Kristina Chetcuti
Gentlemen’s clubs – ‘an ugly impoliteness’
Strip clubs are all about people expressing needs – to earn money and to see a woman’s skin – in the most depressing way possible.
Who came up with the name ‘Gentlemen’s clubs’, I wonder? There is nothing remotely gentlemanly about them, and it’s high time they go by their real name: strip clubs.
If you’ve never been inside one, let me tell you what they look like. Some are dingy, with black wallpaper and black, low tables and black plastic ashtrays on top; others are faux-chic, full of shiny mock-chandeliers à la Phantom of the Opera.
All of them have the same smell: the stink of sweat beads forming on the brows of men in suits, in a state of excitement, as the woman in skimpy lingerie gyrates on the pole in front of them. There is no joy inside, and more importantly, no sense of fun.
These clubs are all about people expressing needs – to earn money and to see a woman’s skin – in the most depressing way possible.
Last year my colleague Patrick Cooke and I toured the majority of these clubs when researching an investigative piece for this paper. For all those out there who believe the hook that these are merely adults’ clubs, and, why, even couples can hang out there, let me tell you: it’s utter tosh.
In all the strip clubs, I spent most of my time studying my drink; checking out the loos; trimming my nails; and making complex origami out of my napkins; and all the while ‘dancers’ butterflied around my male colleague. A couple’s night out it certainly is not.
In a matter of one evening, in more than six clubs, we found dancers offering fully naked private dances for €70. It is therefore very ironic that in all these years, police have only caught dancers performing topless twice. Twice!
I’d like to know what methods the police use to monitor the clubs – we certainly never got an answer on that one.
The thing is that for a long time I was quite indifferent to these clubs. Live and let live, I thought. No one forces anyone to go to a strip club against their will.
True, I was not keen on girls opting for stripping as their career, but I always thought, it’s their choice, and they get paid for it. Also if adult men are sad enough to frequent these places then, so be it.
But I was wrong. I reckoned without the effect these places are having on the younger generation. For let us not kid ourselves, most clubs admit even 16-year- olds.
So what do we have now? Teens – male and female – growing up with the idea that it’s fine to pay a woman to satisfy your needs. Their view of gender interaction is being thwarted horribly.
The rotting effect of these clubs is not limited to teens: their presence is seeping everywhere. Last week, a parliamentary committee tasked with looking into problems afflicting Paceville suggested that strip clubs be regulated and banned from using photos to advertise their ‘wares’.
But Paceville is the least of ourproblems – what about strip clubs inresidential areas?
Club Paradiso, charged last week with having a topless dancer performing on its premises, is one such strip club, right in the heart of Sliema. It is at the bottom of a residential street, underneath a coffee shop, and further up the street from it there is a health shop and a supermarket. Because of these amenities, I would often walk up this street. Not anymore.
This strip club has a huge notice board outside with very graphic and explicit photos – right at my daughter’s eye-level.
“What are these ladies doing?” she asked, the first and last time we passed by the board. What was I meant to tell her? Oh, they’re taking their clothes off for money – that’s one of the careers you can opt for when you grow up?
Friends of mine, who live up the road, have the same problem, but they can’t really avoid the place. Their sons, aged six and eight, are made to cross the road, but they constantly crane their heads to check out the bras, whips and thongs.
These clubs are degrading for everybody and certainly no permit mustever be issued for them to open up inresidential areas.
Moreover, the proper enforcement of age restriction is imperative. I’m fine with people who want to pay either for sex or for a simulated version of it, but the rest of us don’t need to be exposed to it.
British journalist Caitlin Moran summed up these clubs prettywell: “Every dance, every privatebooth is a small unhappiness, an ugly impoliteness.”
These are soulless places and by closing an eye to them we’re not being terribly modern, we’re just doing a disservice to the future generation and creating an even more dysfunctional society.
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Jamie Iain Genovese
Apr 4th, 12:14
The problem with the 'sex industry' in Malta is that it is also, without a doubt, funding the exploits of human traffickers.
