person telling me she was a dancer possessed some quality that would exclude them from being a stripper, such as old age. Someone who wants to be a dancer but is working as a waitress is telling you their aspiration, not their profession. ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/88 "2016-12-02T22:41:44Z")
> [@bump](#): > > The bewbs get bigger well before the belly… that’s my guess. Given the added info that these were regulars… I highly doubt it. Contrary to what some might believe, these types of guys are far less “I gets what I pay for” than many outsiders assume. Getting extra cash for the kid (or a birthday even) is kind of common. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/89 "2016-12-03T02:48:28Z")
> [@polar\_bear](#): > > Given the added info that these were regulars… I highly doubt it. Contrary to what some might believe, these types of guys are far less “I gets what I pay for” than many outsiders assume. Getting extra cash for the kid (or a birthday even) is kind of common. Mebbe they’re just doing what their [t-shirt](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z83/maniako4ever/SupportSingleMoms.jpg) says. BTW, from the cost of the 12 Days of Christmas: - Nine ladies dancing (per performance), $7,553; last year’s cost: same ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/90 "2016-12-03T11:08:25Z")
> [@polar\_bear](#): > > Given the added info that these were regulars… I highly doubt it. Contrary to what some might believe, these types of guys are far less “I gets what I pay for” than many outsiders assume. Getting extra cash for the kid (or a birthday even) is kind of common. Exactly. Yesterday I happened past a storefront shop called “PoleStars” painted pink & white with all the windows blocked off. It obviously wasn’t a strip joint. So what was it? See for yourself: (safe for work unless somebody objects to a picture of a woman in workout clothes) [http://www.polestars.com/](http://www.polestars.com/). I predict pole dancing will be a lot less “sinful” 20 years from now than it was 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/91 "2016-12-03T11:27:40Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > This might be the breakthrough for all those sad little political gubbineses who earnestly bemoan low voter turnout. 😛 I’ve typed that spelling so many times, I think my fingers were on autopilot. > [@Shodan](#): > > Wait a minute - am I understanding correctly? > > She got better tips as a _pregnant_ stripper? My mind is officially boggled. I’ve seen some women who wind up hotter while pregnant. That glow helps a lot, and they get more curves when they used to be more flat and straight. Not necessarily all the way until the “pop,” but at least part of the way. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/92 "2016-12-03T11:30:20Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > I’m going to skip over the back story and just present these facts: a 20 something woman, considered reasonably attractive by dominant culture standards, lives in a medium-sized city (~100k) in the Midwest without a particularly vibrant arts scene, identifies her job as being a “dancer”. Based on this information alone, what would you estimate is the likelihood that this individual’s vocation also involves a pole, and making regular bank deposits consisting largely of $1 bills? > > 10%? 50%? 90%? > > Would you consider it “outrageous” to assume this individual worked in a ‘gentleman’s club’? Dancer **as a primary vocation** in the Midwest in a non-artsy municipal context… probably 90% chance of her being a stripper. Normally a real professional dancer understands quite well how “dancer” sans other explanation would normally be understood and provides additional context to that description. The only person in a non-artsy scenario just leaving it at “dancer” would be a stripper the vast majority of the time. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/93 "2016-12-03T13:02:41Z")
I wouldn’t consider the possibility that the person is a stripper. I would admit that it seems likely if asked, but I prefer to think the best of the people around me. Entirely selfish attitude I will admit. I like the idea that I surround myself with nice people, but there it is. that said, I don’t think there is anything at all wrong with the profession of “stripper”. Meeting a person with the self confidence and physical attractiveness to be a stripper would be nice. And yes I do recognize that there are strippers who work in that profession for negative reasons. However, I recognize that society at large has a negative view of the profession. So I would not think that of someone I just met. Following the OP of course-based on the information given alone. If additional information is available, say she is driving a car with an advertisement for a local children’s dance school, I would take that into consideration and be confident she isn’t a stripper. I can’t imagine a children’s dancing instructor also working as a stripper. The possible negative impacts of the latter on the former profession would be too great. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455/94 "2016-12-03T13:17:49Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I’d like to be the first one to formally welcome you to the internet. 🙂 I would like to be the third. As in, I felt the same way when I first read LSLGuys post. 🙂 I would also like to point out that Shodan did self-identify as old, so he that reason. I am as well, so perhaps that is a trend. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-dancer-suggest-as-a-vocation/773455.md?page=4)