Strippers...

Okay, at some point I will post about The Acellevin Project, but for now I have more interesting (and slightly intoxicated) things to post about.
So, first thing's first, I do actually have a bucket list. Not a "I need to do everything on this list before I die" sort of bucket list, but a list of things that I would, at some point, like to experience. I like experiences. While I prefer good experiences (obviously), I like to gain as many different experiences as I can, and there are certain experiences that I would like to at some point experience (not entirely coherent now, I know). One of these was going to a strip club.
First thing's first, societal context - there is an idea amongst a lot of people that strip clubs are just something that men go to, and that all men enjoy strippers. While I'm often the first to call out this sort of bullshit, the fact is that there is a part of me, not only as a man but also as someone who enjoys experiencing different things, that wants to be able to say that I've had this experience. I am currently at university, which is probably one of the most convenient times to experience such a thing
So, personal context - the town where I'm living, which is the one nearest to my university, has a strip club. I've seen it a few times and have considered going in, but I wasn't entirely sure of going into a strip club on my own (because that would imply that I'm some sort of weirdo). I was out at a meal with the creative writing society tonight, and having had a few already, I figured why the heck not.
See, I have this system. I currently have more than one bank account, but only carry the bank card and know the PIN number for one of them, and most of my money is in the other one. This is to stop me going overboard when I'm drunk, and to keep my rent money safe from being spent on non-rent things. If I'm sober enough that I can function internet banking then I'm sober enough that I can be trusted with my money. So far it's been a reliable system. Tonight I was sober enough to function internet banking (despite not being in the slightest bit sober).
So, I went to the strip club.
First impression was that it was... well... dull. I was a little disappointed by the lack of pole dancers, because I quite like watching pole dancing,  but really I suppose beggars can't be choosers here. I was already pretty drunk so I didn't buy alcohol, so it didn't end up being to expensive, but all-in-all it was mostly just dull. While that may be, in part, because it was such a small strip club, the fact is that it just wasn't that interesting.

However, there is one thing that absolutely has to be noted here. See, whether I like it or not, biologically speaking, I am female. That tends to colour people's assumptions of me and behaviour towards me. Unfortunately, in the bar and club context, that seems to draw the attention of a lot of weirdos. See, people see a woman doing anything perceived as sexual as they assume that that gives them some sort of right to govern her sexuality, or they seem to think that a woman implying that she enjoys sexual things (such as by going to a strip club) has some sort of duty to do sexual things with them, because clearly a woman has no right to agency over her own body and sexuality.
Yeah, can't you tell I encountered a creep?
Within less than five minute of being in the club I had been cornered by the aforementioned creep, who insisted on harassing me the entire time I was there. Despite telling him, in no uncertain terms, that I am transgendered and thus he was technically hitting on a guy (he claimed to be bisexual; I don't know whether this was the truth or not, and I really don't care, he should have gotten the hint and fucked off) and that I have no interest in men (A lie, but he should have accepted it and fucked off, not taken it as some sort of challenge), as well as explaining to him, quite bluntly, that I was just not fucking interested in him, he did not get the hint at all.
Here's the thing: one, whether I'm actually attracted to men or not, the fact is that someone telling you that they're not attracted to your gender is not a challenge. It means you have absolutely zero chance with them. When this happens, cut your losses and move on. Don't continue to harass the poor girl. The fact is that whenever I've told people (which, admittedly, I'm beginning to realise may be a lie) that I'm not attracted to women, women always accept that and move on to somebody else. It should not be nearly as challenging for men to do the same as it appears to be. That men seem to think that all women have some sort of responsibility to be attracted to them is such a level of entitlement that it's ridiculous. It's like a white person thinking that all black people are obligated to clean their house - fucking ridiculous and it should not be stood for.
Two: Even if a woman is attracted to your gender, that doesn't necessarily mean that she's attracted to you, and to assume that she immediately is is just plain arrogant. You may be extremely ugly, a shitty person, or just really, really creepy. Or maybe she just isn't in the mood. But if a woman says that she isn't interested, just accept it an move on. Don't harass her. That makes you an arsehole, and a damn creepy one at that.
Three: Just because a woman's actions or dress implies that she is sexually active, that doesn't mean that she has any responsibility to engage in sex with you in any way. If she says no then is means no, even if she said yes (or you think she said yes) to Bob down the road. If a woman says no then back the fuck off an leave her alone, DO NOT harass her.
That this even needs to be said in this day and age bothers me greatly.
And, men, if you view this sort of creep harassing a woman, following her about and cornering her in a bar, please for fuck sake GET INVOLVED. Tell him to back off. Fetch a bouncer if you need to. Offer to sit with the girl to make sure that he doesn't come back (without making any inappropriate advances, obviously), but don't let this sort of behaviour go on unchecked because IT. IS. NOT. Acceptable.
Now, that isn't to say that men don't get harassed in bars or that women don't harass people in bars, because they do, but it occurs far less frequently. All the same, the same principles stand. I have to say, though, never have I had a woman take "I'm not into girls" as some sort of challenge, not has a woman ever tried to follow me out of a bar.
I will also say this: "I am not interested", "I am a man", "I'm only attracted to women", "Go away and leave me alone" may not work, but apparently "Stop harassing me or I will call the police" does. Which only proves that these sorts of creeps know that what they're doing is wrong, since if they didn't (and really, how can you not know that trying to follow somebody home is wrong?) they wouldn't be terrified of the prospect of police involvement.
And to think, some people try to claim that sexism doesn't still exist. I'm beginning to understand why my friend thinks that only trans- people should be allowed to decide policies concerning gender. We actually have a fairly good idea of what it's like for both sides.

Another thing of note - I have now been judged by a stripper. It is a special sort of unpleasant when you've seen that "Eww, a tranny" look on the face of a stripper, if only because, given the amount of stigma around that job (a rant for another day) you would think that they may know better than to judge others. You would be wrong. I imagine that this is something that few others besides trans- people and most likely those living with mental illness (blog about that coming up) have to worry about, and let me tell you, it sucks.

Now, onto the positives, since there are actually some. While it was pretty dull, it was an experience, and as I said above I am rather fond of those. I suppose you could almost consider me some sort of collector of experiences. It was my first trip to a strip club and I received my first lap dance, and that's an experience. The dancer (not the one who looked so horrified when she realised I'm transgendered) was actually pretty pleasant, and the bar itself was nice enough, even if it was a little boring. Is it something that I would do again? Probably not, and if I did I would most definitely bring a wing-man to help keep the creeps at bay.

(And, at this point, I gots sleepy and fell asleep, and completely forgot about this update for a whole week. My bad. I will now finish it sober)

So, long story short, I have been judged by a stripper (yay me) I really dislike creeps in bars, I may no longer be allowed to call myself gay (I suppose it won't do me any harm here to point out that bisexuals do exist, and bisexual men get a particularly bad hand in society and the media) and I got to tick something off my bucket list. And, apparently, drunk me doesn't spell all that bad, so at least that's something. Good day, my lovelies,  and for heaven's sake please pay attention to what drunk me said above about creeps in bars, because somebody seriously needs to start talking sense on that front.