Hooters
Roma
Up until recently, I honestly thought this place was fictional, or if it wasn't, that there was only one in the world. I really couldn't see how a chain could've been developed purely from sexism. I thought that it would have been stopped by now as it is degrading to women, and in this day and age I thought such blatant disregard for political correctness would not have been allowed.
How wrong I was.
Not only is it allowed, but now it's developed so far that there is a restaurant in the UK. Apparently it's been there for a long time, but now they want to open up another in Sheffield.
This really upsets me. As if you can't tell from the name, it is a 'restaurant' whose unique selling point is the sexual appeal of women. And not just any old women, women with large chests and small everything else. Their 'uniform' is small orange shorts, white very low cut vest, sun tan orange tights and they have to have long hair and wear it down (apparently they're trying to get across glamour- not likely.) and if they get a run in their tights on their shift, they either have to replace them immediately, or they are asked to leave.
Their uniform must be tailored to fit, so it is tight, and they must wear make-up.
And then above this all, if men make comments about their appearance and sexually harass them, they must take it. They have to sign a contract stating that they do not find this offensive. How can you not find that offensive?
What really worries me about it all, isn't that the girls who work there must go through that (a lot of them think it's a wonderful idea) it's that once men think they can treat women this way, as objects, then it's going to become OK for everyone to do so, and this breeds women who spend all their time worrying about their bodies, simply because men think they have the right to comment on them.
The entire establishment values women more on their bodies than as individuals, and it is disgusting.
I for one will be doing my part to stop this happening, wherever and whenever I can.
There's more information and an interesting discussion here:
http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2008/03/hooters_comes_t
queenfairypants
I agree. A friend is half Texan and went over to visit his dad and he came into college with a Hooters top signed by the girls there all typical 'love from the USA' etc etc. A friend recently had a go at working as a pole dancer/stripper whatever and has decided not to carry on because of other things she was asked to do, I was completely against it and she went a head anyway and hated it but she is easily swayed by the offer of money. The whole 'WAG' thing pisses me off too, because from hooters, to strip clubs, to Wags it probably influences girls to make them think that the only way they can make money is by their bodies or marrying rich men.
northernstar
I definitely don't agree with places like Hooters, I knew it was real alright and am actually shocked to see one already in the UK.
The thing that pisses me off is that there will always be women/girls who will do this kind of work, either they have no education, or they think it is a sure fire way of earning more money, maybe they get more tips in a place like this, than working as a waitress in a normal place.
BUT just because women work there, does not make it right. We should be in a place in this day and age were women don't see a job like this as a good idea.
There was a story recently about one of those UK Kiss and tell girls, I don't remember her name. Her young daughter who wasn't even a teen yet, is dying to get a boob job and is already wearing those horrible velour tracksuit things. Her mother of course thought this was great as she would get more work with a bigger chest and she even said she will be mroe famous than Britney, considering Britneys lifestyle at the moment, I'm not sure that is a great idea?
I found the link:http://www.dlisted.com/node/25256 her name is Alicia Duvall, I'm sure you have heard of her *rolls eyes*
Here is a link to a story about a book that was recently published that makes me want to puke.
http://jezebel.com/380481/my-beautiful-mommy-teaches-kids-why-mommys-face-is-suddenly-prettier
I can't believe I was ever into Britney's music I don't think she can even sing! As you said opposites there will always be women who think that sort of work is good and with more and more kids having kids I mean I don't like generalising or stereotyping but this stereotype is usually true, you can't bring up a child in the right way if you're still a child and never had a proper upbringing. It always comes down to the same things money and education.
The problem isn't the women working there, they can handle it, they love it
(and I don't agree with the kids having kids bit- you can be a good parent at any age.)
It hasn't got anything to do with money or education either, you can be as intelligent as you like and still find an appeal in working in a place like that.
The problem is when women enjoy and appreciate sexual harassment, some men think it's ok, and in fact they think it's their duty to tell someone when she has 'nice baps'. And then, as i explained, it leads to other women feeling under pressure to look like that unrealistic view of perfection. It's a serious problem, I know it all too well. Just the other day I went to the doctors about the differentiating size between my breasts (a cup size or two), just to be told that i was "unlucky" and that I could have an implant if I wanted. I cried all afternoon.
And then yesterday morning when I was in the shower I started to think why he told me it was unlucky. Since when is he the judge on what looks good and what doesn't? Since that little relevation I now firmly believe that having a B and a D can only be a good thing. If I'm with a guy who likes big boobs, wahay! He's got one. If I'm with a guy who likes 'em small, great, he's got one too. Most of all I like them because they are mine, and I should be proud of them, I grew them all on my own.
I am well aware there are girls out there who aren't as lucky as I am, to have such a determined mindset to not let things get me down, as I used to be one of them too. About a year ago I was starving myself. And it's those girls that are the real victims of Hooters. You don't even have to go there to be affected by it, that's what makes it all so horrific. You can stay as far away as is physically possible but it's always going to reach you.
To summarise: although the girls who work there will have a rough time, it isn't just them we need to be worrying out.
I agree with you Roma, I am having a glass of wine now, so will not try to make any of my own right now, they will come out wrong.
I will say your doctor was an ass though! What a thing to say.
My own boobs are not the same either, one nipple is a good bit lower than the other and they are pretty obvious too, so I always keep my arms crossed if it a bit nippy out!
one is always different to the other, so don't worry!
I hate it when I make things sound like fact when I'm generalising, most of the time it is true though I don't usually generalise at all. And in my opinion it is down to money and education, not getting enough of an education so needing money, if education taught morals properly not all subconciously I think it would help but then, again if there's easy money to be made someone will do it no matter what. (ignore this this is me panicking that I sound stupid)
The sad thing is I think I've learnt to deal with the fact that people think its ok to check people out and say inappropriate things.
Knittin' Kitten
I don't have a problem with the women working there, they aren't forced. I'm on the side of sex workers, strippers, pole dancers etc because maybe some people feel they're being degraded, but they're obviously fine with it. But as some of you guys said, it's the issue that some people don't know when to draw the line. I think Hooters is fine as a place where maybe some guys want to let off a bit of steam and be typical men for a while - but ONLY as long as they know that behaviour is only appropriate in there, just as someone sleeps with a prostitute should know that they can't just pay anyone for sex.
Yeah but it shouldn't be appropriate in there either.
I don't see why being a 'typical' man should mean that women lose out.
And yeah I know the workers who are strippers and pole dancers and things are fine with it, but I think they would respect themselves more if they had a proper job, and I think the world would be a better place without legalised perversion.
I totally agree Roma. You put what I was thinking into words perfectly. I doubt the majority of these women know what self respect is and obviously don't have any moral objections to what they're doing. When my friend was asked her friend was INSANELY jealous because it was probably about the fact that she felt like she wasn't pretty enough but it's nothing to do with whether you're pretty or not, they lied to my friend saying she'd get x amount of money and was going to be the 'main girl' I said to her they'll treat her like she's special but she isn't to them she is just a money making peice of meat to them. My friend had actually thought about what might happen and that they'd lie, she knew what she was getting into but still went a head with it.
I don't see what the fun is of watching half naked/naked girls dance about in front of you and you can't touch them, I don't think I get it because I'm not a bloke, why go somewhere when they could just watch a film same diff really. With hooters well they obviously get some fun out of feeling powerful and being able to say what the hell they want to a woman. A friend who is male went to a strip club and said it was rubbish because again you can't touch them. Also there is a lot of human trafficking so not all of them are fine with it.
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