THE INSIDE SCOOP

Sunday Life writer Yoliswa Dube explores why women are shunning strip tease shows and in Bulawayo this novelty has been largely a no place for a woman

AS I walked into Private Lounge — the home of adult entertainment in the city, one of American R&B artiste Chris Brown’s songs, Crawl, was playing as semi-naked women strutted their stuff onto the stage in lingerie and high heels.

In a well-choreographed routine, they went up and down the poles with the most amazing ease and flexibility as the song got to the hook; “So we’ll crawl Till we can walk again Then we’ll run Until we’re strong enough to jump Then we’ll fly Until there is no winds So let’s crawl, crawl, crawl.” Their seductive moves kept patrons glued to the stage, some hardly blinking as the strippers — both slim and plump — did some dirty dancing. They took turns to twerk and suggestively caress their breasts as their waists moved rhythmically to the music.

I bet some who sat on the prime seats close to the stage wished I were transparent as I obstructed their view while I walked past the stage to the VIP section. Texas, a trio of white THIS week Zimbabwean women woke up to news that in future they might not be able to spot their much loved stylish hairdos after Government announced a new regulation on the importation of synthetic hair products.

Women were not amused by the move which is meant to stimulate local production of the same products and increase the circulation of cash in the country.

While weaves are the subject of much debate in society as some argue that donning one shows a women’s lack of appreciation for their natural African hair while others argue that women should beautify themselves in any way they deem fit, there is no doubt that women in the country hold their artificial hairpieces dear.

Synthetic hair products were therefore the major sticking point for women from the list of banned beauty products which included weaves, Camphor creams, white petroleum jellies and body creams which are the essence of beauty enhancements for some women in Zimbabwe. More so, products such as artificial hair are very important to women as they care about their hair, after all, and according to women that’s usually the first thing noticed about them. Some said the value of hair is unquestionable as it is directly reflected in their self-esteem in their mood and even the self-confidence.

Even former Miss Zimbabwe Lorraine Maphala-Phiri who owns Real Hair by Lorraine that specialises in human hair from Brazil, Mongolia and Peru was very much disturbed by the new regulation.

The Bulawayo-based beauty who has a hair salon called Real Hair by Lorraine Studio posted the following on her Facebook page: “Kuwe Hulumende siyabonga ukuzama ukuthuthukisa into ezilinywa lapha ekhaya kodwa ngesihle lingangilayela okuphekwa khona iMongolian hair Brazilian hair? kanye lamafutha okupheka abukeka ehlanzekile afana le Cannola oil labo virgin oil ngitsho lapha ezweni lakithi phela . . . kungaba kuhle ngoba lami ngikhathele ngokuthenga ngaphandle . . . yimi owakho ozithobileyo.”

While the Government sees the move as an opportunity to improve the performance of the economy, for some hair dressers in the city, like Miriam Dube, the move will take them out of business.

“But what does the Government want us to do with this ban? Who shall we style hair for if they do that? It’s directly affecting our source of living When we don’t have clients what will happen to our children, how are we going to pay our school fees? In any case the products in Zimbabwe are very expensive compared to the imported ones,” said Dube.

Fingers Hair Salon owner Sarah Mpofu said although she understood the motives of Government’s move, the new regulation would probably affect their business in the short term as it has been a while since they used local suppliers.

“It will really set us back because we have grown to heavily rely on imports for all our beauty products. Over the last few years all the local suppliers that we relied upon have either shut up shop or are just limping along.

“I understand and support the move to go local because that will work out in our favour in the long run. But in the short term we will suffer because we don’t have clear immediate alternatives to what we are getting from across the border. Once our industries are up and running and we can see where we can get alternative products then I think the outcry that you are seeing now would not be warranted,” she said. strippers from South Africa changed the game last Saturday as they went completely nude. Yes — nothing but oil laden essentials flaunted in all angles.

It got steamy and a significant number of men couldn’t handle the pressure — some simply stared while others appeared uneasy in their seats.

But I couldn’t help noticing that only a handful of women were in the strip club which is dominantly patronised by men. It seems women shun strip clubs and feel it is no place for females.

While some curious ones will go just to see what happens at a strip club, most believe it’s solely for the man and the boys.

They believe its demeaning for a woman to be seen in the midst of such nudity. After all, they already have what the strippers are flaunting. For some, a visit to a strip club is a light bulb moment where they realise, “I can do that!” or “I can wear this!”. It gives them ideas for what they can do for their men when they get home. One woman said, “There’s noth ing fascinating about a strip club”. She believes men are fascinated by naked women — a fascination which does not exist in women because every woman wants to believe they’re well-endowed and sexy enough. “Strip clubs are just outright wrong,” another woman said.

“It’s offensive for a woman to go and watch another woman stripping. It’s like watching live porn. It bruises a woman’s ego and for this to be happening in public makes it worse.”

Often, people view strippers as sex workers and refer to them as “hookers” who operate in the red light district.

While others want to believe strippers are artists or dancers, many have stereotyped their job as indecent — there are other means of earning a decent living.

“I’m a jagged up woman who doesn’t need to be taught how to satisfy my man by a stripper,” said another woman.

For some, insecurity is what holds them back from hitting the strip club.

“Women shun strip clubs and wouldn’t want to go to one with their man because they’re afraid he’ll meet his IT girl.”

Perhaps what Zimbabwean women need is a strip club where men are flaunting their toys, in Las Vegas fashion, maybe then will they embrace adult entertainment offered by strip clubs.

Beauticians cry foul —