It's not about women being dressed inappropriately in public- that is subject to opinion. The matter at hand is a grave one indeed, and all anyone seems to think is "lol boobs."
I know, what a way to finish a statement, right?
S Micallef
Feb 20th, 15:42
To all those "open-minded" people commenting below who live with the "live and let live" philosophy:
1. i wonder how open-minded you will remain if a strip club had to open up your street, or next door to your house
2. where was all this open-mindness when it came to divorce? when it comes to gay issues etc...?
kullhadd open-minded sar.
such clubs are fine if they are NOT in residential areas and if they do NOT allow persons under 21 in.
I tend to pity men who have to go there - if u need to pay for someone to dance naked on top of you, you must be one hell of an ugly guy.
Mr Stephen Camilleri
Feb 21st, 06:44
Yes, I am ugly as hell, four feet tall and have difficulty going to the bathroom since I weigh 200kg; but I guess this isn’t your problem since you have it for free with your fancy, alluring good looks. BTW, I voted in favor to divorce, certainly have nothing against gays and live next to a café where people come brawling, and the blasphemy I hear make your ears squirm…., something far worse to children than a pin-up poster.
Joe Xuereb
Feb 20th, 13:09
@Peter Shaw. Well observed (about the disgusting cleavage)..
The female breast god intended for the feeding of newborns. Man, in his quest for pleasure, a god-given pleasure in order for Man to propagate, and this is the paradox , hijacked the mummeries and fetishised them. And Woman is in on this, what with her desire to aggrandise her accoutrements via surgery, etc. She colludes, in other words. I am, of course, speaking in culturally general terms. Not everywhere has four grand to enhance herself but the penniless have to compete nevertheless. Hence the general reluctance to disallow the feeding of infants, in public, a taboo in the civilised West, the coy concealment of a perfectly functional part of the anatomy, and the teasing peek-a-boo of them, like anything being marketed, to entice men.. And he loves it. And because they like it, and the attraction is natural/god-given, according to taste, men feel justified in their leering. It proves their manliness, surely desirable. And what is wrong with that?! The world revolves round his macho image, no?!
About the top-heavy women and their cleavage, they will justify themselves because of a) the heat and b) it's acceptable fashion wise. In the meantime, the guys are having a field-day, ogling and leering. And I almost feel sorry for the guys standing over a deep-cleavaged woman on a bus (he would much rather stand than occupy a vacant seat all of two inches away, the pathetic fool). Of course in my youth, women were exhorted to dress Mary-like, with décolletés no more than two inches from the base of the neck and other instructions, all rigorously obeyed. That was then. Wearing of trousers to church was a no-no (trousers in the 1950s?). A head-covering was a must. And arms had to be covered by an elasticised tube of cloth, a false sleeve - the manki - to cover upper and lower arms while in church. Bishops can exhort families to adopt the values of once-upon-a-time all they like but this is what they are up against. Market forces, the natural evolution of mores, etc. I can already hear the likes of a Dr. Saliba often spouting here that good mores are valid forever, unchangeable. Go tell that to the marketeers. And to the men and women who wallow in their pleasures because they are god-given, and therefore, what's the problem?! If only it were that simple. Unless, that is, one brings on a Maltese sharia already evident in many comments anywhere.
Mr Stephen Camilleri
Feb 20th, 09:57
I really can’t understand how people who dislike these clubs have the nerve to condemn these places just because they feel it’s immoral for a woman to strip down to her skin. Well, I don’t give a hoot what these SAD people think cos it’s my money I’m spending and surely not harming anyone by boasting Malta’s catering economy. May I also add that these dancers have great talent in their performances and nothing is shameful about these joints.
Alexander Farrugia
Feb 20th, 12:49
Your comment shows that you haven't read the article in its entirety. I suggest you do, and then comment again.
S Micallef
Feb 20th, 16:14
how sad for your Mr. Camilleri. it must be really sad to have to pay for a woman to strip down in front of you rather than being able to get her to do it for free.
