A short ten minute drive from my home, I have the option of buying a cup of coffee from a bikini-clad barista. Situated across the street from a local high school and in the parking lot of a smog check station, is a place called ‘Sneak a Peek Café.” I had never noticed it before until one day last fall, while stopped at a light, I saw a red head in a leopard print bikini and high heels vacuuming out her car. “What the hell?” I thought to myself and then I saw the big trailer with the words “Sneak a Peek” written on it
After that I couldn’t help noticing the line of dudes waiting to sneak a peek.
To tell you the truth I am both fascinated and a little grossed out — grossed out by the guys ordering the coffee and the ones leering at the women from out of their car windows, and fascinated that there is always a long line. Also I have to wonder, isn’t it a health and safety issue to deal with hot liquids with such little clothes on?
So the question is, are these women bad feminist for wearing a bikini on the job?
Frankly, who am I to label anyone a good or bad feminist? Diablo Cody comes to mind. For those of you who don’t know, she is the terrific writer behind the film Juno and the TV show The United States of Tara. In my opinion Diablo is a feminist. Juno was a great example of a feminist character. She was strong and opinionated, and when it came down to it, able to make amazing choices. Diablo Cody works in a field dominated by men and she holds her own. Yet, Diablo Cody worked as a stripper for years and also at a sex shop. She writes about it in her memoir Candy Girl. Diablo claims to embrace her sexuality and doesn’t mind if others do the same. The question is — does that make her anti-feminism? I would say no and would argue that perhaps it makes her pro-woman.
When I hear people label others as ‘bad feminists,’ it makes me think of the annoying kids back in high school that always had to overachieve and make a huge spectacle of their accomplishments while belittling others at the same time. When someone calls another woman a bad feminist I almost always think they, in return, are bad feminists. But then again, does that make me a bad feminist? We could go ’round on this one for days, I think. The bottom line is that women should support each other. And granted, there are some occassions where poeple spout off about being a feminist to furthur a political agenda (Sarah Palin to name just one) when clearly they are not.
Perhaps then and only then can the term “bad feminist” be branded upon them. For the most part I feel strongly that the use of the term “bad feminist” should never be uttered. The bad feminist/good feminist debate makes me think of those mothers who attend playgroups with the purpose of measuring themselves up against other parents. It reminds me of the moms who breast feed their children for an extended period, cloth diaper them, only allow them to don organic fabrics and use wooden teething rings, and do baby sign language all in an effort to one up the other mom whose child is eating sugared Cheerios and drinking from a bottle. It’s just yuck. I agree that many choices are better than others but don’t wear your feminism as a badge to make others feel insecure or like less of a woman. That kind of judgment should be reserved for the small-minded.
Sure, a bikini barista is allowing men to ogle her, but who’s to say she isn’t a kick-ass feminist. On the side she may be working for a rape victims hotline, volunteering her time as a big sister, or spending time overseas helping flood victims in Pakistan — but because she wears a bikini to work she is in no way, no how, a feminist?
What I’m trying to say is that I wish people, women especially, would keep that in mind the next time they use the word whore, skank, or slut to describe another woman or the term bad feminist slips out of their mouths, because, in my opinion the truest way to be a bad feminist is by demanding other women live by a set in stone list of standards.
My gut reaction to bikini baristas is rather lukewarm, but that just means I should avoid any such establishment since it irks me. I would be terrified of making very hot beverages in a bikini, personally. Although I’m sure it saves the baristas money on work clothes.
If a woman enjoys being appreciated for her body, and thinks it’s worth the leers and bit of extra danger to get the (presumed higher) wages from serving coffee in a bikini, she’s welcome to do it. I won’t be applying (for the good of myself and the world :))
If a guy (or girl) enjoys seeing hot girls in bikinis with their morning coffee (better than caffeine?), they may choose to pay the (presumed higher) price for it. I won’t be stopping in.
Why not? Free country!
Why are we assuming these women are feminists at all?
Maybe they’re just working women who appreciate the extra tips and don’t give a fuck if they’re ogled?
They remind me of them women who serve drinks at strip clubs. They aren’t on stage, you don’t get to touch them, but they wear next to nothing and they flirt and smile for money.
It’s a job.
them=the
It sounded like I was channeling my inner redneck. Them womens who works in them there titty bars!
