I came across this bit of news today and it reminded me of the posts on Feministing not too long ago about "Java Jugs," the chain of coffee houses in the Pacific Northwest where the baristas wear bikinis to work. It seems that at a similar coffee house in Washington state, some women were accused of prostitution for charging customers to feel their breasts and asses, and to strip down and/or lick whipped cream off of each other.
I think the most interesting thing about this is that none of the customers were charged or arrested in this investigation, which involved undercover officers posing as patrons. Of course the women would be blamed and painted as whores who would do anything to make a buck, even though they are working in a place that is clearly promoting the exploitation of their sexuality to an absurd degree. The cycle of sexism is so powerful, isn't it? Also, I think it is hilarious that it's considered perfectly okay for places of business to operate on the concept of flaunting women's bodies in order to make money, but that the owner said about the controversy that "anyone caught doing anything illegal would be fired." Thoughts?
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I couldn't agree with you more. Whoever thought that sexual objectification would trickle into coffee houses of all places? Is it going to be Burger King or McDonalds next? Oh, wait, some burger places already require females to wear short-short skirts and pantyhose. And lets not forget about Hooters. Geez
So it's okay for the hirer to subject women to sexual exploitation, and control what happens with her own body, so to speak, but it's NOT okay for a female to take control of her OWN body in a place that's already sexualizing it. Nice.
So the law permits bikinis but not paid physical sexual contact, and the cops and owner are obeying the law?
Yes, that's the law - it's OK for the women to be scantily clad, but direct sexual contact for money is illegal.
Yep. By now, most people are not ignorant of the law here in the US about what is and isn't legal.
It sounds like folks made some bad choices probably because they had this expectation of all of these great tips, which perhaps over time dwindled once the novelty wore off and the economy slowed.
It's likely that the business just wants to use half-naked women to get more bodies in the door with very little additional money going to the folks who are putting themselves out there, literally.
Can't say I'm not surprised as this seems to be one of the prevailing business models whenever it comes time to use female bodies to sell crap.
S.F. is the only city I know of that leaves the desperate for money women alone and arrests the "johns".
Everywhere else it is more common for men to let men go, for men to punish women for what we "make them do". We are Eve's daughters in their eyes after all.
It's fucked up and it isn't changing quickly enough.
One thing that I would like to bring up is the risk of injury from working around hot steam and liquids in a bikini. I'm a barista at Starbucks and have been burned multiple times from steam and hot beverages, and I'm fully clothed (short-sleeves, but still a full tshirt AND an apron). What about the additional risk of personal safety that these women go through by being mostly naked around scalding materials? And on top of that being pressured to be overly sexual and give in to cliental demands, albeit objectifying? If I were being asked repeatedly and even harangued to give in to cliental's demands, I'd at least try to get something out of it, which to me is what these women were doing. How about instead of investigating the "prostitution" of these women, why not investigate to see that extra measures are in place to protect the physical safety of women? I personally feel that they really need to get their priorities in order.
I'm a barista too... I'm burning myself constantly at work, and usually manage to spill some steaming drink on myself at least once a week. When I first read about these places, my reaction was "ouch".
That was one of my first reactions when I heard about "Java Jugs." I've never been a barista but I did work for a long time in the food service industry and I could never imagine having to be around grills and ovens and steamers and things like that in a bikini! I burned myself so many times just rushing around in back in the kitchen as a server and I was wearing a long sleeved button down shirt and long pants.
So they encourage women to do these things and then arrest them when they do. Because that makes sense. *rolls eyes*
So they encourage women to do these things and then arrest them when they do. Because that makes sense. *rolls eyes*
Bikinis in the pacific northwest? Isn't it cold up there?!
Do you honestly think the male patrons - or the men who own these businesses - even care about that?
The fact that it's cold up there - and that women don't show as much cleavage or leg as they would in warmer parts of the country - is what makes the bikini-clad baristas such a strong draw for male customers, who don't get to see women's bodies as much as they'd like.
Beyond that, these are indoor coffee houses, so the women are inside, not out on the street in bikinis.
Actually, the coffee stand in Everett, Washington (where the women were accused of prostitution) is one of those outdoor drive-up coffee hut things. So while they are technically inside (with some sort of heater probably) they do work with big open windows and have to lean out the window to give the patrons their drinks.
I've been there. Yeah, they're definitely not indoors, and many of them wear gloves, hats, scarves, etc. in the winter.
It's not freezing here, or anything- we have very mild weather- but there is no reason to wear a bikini here unless it's July or August.
Also, they're in a really busy section of Everett, which doesn't help things at all.
Holy shit. I was surprised to see a Bikin Bar in Manhattan...but a coffee house? Where will it end?
Holy shit. I was surprised to see a Bikini Bar in Manhattan...but a bikin coffee house? Where will it end?
All of the bikini baristas I have seen advertised are the drive through coffee huts. There is also at least one in Tacoma that only has pasties, not even a bikini top. There is definitely something royally effed up about those coffee places.