Albert Spiteri
Feb 20th, 08:36
Sex business was, is and will for ever be. As long as thee is demand, there will somehow be supply, and that's the nature of things human. Having said that I agree with Ms Chetcuti - kids should not be allowed inside such places, and 16-year-olds are kids really. I also agree with her that such places should shed off their gentlemanly misnomer and take on what name fairly and squarely fits them, that is "STRIP JOINTS". I sometimes, not often though, I did visit such places both in Malta and elsewhere during the last 40 years. Most were depressingly ugly and shamefully degrading. A few were not.
A Azzopardi
Feb 20th, 16:03
Once; I heard a group of teenage guys I was teaching say that they intended to go to one of these joints. I told them: "Only desperate 40 year old men with a middle age crisis who can't get a woman go there, do you want to be like them?". That had it in for them, they started to tease each other about it; and none of them wanted to go; because no one wanted to be labelled "The one who can't get a woman" and to be compared to "Those ugly desperate 40 year olds" . lol.
Richard Galea
Feb 20th, 08:22
It is hard , if not impossible, to snub beautiful women.....They remain beautiful and the snub recoils.
Wiston Churchill.
R ferriggi
Feb 20th, 06:58
in maltese there is a saying '' ilhaq salibek jekk joghgbok!!'' Ms Ketkuti
a rough translation is - live and let live.
i suppose you do not open your TV yes?? last week we had an italian presenter showing her..... part.
you must have complained to Rai or Sanremo or whatever eh??
hallina.
byw - i am male,,, only went once and i will never go again to '''gentlemen's clubs'''.... i do not like them.
M. Azzopardi
Feb 20th, 01:50
"If you’ve never been inside one, let me tell you what they look like. Some are dingy"
"All of them have the same smell:"
What exactly are you referring to?..... nah never mind, either way you are correct.
Joseph Borg Xuereb
Feb 20th, 00:39
Morals anyone ?
Joe Xuereb
Feb 20th, 00:15
To all those clamouring that children exposed to naughty imagery will learn to process them soonest - I say, balderdash! For such a process to occur other areas of a child's output(backup) needs to come into play (meaning, one can not process any imagery in isolation). Now, if by virtue of their young age, children do not have the backup knowledge to process these properly, without damage, these scabrous images that look so innocent exactly because they are found on an open pavement, during daylight hours. Even, as someone here suggested, a child will ask questions and hoped that a diligent parent will explain. Explain what?! to a child of five? Of eleven or twelve? Of thirteen maybe but even then, it depends on the child. And only a parent can know if a thirteen year old child is ready for, let us say, explicit information.
When it comes to sex education, I think children learn at lot from each other as in hush! hush! blushes, whispers, sniggers. A lot of it misinformed and possibly damaging. The clinching factor in this situation is for the parent/s to be in on the blossoming of knowledge. They must know and meet their friends, friends must be invited home so trust can be built. This is much better than children learning the facts of life behind the bicycle-shed, where it all happens including the first puffs of smoke of whatever.
In view of what I have just said, I have often read of people throwing up their arms in horror at the thought of schoolchildren of five years of age being given sex-education. I do not know about 5 year-olds but if this is so, the age of the child is taken into consideration and they are told only as much as they can handle according to their age. A free-for-all, in at the deep end, it certainly is not.
I like to think of myself as reasonably worldly. And I have learned that the emotional side of sexual activity is a very serious matter because it can enhance, or adversely affect a person's life, de pending on how it is handled. I say this because the physical and the emotional side of the phenomenon do not develop in tandem. For example, a boy of twelve could father a child. But can he be a father? Or a girl, a mother? Of course not. In a primitive society, in another era, maybe, with lots of support. But in our Western civilizations?! I don't think so.
Please note that I mention religion not at all.
