As a response to my previous stripper post here are the lyrics to the Consolidated song No Answer for a Dancer.
(Image from Artists Direct web site)
If you’re not familiar with the band Consolidated, they are/were, perhaps, the most political and liberal of all bands ever, and I’m - probably - not just spewing hyperbole either. For a young idealist in the late 80’s and into the 90’s, though, they were gods of opinion.
I tried to find a video of the song, but the search was futile. Instead here’s a video of their song, America Number One:
This song, I think, captures the issues with the sex industry, and the problems of taking away that option from those who choose to participate.
This is the thing about pornography. If all parties involved are agreeable and are involved without coercion, then it should be fine, right? The problem is, coercion isn’t just blatant, nor is it just subtle. It’s inherent in society. It’s inherent in the drive for more money and plastic frivolity and uselessness.
It was after the show, I’m loading out the van
it could’ve been anywhere but in this case atlanta
a woman walks up while I’m packing
she says have you got a minute
I say yeah just a second
how are you did you enjoy the show
she said I did but I still have a question though
some of your remarks were confusing
especially the ones about pornography and prostitution
now let me understand this
that for women and children this is violence
well I appreciate the messages you’re giving
but I happen to dance for a living
and I want to know why you want to be my voice
taking away that which should be my choice
to seek gainful employment even it it means giving dirty old men enjoyement
now exploitation of anyone is wrong I agree
but this doesn’t apply to me
I’ve never been harassed while I work
and my bottom line’s phat
now sir can you deal with that
you could already call this a situation
this debate’s insane but I was on the spot
so I had to try to explain
her points were intelligent and simple
and I’m already feeling like Mr. guilty white liberal
just try to be sensitive
don’t act like I have any advice to give
let me make it clear I support you
in a man’s world a woman does what she’s got to
if this is your profession your sexual expression
your internalized oppression
I won’t doubt you
my only problem is with a society
that forces women into sexual commodities
where a third of all women are known to be sexually abused
before they’re grown
most raped most homeless and addicted
if this job were described to you
would you have picked it
average age fourteen yes obscene
made to look aroused by pain
children being raped with guns and knives
that’s not speech but the taking of innocent’s lives
if you happen to be the exception that’s cool
but let’s consider the overwhelming rule
we parted ways with no resolution
you can go back and forth and never find a solution
the only point I wanted to make to her
is while all the liberals and pornographers decide where the line
between porn and erotica is
this is what prostitution really is
a question of censorship alright
of women’s and children’s rights
and there’s no first amendment protection
for those unable to raise an objection
if they weren’t silenced they’d sound an alarm
and we’d all know the difference between speech and harm
you want to mutilate youself on film
that’s your choice
but can we protect those without a voice
I’d never get your face
I just don’t want you to end up like Linda Lovelace
the bottom line is I’m a man
and I listen to you because I could never understand
I haven’t got shit tosay
but if I don’t say anything
how long will it be this way
