Mom Dances Topless to Pay Mortgage

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) Mar 31st 2009 9:00AM

Desperate times call for desperate measures and many of us have had to make sacrifices in order to make ends meet these days. But what happens when cutting back doesn't cut it? When you've given up all you can and yet still can't pay the bills?

That's exactly the situation Bree, a married mother of two, found herself in when her in-home daycare business began to suffer due to the shrinking economy. She knew she needed to make more money, so she did what many moms are doing these days: She went looking for work outside the home. With bills to pay and mouths to feed, Bree began supplementing her income by working as a waitress in a strip club.

While the leap from babysitter to scantily-clad cocktail waitress is a big one, it wasn't big enough for Bree. After falling behind on her mortgage payment, she realized that the real money was being made by the topless dancers, not the waitstaff. So she put down her tray, took off her clothes, and began earning some extra dollars, one at at time.

Like many women who work in strip clubs, Bree sees the job as a means to an end. She plans to dance just until she can finish school and get a job as a nurse. "Me as a mom I have to stand up and do what I need to do to provide for my family," she says.

According to the manager of the club, Bree isn't unique. Real estate agents, teachers and professional women from all walks of life have been showing up looking to cash in on their good looks and sexy-dancing abilities. Of course, stripping isn't the only option women have for making some extra money, but considering the fact that Bree made nearly $700 on her very first night, it probably is the quickest option.

Most women have probably never even considered dancing topless for money, but I have. Back in the day, I was a young, single mother quite familiar with the desperation that comes from having too many expenses and not enough cash. I also happened to live in a city famous for its gentleman's clubs and was offered a job more than once. I was never tempted. Like Meatloaf said: I will do anything for love, but I won't do that.

I already know that no matter how difficult things are, I could never cast aside my modesty, my dignity and my shirt in order to make some fast money. Could you?

Source

Comments (97)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Carme 3-31-2009 @ 9:05PM

20 years ago I may have been able to make a living at it, but three kids and 30lbs later I might make more money by men paying me to put my clothes bak on!!!
Whatever pay the bills now days...

Mary 4-02-2009 @ 2:30AM

It's probably pretty empowering in a sense for a mom of two to be able to feel sexy and make thousands a month while doing it.

debbie 4-11-2009 @ 10:37PM

yep whatever pays the bills

Elizabeth 4-04-2009 @ 1:57AM

so takin off your clothes is what makes a women feel sexy??? really??? how narrow minded can you be?? So women can't keep their clothes on and feel sexy??? Hookers take their clothes off for money...u think that makes them feel sexy?? stop perpetuating this sleazy crap!!! women these days seem to think they have to agree with this crap in order to "be cool" No wonder our younger generation is soooo screwed up!!! Nobody believes in morals any more!! It's just "do whatever works and feels good" ???

Kel 4-04-2009 @ 9:02AM

This is to Elizabeth who replied to Mary. Seriously!?!?!? Who the heck do you think you are to tell a woman she CAN'T do this if she chooses? Lets put it this way... if it made her feel demeaned and objectified, do you think she would have even GONE THERE FOR A JOB IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?!? Just because YOU don't like it doesn't mean that a woman can't do it if she wants!
As for feeling sexy, no... taking her clothes off is not why she feels sexy, it's the fact that men think she's sexy enough to WANT to see her take her clothes off. Again, that's her choice! Shoot, I'm 5 months pregnant with number two and got hit on the other day and it made my day! Sometimes it's nice to be reminded we aren't just mom and wife but a desireable human being to the other gender! And there is nothing wrong with that. And, no, hookers are no where close to the same thing... but, again, it's THEIR CHOICE! I wouldn't pursue that option but if a woman chooses to do so, whatever! And before anyone says anything... Yes, it IS A CHOICE. No one can make me do a damn thing I don't want to and no woman should think anyone can make her do anything she doesn't want to. Like this woman, go to school and get an education to find a job you want... don't just say you can't do better and you HAVE to strip or hook to make money... it's a choice!