Joe Xuereb
Feb 19th, 22:25
Kristina Chetcuti went with a male friend to investigate. The intrigue! with all that swirling blackness! Worthy of a set for Casablanca. Play it again Kris! What with her fiddling with the ash-tray(?) and he, being butterflied - my mental image of a flutterby ruined forever; thanks Kris! - pretending(really?) to be enjoying the legginess. A bit of a shallow facade for a couple for this insidious little experiment to be worth a plastic ashtray.
In life - are you ready for this? - monogamy is not a fact of life but an aspiration at best. And as we all know, any hard graft needs a carrot at the end of the stick (especially with men being so asinine when it comes to things heat under the collar. The oldest profession cliche blah blah blah. Well, it's nature and nature needs an outlet or else, tiżbroffa?/tisplodi?
The sexual act, paradoxically demeaning at best considering its purpose and its source, and so open to manipulation of all who engage for pure pleasure and less than pure, lucre, is something one must approach warily. It's that demon demon we're all saddled with, you see. It has been hijacked something terrible. The purely functional female breast has been fetishised by the gents, the image rendered coy-cum-enticing. But strictly as in, not today milkman! The women, from all strata, collude and have recourse to surgery, with consequences as we all now know. So, in a nuts - pun intended - shell, men(mostly) need to take stock of their needs, be upfront, cry a little. But paying for whatever it is they decide they want?! Get a grip!
See the club for what it is and speak about it - virtual or imagined - with your friends and your women but without fanciful embellishments.
Here in London these joints exist in some suburbs alright but discreetly so. All tight shutters and subdued lights, - out and in(I believe - to enhance the fantasy? I wouldn't know. I wouldn't be seen dead-in-drag in one). I would not ban them outright as there is no point other than regulation. A man must be allowed (if that's what he wants, and he does! he does!) his little sordid escapades but the danger lies in the pull towards repeated encores. And that costs money better spent elsewhere. As for children being exposed to 'kartelluni moqżieża'(tasteless advertising-boards) in residential areas. Dak qatt! That's a no-no! Quick! summon the Salvation Army. Make them create such a din the devil will put on his pants, tuck his tail in, and come out screaming like a banshee and shaking a tambourine, and pleading for a truce and a glass of ice-water to subdue his shame.
PS Nice pic! Classy even. The woman in silhouette, in densest black. Illusion completed. Like a clever sleight-of-hand by the illusionist - now you see her, now you don't. And as fraudulent as cutting a lady in half. So there you have it! A mere cardboard cut-out.
I'm so glad I have been spared any compulsion to frequent such a dive. Being 'different' has its advantages but I get a star cum laude for sharp observation.
Jamie Iain Genovese
Apr 4th, 12:21
FYI, when it comes to sex 'outlets', in the way you choose to describe them, what you have isn't a tool meant to quell an 'excess' of the sex drive (as ludicrous and outdated a notion as that may be) but instead a habit which continues to manifest itself in stronger manners.
In other words, the 'use it or you lose it' mentality is junk-science.
Peter Shaw
Feb 19th, 20:26
I am more offended by obese housewives displaying their cleavage in a disgusting way at supermarkets, grocers, etc. either on purpose or without being aware !!!!
Neil Sant
Feb 20th, 07:35
Indeed, obesity is the real offender.
Jonathan Camilleri
Feb 20th, 07:45
I agree, who cares if someone is willing to pay for it...
Mike Hunt
Feb 20th, 16:28
I wonder how many women offended by strip bars are a healthy size 8-12?
Paul Caruana
Feb 19th, 19:16
While I sympathise with these parent concerns, I must admit to find this whole issue somewhat amusing. We like to think of ourselves as having reached a higher plane of civility, that we humans have evolved beyond our primordial instincts and urges.
Then some "gentleman's club" (can be at least be honest American style, and call then strip clubs?) comes along to remind us that that is not quite the case.....
Ken Cowan
Feb 19th, 17:48
First of all, in Amsterdam you can even see REAL prostitutes sitting in their windows as people pass by... and Amsterdam (and its population) have survived! Amazing, isn't it?