*thar
them thar titty bars.
I have to teach you people everything!
“It reminds me of the moms who breast feed their children for an extended period, cloth diaper them, only allow them to don organic fabrics and use wooden teething rings, and do baby sign language all in an effort to one up the other mom whose child is eating sugared Cheerios and drinking from a bottle.”
Do you really think women are going to all that effort just to “one up” the mom who feeds their kid cheerios and formula?
I breastfed exclusively and extensively, cloth diapered, made his baby food and all that other crap, and I can’t imagine having gone through all that effort just to one up another woman.
Are there specific women you’re referring to, or is it just that you think nobody could go to that effort because they think it’s the right thing for them to be doing?
I think she’s referring to specific people. There really are parents out there who get a kick of of feeling superior to other parents because they are the wisest, most devoted, caring and super-sparkliest of all the parents.
She didn’t mean all moms who breastfeed, cloth-diaper, etc are that way. But some who are that way seem to relish the fact that they can lord over the lesser parents with their superior ways.
Every time I read “bad feminist,” I imagine someone smacking a puppy with a newspaper. “Bad feminist! Bad! *smack* Don’t you know you’re catering to the patriarchy?!”
It’s refreshing to hear you defend this position though. It always infuriated me to get lectured from other girls about how I was a “bad feminist” or even “anti-feminist” for working at Hooters… Even though I was at the top of my class in college, did volunteer work, and am a generally strong, no-bullshit type of woman. I think it’s more about the woman in the bikini (or orange shorts) than the bikini itself. If you let yourself become a voiceless object, then it’s your own damn fault. If you carry yourself like a strong, independent thinking, “I’m not going to take your shit, because this is just my job,” kind of woman… then I don’t see a problem with it. I don’t see why feminists can’t be overtly sexual beings… That is to say, why do men get to run around half naked and it’s okay, but if I do it, I’m a tramp. It’s an antiquated notion.
Haha! For the next several weeks when I see a woman dressed provocatively I’m going to picture somebody smacking her with a rolled up newspaper. Or maybe squirting her with a bottle of water…
I agree,as long as you stay in control of your own life,using or exploiting or enjoying your sexuality is your business. If someone like Diablo works as a stripper because she wants to,for whatever reason,she could still be considered a feminist. If she is working there because her man is making her,different story altogether. Some of the sexiest and most sensual women I’ve known were feminists.
Haven’t we thought maybe they just really, really need to pay the bills and this is the best they could find? If they’re okay with it, I’m okay with it. I’d be more worried about my boyfriend going there just to ogle naked women than about those girls earning their money in a completely legit way.
I’m a feminist and I would work there. I don’t mind making money off of dirty old men and their obvious inability to find free internet porn.
Not my thing. But to be honest, if I had a flat stomach, I would probably take a job there for the money. Then again, the comments they must get… and the idea of working night shift and leaving the store after dark is disturbing. I already have to be vigilant walking home from a pharmacy at night, it would be more troubling if I had hosts of male customers who stare at my boobs every day. I’m less concerned with the ladies’ feminism standards or hot beverage risks, more concerned with their safety at a job where they are essentially scantily clad eye-candy.
There are probably security measures in place. From my experience at Hooters, we were either escorted to our cars at end of the night by our male managers, or we walked out in a big group. I’d be more worried about the hot beverages near my lovely ladies, OUCH!
lol, Yeah, I have big, unpleasantly sensitive boobs. No foam on the espresso for me.
That coffee place (though its decor and name sound both tacky and trashy) sounds essentially like a great idea. To me, personally, looking at young women in bikinis is like looking at beautiful flowers — not exactly a thrill. But it sounds like a wonderful idea, though it might have had a classier execution.
And as much as I might disparage what I imagine to be the “neanderthals” who frequent that business . . . I cannot help thinking that a similar establishment with shirtless young men would probably prompt me to start drinking coffee — and I do not even -like- coffee.
I would never go to a place like that, not that I don’t like the pretty ladies or coffee. But I am not the kind of sucker who will pay a surcharge just for the chance to see a “hot” chick make my coffee. I am attracted to pretty women but I am not a slave to that attraction who will be bilked of my hard earned money just for the chance to look at a pretty girl or exchanged a few words with one. That is why I find the whole concept of strip clubs insulting.