Since then, male strippers have also become common, but strippers are still overwhelmingly female. Until the 1970s, strippers in Western cultures were almost invariably female, performing to male audiences. Entertainers (dancers) are often not actual employees of the club itself but perform as independent contractors.
A 'house dancer' works for a particular club or franchise, while a 'feature dancer' tends to have her own celebrity, touring a club circuit making appearances. The integration of the burlesque pole as a nearly ubiquitous prop has shifted the emphasis in the performance toward a more acrobatic, explicit expression compared to the slow-developing burlesque style. Not every stripper will end a performance completely nude, though full nudity is common where not prohibited by law. Modern Americanized forms of stripping minimize interaction by strippers with customers, reducing the importance of tease in the performance in favor of speed to undress ( strip). At times, a stripper may be hired to perform at a bachelor party or other private event.
A stripper or exotic dancer is a person whose occupation involves performing striptease in a public adult entertainment venue such as a strip club.