Second: none of this will "damage" children if you take the time to explain (without hysteria, thank you) some facts of life. The French hide very little about sex from their children - and again, depending on where they live they can see all of this - but it still hasn't brought France anything except a wonderful reputation for savoir faire and savoir vivre.. in fact, go anywhere in the world with a French accent and the chances are people of the opposite sex (and sometime the same one) will be ready to throw themselves at you. Could be worse!
I agree that it is not necessary to have lurid photos where everyone can see them - but if a kid does see them, he/she will ask questions. That is what parents are for! To answer their questions -- honestly .
Up-tight parents have been trying for decades (millennia?) to "save" their children from sex, and you know something? It never works.
Andy Farrugia
Feb 19th, 18:19
Wow! Pop psychology at its best!
Ganshida Soldado
Feb 19th, 18:36
Very well said.
Kids will find out the real truth eventually, whether the parents want it or not. The more the parent tries to hide these things from their children, the more curious they'll become to find out and the faster they will learn the truth.
Mr C Busuttil
Feb 19th, 19:24
Another lecture from a foreigner!!!!!!!!
Sex is a wonderful thing when you have a healthy mind not like that of a frustrated loser, full of insecurities that believes he can solve anything by going in these clubs. He comes out as an even bigger loser!!!! LOL While as it concerns the Real Prostitute like the ones in the windows in Amsterdam they remain PROSTITUTES and no matter what, they will never wash the dirt that they sold themselves. They are free to do it but nobody wants a former prostitute as his girlfriend, wife or daughter in-law!!!!!!!!
Explaining to children about sex should be done gradually and not because of illecit business decides to hang up some lurid photo's.
Now for the authorities these clubs should be closed, the hugh number of foreigners coming from eastern countries should also be restricted and investigated. Its quite strange that people from certain countries can afford to hire flats in Sliema at such prices while the average Maltese can't even dream of doing it. Something illegal is occcuring therefore take action.
The authorities should also offer mental assistance to people that have sexual frustrations in their life. With this kind of assistance I am sure many will improve their lifestyles, a healthy mind and will have a positive outlook towards life.
Mike Hunt
Feb 20th, 16:17
@Mr C Busuttil
'Nobody wants a former prostitute...' - What the heck, everyone can make dubious life choices. How many guys have been with a lady of the night, or slept with a random stranger? How many girls go through a 'promiscuous' phase in life? I'm not saying I promote any form of promiscuity, free or paid for, but please don't be too quick to judge.
Victor Pulis
Feb 19th, 15:13
I think you have missed Ms. Chetcuti's point
I’m fine with people who want to pay either for sex or for a simulated version of it, but the rest of us don’t need to be exposed to it
Kristina Chetcuti
She is objecting to the graphic advertisement in public of such places.
I'm sure even patrons of these clubs would not want to expose their under age children to these pictures.
Victor Pulis
Feb 19th, 15:07
Prostitution is not the oldest profession! Farming is. Adam was tilling the ground before any woman hit on the idea that she had something men were willing to pay for!
Ramon Casha
Feb 19th, 17:38
But that's because when Adam was tilling the ground there were no other men for Eve to perform for :D
Zaxxon Walid
Feb 19th, 14:23
@Kristina Chetcuti , If you feel offended do not go there, fullstop. And its none of your business what they are called.The women working there chose to work there so the customers are just paying for a service. And after all these are consenting adults and behind closed doors.
Mario Brincat
Feb 19th, 15:24
Zaxxon Walid you forgot to tell her that by not going to strip clubs, we will be spared from being called names like "sad adult men"
Mr l Azzopardi
Feb 19th, 14:17
this type of reasoning is what I find sad me personally
Dave Alan Caruana
Feb 19th, 14:15
This only highlights the urgent need for legislation governing adult entertainment and prostitution, rather than claiming the world's oldest profession doesn't exist in Malta.
Also, I think these days even the cheapest of clubs doesn't have ashtrays, plastic or not, on the tables.
