Career Opportunities

The ones that never knock

This story is being carried by every media organization; it must have struck some sort of nerve to editors everywhere. Perhaps enough of them have daughters of their own. We, on the other hand, don't really see why this is such an important story. Granted, the majority of 'adult dancers' have a crappy life (see the movie Design, for instance), but is his message really so bad? Follow your dreams regardless of societal approval? Though, if one wishes to quibble, societal approval has some impact upon a strippers financial remuneration.

Speaker Touts Stripping to 8th Graders (AP):
AP - The principal of a Palo Alto middle school may not invite a popular speaker back to an annual career day after he told girls they could earn a good living as strippers. Management consultant William Fried told eighth-graders at Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School on Tuesday that stripping and exotic dancing can pay $250,000 or more per year, depending on their bust size.

"It's sick, but it's true," Fried said in an interview later. "The truth of the matter is you can earn a tremendous amount of money as an exotic dancer, if that's your desire."

Fried has given a popular 55-minute presentation, "The Secret of a Happy Life," at the school's career day the past three years. He counsels students to experiment with a variety of interests until they discover something they love and excel in.

Fried spent about a minute answering questions, defining strippers and exotic dancers synonymously. According to Jason Garcia, 14, he told students: "For every 2 inches up there, you should get another $50,000 on your salary."

...That stripping advice wasn't the only thing that riled parents. Di Salvo said one mother said she was outraged when her son announced that he was forgoing college for a field he loves: fishing.

"He really focused on finding what you really love to do," said Mariah Cannon, 13.

Fried, 64, said he does not think he offended any of the students: "Eighth-grade kids are not dumb," he said. "They are pretty worldly."