Mary 4-04-2009 @ 8:22PM

Thank Kel for coming to my defense. I am not saying ALL stripper feel good about their jobs or should continue in that profession. But this particular mom (if you watch the source video) made a choice to take this job after getting a pretty good idea of what it entails. Having been in a similar situation myself, I can speak from experience that it is not necessarily degrading or misogynistic. As long as people like Elizabeth treat certain vocational choices with bigotry and hate, the people who work in those occupations will continue to face public discrimination and shame. There is no reason, other than narrow mindedness, to be so judgmental.

nj_guy 4-03-2009 @ 8:06PM

This is news? Moms have been stripping to pay bills for decades.

oh oh sophia 4-03-2009 @ 8:27PM

okay so i can understand things getting desperate and having to do whatever it takes to keep a roof over the heads and food in the bellies and i too would do whatever it takes but where is the husband? not a lot of men would be too keen on their wife out there showing her hootnanny and naughty bits to other men even those who claim pride in their woman in front of his buddies will fight and argue with her behind closed doors

vic 4-03-2009 @ 8:53PM

REALLY NO BIG DEAL THE WOMEN DID NOT GIVE ANYTHING AWAY ITS NOT LIKE SHE HAD SEXUAL INTERCOURSE FOR THE MONEY BIG DEAL SHE SHOWED OFF HER NIPPLES AND CABBAGE PATCH,AS LONG AS NO ONE GOT INTO THE GARAGE ,I THINK ITS FINE, MY WIFE HAD TOO GO OUT LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS LAID OF AND PROSTITUTE HERSELF BUT ONLY FOR A WEEK I GOT MY JOB BACK ,AND LET ME TELL ITS GOOD MONEY SHE MADE OVER 1800.00 IN A WEEK WITH TIPS ,AND IT WAS NOT HARD MOST HER GUYS WERE OLDER GUYS WHO ONLY WANTED IT DONE BY HAND

debbie 4-03-2009 @ 8:46PM

yep thanks for noticing the fact that moms have been doing it for years to take care of families, my daughter is doing it now for that exact reeason, with no child support and at least she doesnt have to beg for help, whatever it takes and she takes good care of herself to. thanks

alissa 4-03-2009 @ 10:52PM

God, I can't believe your daughter would even TELL you that she is doing that! Most women would lie, say they are waitressing, anything but tell their mothers that they are out being whores. Strippers are whores. The majority are there looking for paying clients,its all prostitution, they give oral sex and other things for money. If I had a daughter that did that I would have a nervous breakdown and wonder where I went wrong!

Ashley 4-04-2009 @ 1:36AM

This isn't to you, Debbie, but to Alissa. Thank God you don't have a daughter. Mother's like you never really know what their children are doing, because of your judgemental attitude. Also, since they are out there looking for paying clients, that makes them whores? So, by your standards, anyone in any kind of a sales/retail job are whores, as well. Car salesmen are HUGE whores, if we look at it from your perspective. Your an idiot, lady.

spygrll 4-03-2009 @ 8:46PM

Wow AOL, way to catch up to the rest of the world and join us in 2009. Single mothers have been dancing for decades. Only in America (and maybe Vatican city) would someone find a topless dancer story "risque".

renee 4-03-2009 @ 8:55PM

I am a single Mom of three children, and times are tough for me as well. I have fallen short more than once recently on my mortgage payments and have had to find ways to cut down on my expenses to pay my bills. I am not sure if I am still attractive enough to get a job stripping, but being a Mom has more responsiblities than paying bills. I would rather be homeless and living in a shelter than to have lost my dignity by stripping on a pole.

Louise 4-04-2009 @ 1:01AM

Wow! looking at what Alissa and Howard Roark wrote, this totally draws the conclusion that IGNORANCE is bliss........

