Fun fact: strip clubs don’t employ the girls.

They’re “independent contractors” who actually pay the house to use the stage or the VIP rooms. This creates a natural filter so that girls that are less popular make less money until they move on. In a mid-sized city like mine, you’ll have a hierarchy of clubs from the one with the richest clients and the hottest dancers, to the poorest clients and lest attractive dancers. Also there will be a club where black dudes are more welcome. (often the “worst” club)

So, stripping was gig work before the term. And it’s no surprise that extra-exploitative labor practices were tested out on women first.