The film Strip Down, Rise Up has premiered on Netflix. Leading up to its release, unresolved feelings about my less than optimal experience being filmed for a class in a modality called S Factor, which was filmed for the purpose of being included in the documentary.
Next came absolute outrage upon watching the finished film which was releases a little over a week ago. Navigating the waves of this experience has been quite the ride.
After sharing my uapologetic, non- sugar coated truth on IG live, the video went viral. It was reposted and shared by many womxn all over the world. My DMs filled with shares & I've been receiving opportunities to speak to this ever since, including in an interview by Buzzfeed. Its been energetically a lot to navigate which is what I want to be transparent with you about.
The best way I can describe how this experience has been is:activating.
From the release of the trailer stirring up unresolved discomfort with my involvement, to absolute outrage upon watching the finished film upon its release a little over a week ago, to navigating the waves of this experience.
Not only that, but my video went viral, shared by many womxn all over the world, my DMs filled with shares, & I've been receiving press opportunities ever since. My voice was included quite a bit in this BuzzFeed article.
As a result of this experience, I have felt called to lean into this conversation and inspired to create this conversation series,
Demystifying Stripping, Decolonizing Sexual Empowerment.
In this episode I break down why this discussion is so important and why creating awareness around this topic is an integral step towards true empowerment. Hear about my journey of using my voice to speak out, what I have learned from this experience, how I am choosing to be a part of the solution, and how I’m inviting you to be a part of the solution to.
Meet the badass April Haze, stripper, lyra aerialist, activist, pole dancer, and fellow Latina who was also interviewed for the Buzzfeed Article I was also interviewed for last month. We got to talking about experiences of discrimination in the pole dance industry, healing relationships with the male gaze in the club, and how the culture we are raised in impacts our perception of sexuality and what happens when that comes into conflict with the white gaze.
If you don't already know, you're about to find out that Nadia Sharif is a Badass. In the world of pole dance and general bad bitchery, she is well known and widely respected for her fiery, bold movement style and commitment to using her voice to speak truth.
In this chat we'll learn about how she went from corporate career in technical engineering to pole performer, pole engineer, teacher and founder of Twisted Movement dance wear. We talk about Nadia's recent video speaking out about the problematic use of the word "exotic" that went viral and what that experience has been like. We talk about the sex worker discrimination that has become apparent in the industry of pole dance as it has grown and we talk about Nadia’s experiences as an American woman of Mexican, Pakistani heritage plus so much more.
Samantha Sun is a performer, stripper, host of Stripper Life Drawing ELSC and holder of so much knowledge on the intricacies of internet law & beyond. In this chat we address the importance of proper education around consent, the intersection in conversation around sex work, sex traffic, & immigration, interacting with cultural stereotypes in performance and centering policy change. DAMN there's a lot of goodness in this episode.
Misha Delores is an embodied movement facilitator and learning & development consultant for witches, mystics & spiritual babes of color.
Misha shared about her experiences working in mission based wellness companies in which internal practices did not align with their forward facing values. And what ensued when leadership was called in to accountability.
From there we discuss using your voice, creating boundaries, and what it means to hold responsible space in which toxic patriarchal power dynamics are not simply replicated, but continually called into question. Also, a vision for empowered leadership to create change and get into integrity when harm has been done in order to create pathways for change and growth.
This convo w/ Jozey covered a LOT of ground.
From the effects of colonization & Catholicism on sexuality, to stripper unions & how to be an ally to s3x w0rkers.
@juicy.jozey is a str!pper, online cam girl, & board member of @soldiers_of_pole_
If you learned something or were inspired by this conversation you’re welcome to tip Jozey at cash.app/$/juicyjozey
Stripper & Activist, AMD aka The Queen of Sexy continually uses her platform & privilege to gather, organize, and have the conversations that need to be had.
AMD is Host of @yesastripperpodcast, Coordinator of @soldiers_of_pole_ and Co-founder of @everybodyvisible