Community Perceptions of Lap Dance Clubs and Licensing

Laws Joanne Mitchinson

Department of Social Sciences, Sociology and Social ResearchUniversity of Kent

Supervisors: Profs Phil Hubbard & Kate O’Brien

2nd Bi-Annual Postgraduate Sex Work Conference19th January 2011

Context: Lap Dance in the UK

• UK industry burgeoned since 1990s

• Estimated 300+ clubs in the UK

• Concerns over nature & impact of clubs

• New optional licensing laws in 2009

• Councils currently in decision making/implementing process regarding licensing.

Context: UK-Based Research

• Dancer motivations & experiences

• Exploitation/empowerment debates

• Actions and interactions within the club environment

• The commercialisation and mainstreaming of lap dance

• The regulation and licensing of the lap dance industry

• Opposition to lap dance clubs pre-new licensing

• Client motivations

Research Aims• Explore how residents and businesses perceive lap dance clubs in their area and

more generally.

• Investigate the experiences of residents and businesses living or working near a lap dance club.

• Identify which factors may shape perceptions about local lap dance clubs and lap dance more generally.

• Investigate how residents and businesses understand and interpret lap dance.

• Assess the extent to which the public are aware of licensing changes and any impact this may have on them, the area or clubs.

• Address any implications the findings may have regarding the way current government licensing strategies are informed.

Manchester & Cheshire East Councils

• Neighbouring councils with different characteristics.

• Both in the process of adopting the new licensing laws.

• Very different approaches to lap dance & licensing.

• Very different reactions from local residents & interested parties.

Manchester• A major city with a history of sexual commerce, commodification

& conflict surrounding this.• Six dedicated lap dance clubs in Manchester.• Decided to adopt without a public consultation• No real objection to lap dance clubs from residents or businesses.• Minimal input from local activist groups.• All clubs in city centre – BUT highly visible, high profile locations.

Manchester’s Gay Village Platform 13 ½ : Soliciting Site Local landmark: massage parlour

Clubs in Manchester: Locations

Silks: Near the Town Hall

Fantasy Bar: On a major shopping thoroughfare, near

historic buildings

Victoria’s: Near major shopping centre &

leisure facility

Obsessions: Next to busy commuter station

Long Legs: In China Town

Baby Platinum: On a busy road & in Gay

Village

Manchester’s Approach“...[the licensing] was always something we were supportive of.” Principal

Licensing Officer, Manchester City Council

“while we had the premises in close proximity to very commandingbuildings...the nature of Manchester City Centre is that there, there arechanging environments throughout the day, while one area has a quiteestablished use during the day, another has another use at night.” PLO, re: city centre club locations

“..there is quite a wide network of community meetings to meet for an area...how we communicate the licensing policy is community officers” PLO, re: informing communities

Cheshire East: Macclesfield• Market town with an industrial history• No lap dance clubs in Macclesfield• Decided to adopt with a public consultation• Strong objections to lap dance clubs from residents or businesses• High levels of input from local residents, businesses and Christian groups.• 2010 refusal of license to town centre venue under Licensing Act of 2003.

Resident’s protest 2009 Proposed site of lap dance club at bus station & on main street

Macclesfield’s Views“Assuming the rules of the club are properly followed and the premise does not operate as abrothel, it is likely that men will leave the premises not only sexually stimulated but also sexuallyfrustrated. Innocent women who may have no choice but to wait for a bus may becomevulnerable targets for such pent up sexual frustrations”. HOPE Christian Church Group, re: their understandings and fears

“Negative opinions concerning matters of administration and social psychology appear to comefrom a given minority of highly vocal people in a sub cultural strata.” Resident of Wilmslow, re: proposed licensing

“Macclesfield is not hugely populated like, for example, Manchester, where this sort ofestablishment would be in the city centre away from residential areas. I want to beable to go out for a meal or a drink, in my home town without being offended by suchclubs.” Resident of Macclesfield, re: where is and is not appropriate for a lap dance club

Excerpts taken from Appendix C and D of Cheshire East’s Draft Policy & Consultationhttp://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/business/licensing/consultation_and_notices.aspx

Methods

• Mixed-Methods• Residents, local businesses, activist groups, local

authorities.• Rating scale questionnaire: identify trends, make

comparisons• Interviews: open-ended, develop answers to

questionnaires