Cynthia Loyst
BUCKNAKED IN THE BRONX
While the idea to do a story about male strippers had been in my head for quite awhile, I never imagined it would unfold quite like this. Up until this point, my one experience with male strippers had been brief and unrewarding. I have only a vague recollection of the bar where a short, buff, long-haired man named Ivan decided to wipe his butt on my leg during a "private" dance. While I was not really offended by that act - I was offended by the general lack of eroticism displayed in the "ho-hum" show.
Fast forward 7 years and I'm in the Bronx - front row center for a "Pre-Mother's Day" strip fest. I'm already feeling a little overdressed as I eyeball the lovely lady busting out of her tank top beside me. This feeling only intensifies as the first dancer saunters on stage. After a little wiggle, a few turns, and some hip thrusts - it's all off - and all within my reach. With my jaw on the floor, I am stunned as I observe more erect penises in one night than I have seen in my entire life.
I'm not sure if I completely understand how male strip shows have transformed from banal, unerotic dance sequences into full blown, simulated sex shows. While I think this type of strip show is the exception rather than the rule - I do believe that more and more of these "interactive" shows are going to be taking place. The more these types of shows happen - the more demand there will be for male strippers to raise the bar. And it seems that the higher the bar gets raised - the more the women go wild.
In some ways, it is disgusting what women audience members can get away with. Some of the things I saw them doing to the dancers would get any guy kicked out if they tried it on a woman. In other ways, the bottom line seems to lie with the dancers - they are the ones who draw the boundaries around what will happen on stage - and some of them have decided not to draw any at all.
While I declined an offer to go on stage with one of the dancers (who, I might add, proceeded to pull another woman on the stage and stimulate oral sex on her - the last thing I need to pop up at a CityTV party!) I did feel like I was definitely part of a unique social experience.
While there is no denying the fact that these men are objectified and exploited by the women in their audience - I sincerely believe that none of the men I met are doing it because they have to - they do it because they want to. And there is no denying that they look fabulous doing it…
Cynthia Loyst
Segment Producer, SEXTV
