Former exotic dancer: Pierce County needs to do more for women in adult entertainment industry

The Pierce County Council is considering a measure that would require adult exotic dancers to go through a training program to educate them on risks of the industry before they would be allowed to work. But a former exotic dancer in the community says while that’s a positive step, she’d like the county do even more for women who find themselves in an industry she says can be very destructive.

“In King County, there are so many resources for women that are in the industry and have come out, there’s not in Pierce County,” former dancer Raquel Goodwin tells 770 KTTH’s David Boze Show. “I would like to see for us, as a county, to be able to step up and give these women resources to be able to help them, like job skills and education and trauma care so when they do come out, there’s real help for them.”

After 17 years in the industry, Goodwin says she suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“We don’t realize what that work does to our bodies, whether men were very aggressive or certain assaults that had happened, it’s remembering those. There’s even actual trauma that I’ve done to my body that I didn’t realize that have somewhat of a lasting effect.”

When she started out, she says she was informed that certain things like prostitution are illegal, but she says it’s still very prevalent in the clubs.

“They tell you that engaging in those activities are illegal in the beginning, but in the atmosphere of the industry, it’s not really looked down upon.”

She says she’s witnessed solicitation of prostitution and sexual assaults.

“My experience in the last few years of being in the industry is that men have become way more aggressive. They have this real entitlement. It’s not uncommon for a girl to be forced to do something, to be bit, slapped, clothes ripped off of them.”

When such offenses occur, she says it’s a big no-no to call police.

“They kind of engrave it in your mind, no police, no police are called, and they even kind of train you to see if it’s possible a customer is a police officer.”

She says the working environment just “sucks the soul right out of you. You just become this walking zombie.” But the money is a big factor in keeping dancers on stage. She also says the setup at the clubs, where women aren’t actually employees but pay rent to dance in the establishment, can sometimes lead to a situation where they actually owe the club money, so they feel they must keep dancing.

The lifestyle has a way of sucking you in, she says. Having a training program that at least educates women in the industry about prostitution, sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking before they go in, like Pierce County is considering, is a good step to take, but Goodwin wants even more action in the future.

“I would like to see, if we even are going to keep those type of businesses, that the entertainers become an employee. They become an employee and they get an hourly wage, so that they do have rights, they have medical, and they’re seen as an employee and there’s more accountability not only for the businesses but for the owners.”

For those exiting the industry, she also wants the county to provide more resources to help with addiction, recovery, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

The full Pierce County Council will consider a measure requiring training for women entering the adult entertainment industry on Dec. 16.