“A Hangout with a View” Rural Strip Clubs: An Ethnographic Exploration

For the last four decades, social scientists have been exploring the many aspects of the strip clubs in the US. Such studies have illuminated the culture surrounding strip clubs and also sparked debate about this very public arena where private pleasures are fulfilled. Most studies, however, have primarily focused on clubs located in urban areas and the women who dance. Very few studies have looked at other players involved in the club--such as the men who attend these clubs--and fewer still have studied clubs in urban areas. The current study is an ethnographic exploration examining two such aspects—rural clubs and their male patrons. The study included observational periods within the clubs, and both formal and informal interviews with male owners, managers, and patrons. Data analysis revealed that strip clubs in rural areas often serve the dual purpose of a local “watering hole” and a sexualized venue for male patrons. Interviews revealed how individuals operate in and make sense of a setting that sells sex but is also potentially a place where “everybody knows your name.” These interviews and observations also explored attitudes regarding gender roles, male and female sexuality, as well as differences between urban and rural strip clubs.