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Original story here (with video)
Professor Applauds Student's Courage
POSTED: 4:04 pm CDT May 21, 2007
UPDATED: 9:28 am CDT May 22, 2007
OMAHA, Neb. -- A University of Nebraska-Omaha student took a job recently as a stripper for class credit.
Jenny Heineman, a sociology student, said she wanted to bring sex workers out of the dark, so she felt she had to enter their world. Her thesis, "Gender and Work: An Ethnography of a Midwest Strip Club," got her a B and she graduated this spring with high honors.
By day, she works at Blue Line Coffee Shop, selling cappuccino and scones.
As a sociology student studying in Europe, the 22-year-old said she became interested in another line of work.
"I was taking a course in sexuality and culture, and I got introduced to the underground culture of sex work and became very interested in the rights of sex workers," Heineman said.
That included prostitutes, call girls and strippers.
"Upon returning to the states, my curiosity and my desire to work with these women led me to get a job," she said.
By night, Heineman danced at The 20s Club.
"I probably go up on stage four times in an five-hour shift, and I'm constantly thinking, 'Please don't fall,'" Heineman said. "The rest of the time is spent mingling with customers and doing dances for customers at tables," she said.
She said she has learned to strut her stuff in 5-inch heels.
Her experience with customers and her fellow workers was guided and graded by professor Shireen Rajaram.
"I think it's a very worthwhile topic for us to look at," Rajaram said.
Rajaram applauded her student's courage. She said only through this kind of first-hand account can sociologists identify real issues and dispel stereotypes.
"I mean, it's a huge industry and so it's important for us as socio-anthropologists to shed light on the issues, especially the social injustices," Rajaram said.
Heineman said the biggest injustice is the stigma placed on her fellow dancers.
"A lot of these women are doing this to support their families. Several of them are single mothers. They work very hard at a job that can be quite tiresome," Heineman said.
If nothing more, she said she hopes to raise awareness of inequities and earn them the respect she thinks they deserve.
"Get to know your local stripper -- that's the message we should end on, yeah," Heineman said.
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