Burlesque? Am I just out of touch?

Allira

^My ideal of female empowerment was the work of the Air Auxiliary women in WW2 who flew all types of aircraft with little preparation and just a book of instructions. I would rather have listened to them than watch a burlesque performer.^

HelterSkelter Well said.

Wow! Wish I had done that.......😊😊

Several years ago my friend took me to see a burlesque show. He loved it but I felt uncomfortable and hated every minute of it.

OK ok enough said, we're going down the fuddy duddy route, mea culpa, let it all hang out, there, time for a cup of tea or perhaps that should be, is it prosecco, or is that out of date too. 5

Exactly Jaxjacky.
Incidentally, the moves did not involve any removal of clothes, just interesting ways of wearing a feather boa.

As you didn’t go to the meeting you’re imagining what happened based on some internet searches, I’d have gone and then formed an opinion. I like experiencing new things and being educated, there’s always an option of walking away if something isn’t to one’s liking.

Dear, oh dear, oh dear.
Burlesque is an erotic performance art form, very controlled, quite provocative and very different from stripping.
I watched television clips of Dita von Teese performing, definitely very artistic, and also someone I knew who was persuaded to perform for a hen do among friends. (she also learned line dancing and go-jo, mo-jo (?) or something similar.
We were invited to have a go at learning basic moves and it was good fun; I can understand the WI enjoying it. I think I was mid-fifties at the time and won approval from my much younger colleagues at the time.

It is possible to be a feminist and erotic at the same time, but rather sad that people condemn it without have ever seen it.
Still, each to each her own.

Every WI is different of course and this is in one of those 'best places to live in the UK' (yawn) and is a relatively new WI with a much larger proportion of younger women than I have experienced elsewhere.

If the women at the WI loved it then it is not just about attracting men in the most basic way possible. More about some men and women like it and some men and women don't.

It wouldn't interest me, I've never liked the idea of people taking their clothes off for entertainment, usually its women, but I wouldn't want to see men disrobing either. I know Burlesque is supposed to be a tasteful/acceptablel version of striptease, if women engage willingly fair enough! I don't relate that to empowerment, what a load of rubbish. Personally I hated the proliferation of lap dancing clubs, there used to be one near where I lived close to a well known rugby ground. It's the objectification aspect I find so vile. Thankfully through the efforts of the local community it was closed down because of raucous behaviour sited in a residential area, near high street and schools not great. Good riddance.

Whatever floats your boat I suppose.

I couldn’t think of a more boring past time.

My ideal of female empowerment was the work of the Air Auxiliary women in WW2 who flew all types of aircraft with little preparation and just a book of instructions. I would rather have listened to them than watch a burlesque performer.

HelterSkelter Well said.

I don't get the "empowering" bit. A bit of fun if that's what you want to do. An enrgetic work out if you like pole dancing. It is like saying having a tattoo is empowering. Can't see that at all.
I suppose OP you could feel empowered by not going to the meeting. Did the WI members dress up as well?
My ideal of female empowerment was the work of the Air Auxiliary women in WW2 who flew all types of aircraft with little preparation and just a book of instructions. I would rather have listened to them than watch a burlesque performer. Still horses for courses.

Whatever happened to The Chippendales?

😂

Burlesque has been around for years and years - not my cup of tea personally, but I know women who enjoy it. Not entirely sure what the link is between it and encouraging women to be overweight, as Granatlast007 seems to be inferring.

Also the same excuses for all of it are given, 'but it is a choice'.

There appear yo be links to that with this performer, or to dominatrix stuff anyway.

It is a very long way from Burlesque to choking during sex for heightened pleasure, why bring that into the discussion?

Thanks for the replies, many of you seem to feel as I did which is a relief!
The idea that it's all about choice and that there is no subtext ... well, at the very least, I find it disturbing that young women are encouraged to think that being deliberately overweight is ok (because of the health aspect later on and I know that controlling weight can be hard) and also with the spread of hardcore porn and the laissez faire attitude to choking as a normal part of sex. It makes me uncomfortable.

Is all down to someone’s likes or dislikes
Have never seen Burlesque and am not too bothered about seeing it, but I know women who do like it as the women at the WI did.
Horses for courses.

They are indeed, just as I am allowed to choose to say that isn't feminism.

Surely women are allowed to choose what they want to do and be.

Just as you are allowed to choose not to attend.

Cannot be bothered with any of it. I think it's a fine line between 'art' and the usual titillation for men.

My DD took up Burlesque as a hobby. She says she loves the dressing up, the performing and the sense of fun. There is a lot of comedy in Burlesque. We went to her shows and thoroughly enjoyed them.
She also did pole exercise for a while and that is a major workout!!
Btw she is also an ardent feminist and believes in everyone making their own choices!

Magenta even. It is too early in the morning for this discussion!

Sorry magnets I just think it us absolute nonsense and not feminism. I have just googled the performer mentioned ( I probably wouldn't advise it), no surprise that there are links to other unpleasantness.