I am a mother of 5 beautiful children. Yes, I said 5.... I began dancing at the tender age of 19. I said, as SO many of us do, that I would only be there for a couple of months. Just long enough to get ahead on the bills and pay off what was left of my student loan. Unfortunately, I did not educate myself as I should have. It was a classic case of.... "Whoa... this is an unGodly amount of money to be made!" Totally, dumbfounded and blinded me from ANY and EVERY futuristic vision I had for myself. Hence, Insecurity crept in slowly but surely. To a point where I no longer felt I could do anything else, other than strip & make that type of money. I felt (although I was wrong) as though I had passed my window of opportunity, the older I got.
Let me tell you something, ALISSA. I noticed you mentioned God at the beginning of your Unfounded Insult to Those (you've never walked in their shoes) and felt entitled to JUDGE.
Here's a bit of EMPATHETIC EDUCATION I am here to Teach you. Having danced for a little over 20 years..... yes, my body snapped back with every beautiful, intelligent baby I conceived....... (and, my two oldest are doing very well in their College studies-one has been asked to take HONORS courses!) I'm very Proud of their accomplishments! And they are born from a Stripper! I want you to know there are Many an Intelligent, Savvy Dancer out there! And, there are only a handful of dancers that (practice) prostitution-on the side. It's unfortunate that because a very small number of dancers that DO choose a life of prostitution, it leaves a tainted smudge on the rest of us, who DO NOT go to That Extent. Now, I'm not downing prostitutes either. I have a couple of friends from my past that were dancer/prostitutes. And they were beautiful, intelligent women that made the decision to do this.....and I was as Judgemental as you, Alissa. But, as I lived and learned, I understood-#1) God is to Judge & ONLY God. Look it up in your bible. That SHOULD mean something to you...... 2) I realized Every Single Human Being is a sinner one way or another. (This includes You, Alissa & Myself) and Not one of us has the right to call names and belittle one another... especially when we haven't knowledge as to WHY & HOW circumstances have led us to where we're at.
Aren't we here on this Earth to love and care for one another? Aren't we supposed to aide in caring for ourselves so we can help others to our Greatest Abilities? This is how I feel.... This is what I know as the Truth. I will pray for you.....as I pray for my family, friends, church family and well, EVERYBODY! This was not an attack on you..... just trying to open your heart and mind to Empathy for others........
Thank you

Elizabeth 4-04-2009 @ 2:26AM

Thank you!!!!!! Women these days are too concerned with being popular and "liked"..so they cave into this image that the men have perpetuated!!! Just because it works and pays the bills doesn't make it ok!!! Selling drugs would pay the bills......but it is just as harmfull!!! Feminists need to back off and shut up!!!! Have some dignity ladies!!!!!

KC 4-03-2009 @ 9:13PM

You don't know what you'll do to keep a roof over your family's heads until you do it - - - years ago I knew women who lived in the same apartment complex who were part time working girls - - - all of 'em I knew said they never would have believed they could have worked as prostitutes, ever, yet there they were. You just don't know.

Elizabeth 4-04-2009 @ 2:30AM

Why do you assume that those of us who don't agree with stripping have never been in a position where we couldn't pay rent or bills or put food on the table??? I've been there so many times as a single parent!!! But would still never stoop to selling my body or dignity to pervs!!! Did it ever occur to you that some of us just have morals and standards and limits set higher than the rest of you????

KC 4-04-2009 @ 6:29AM

Touchy, aren't we? I'm pleased for you that some very unattractive personal choices haven't been laid upon you, and you might consider being thankful that they haven't, to date. I knew the women of whom I spoke as neighbours, and you know what? All these years on I understand how priveleged I was to be regarded as their friend - - - in the aggragate, a very, very courageous, determined and resposible group. You're the one who, it appears, assumes that prostitution was their first choice and not the last option and you're wrong. Beyond correcting that - - -um - - - point at issue, I don't give a rat's ass what you think, okay?

Melissa 4-03-2009 @ 9:27PM

Dancing mothers aren't new, and...apparently... neither is the condescension from their fellow women. It's perfectly legit to refrain from careers outside our comfort zone- not everyone is cut out to be a dancer or even a lawyer. But to maintain, "Well I would never sacrifice MY dignity," (as if the dancers do) has the sound of a self- righteous Pharisee. We as women need to support our fellow single moms.