Would I hate Hooters as much as I do? Apparently they’re trying to make inroads over here and already have a branch in Nottingham. As somewhat of a feminist I certainly have problems with Hooters and all it represents. Often, though, I wonder whether my hatred for the restaurant and the women who are employed there is because I truly think they’re all vapid morons essentially selling their bodies for money or whether I’m just jealous that I don’t look like them? The same pondering goes for strippers/lap-dancers.
In analysing myself, I think my theory holds water. I think, secretly, I envy these women for their ‘hot bodies’ and wish I could look like them. At the same time, though, I tell myself that if I looked like them I would not dress like them. I would not work at Hooters. My mind would still be the most important thing about me. It would not be my ‘hot body.’
This quasi-oxymoron was put to the test in university several years ago. I had a friend who I had political science classes with and seemed rather intelligent, if a little dappy. I discovered later that she had worked at Hooters during her U of A tenure. I suppose, in some cases, anything to pay the bills but I tend to think I could never debase myself enough to be ogled at by gross old men and even young attractive men just for the sake of paying said bills. This girl was also far from destitute. I gathered that she came from some money and, therefore, again questioned why she felt the need to work in such a place. She ended up graduating a year early with her BA and went on to get an MA and, I believe, graduated a year early there as well. She was by no means stupid and has, as far as I know, gone on to success in her chosen career (not Hooters).
I suppose I may never know the answer to my question. I will probably never be as thin as these women and, therefore, technically able to gain employment at Hooters. Even if I do get to that stage, I highly doubt I would go work at Hooters just to see whether or not I liked it. I tend to think that despite my size my mind will always be the same and I will always feel Hooters is a horrible place that perpetuates female stereotypes and devalues women. Such is life. As long as there are women willing to be ogled by men while serving them chicken wings there will be men willing to pay for the privilege and businessmen ready to take their money.