Glen Cutteridge
Feb 19th, 14:11
It's the oldest profession in the world. Let's face it, the Maltese government's not going to be able to stamp it out. As for 16 year olds being allowed in, well...that's the bouncers' fault. Gentleman's clubs are supposed to be 21+.
Ġ. Agius
Feb 19th, 12:51
I think that things such as these should not be allowed to exist for the good of the general public. Humans are sometimes weak and giving them the choice to do bad things will lead to them doing said bad things, hence removing the choice will automatically be beneficial for the strengthening of our moral and spiritual fibre.
Paul Caruana
Feb 19th, 18:09
So according to your concept, we should not make it illegal for shops to leave a display window fully lit and on when it is closed, as it makes it very tempting to smash it and steal the items.
Please, get a life!
Andy Farrugia
Feb 19th, 12:47
Very realistic portrayal of what these "joints" are like and their effect on people, Ms Chetcuti; well done. But watch it, you will now be inundated by various comments calling you all sorts of names (eg Taliban, medieval whatever, etc.) and sharply rapped for trying to interfere with other people's (?) spot of fun.
Mario Brincat
Feb 19th, 15:15
@andy Farrugia Very realistic bla bla bla, I bet you nevered entered a club before that's why you agreed with Miss Whoever she is. Coming from a lady I can tolerate her prudness and emotional way of thinking but you?
Andy Farrugia
Feb 19th, 17:30
@ Mario Brincat
Of course, you're right about the fact that I have never entered such places. As regards Ms Chetcuti (rather than Miss whoever she is), how very hip and pc of you to tolerate her "prudness (you mean prudishness, of course) and emotional way of thinking"? Such enlightened, progressive frame of mind! "..but you (ie. me) "? Well, as far as I am concerned I'd much rather be associated with Ms Chetcuti's way of thinking, thank you very much. If that disqualifies me, in your eyes and attitudes, from being a gentleman, so be it.
Mario Brincat
Feb 19th, 19:00
Hi Andy thanks for confirming that you never entered such a club, it's like expressing an opinion on a country you never sat a foot on.
Andy Farrugia
Feb 19th, 20:09
@ mario brincat
Hahaha! Extremely weak try! It's like saying males cannot be gynecologists as they cannot bear children. Or else one cannot be a psychiatrist unless one happens to have experienced insanity! Continue to amuse us.
william cauchi
Feb 19th, 12:44
''Last year my colleague Patrick Cooke and I toured the majority of these clubs when researching an investigative piece for this paper.''
Hello there, when is the next ''tour'' being held and how can i join.
I am sure there are a lot of ''doubting Thomases'' out there, and many would want investigate such ''awful'' places.
Karl Consiglio
Feb 19th, 11:09
Kristina,
Why you having a go at them being topless, is it not normal at such a venue with such a concept? I'm sure no one who chose to go there got offended.
M Sciberras
Feb 19th, 11:05
Yes these clubs should be freely allowed to operate but in a regulated environment. Unfortunately we are incapable of providing this in Malta just as we are incapable of facing reality and legalising prostitution. So strip clubs operate in a grey legal environment and prostitution is driven underground where vulnerable women are more easily exploited. As for the club mentioned here which is at the bottom of a residential street, I have always been curious as to how it obtained its license and also as to how the residents who live in the expensive apartments in the area, at least some of whom presumably have children, have never complained. Incidentally, the inflight magazine of our national airline regularly carries prominent advertising for these clubs. I have never seen such advertising in the inflight magazines of any other airline in Europe. They would not carry such advertising because it is not the place for it. We are so hung up about sex in malta we are incapable of establishing common sense boundaries. If you prefer to pretend something doesn't exist, or prevaricate between banning it outright or providing a safe clear legal context to it, this is what you get. I daresay however that freely available hard core Internet porn provides far more of a 'rotting' effect than a strip club, which is tame by comparison; much as I empathise with any concerns raised in this regard, that boat sailed long long ago.......
Karl Consiglio
Feb 19th, 11:04
To be called "a strip club" then they must be allowed to strip, which from what i read is not the case.