A HOOTERS Manifesto
March 26, 2008
By Amy Sondova Recently my friends and I were having an online discussion about HOOTERS. Online conversations are funny because often in a chat room even the closest of friends can be misunderstood. Often, there are several conversations on the same subject going on at the same time, and perhaps a few side conversations on a completely unrelated topic. I wonder how we communicate at all. But it all seems to work out in the end and our friendships are no worse for the wear. In fact, because we all live in various parts of the country, talking online is the easiest way we can all talk together–even if we’re all having different conversations.
The recent HOOTERS conversation revolved around controversy surrounding the new restaurant opening in Troy, MI. Apparently the townsfolk are not too pleased about having such a classy establishment in their town. Part of the discussion focused on whether or not the people had a right to say what types of businesses they should have in their town. Was it discrimination not to allow HOOTERS to set up camp? Wouldn’t the free market decide the success of HOOTERS? If people showed up and the latest HOOTERS was successful, wouldn’t that prove that the people of Troy and its surrounding areas really did want a HOOTERS after all? Why should the most vocal decide what is best for everyone else? This discussion has interesting merits on both sides, but really isn’t the point of this post.
After having a particularly trying night, as soon as I heard the word HOOTERS, I was off and typing. HOOTERS is a disgusting establishment that objectifies women I typed. Why would any respectable man even want to be served chicken wings by a big chested, skimpy clad woman? Of course, a lot of men, even respectable ones, would want to be served their meals just like that. Sure, HOOTERS can exist and men and women alike can go there for its “good food” or “big boobs” or whatever. My point is this–why would a Christian man want to go to a place like this?
In my mind, I was referencing other conversations I’ve had with male friends in church and male friends in youth ministry who think eating at HOOTERS is perfectly fine. The wings are good they argue and well, yeah, the women are dressed a little provocatively but restaurants have a dress code. WHAT?!??! Do they really think I’m buying THAT?!?!
First of all, I’m sure there are many other fine restaurants that serve good food. HOOTERS isn’t the only place in town. Second, short shorts and a shirt that looks as though it is painted on is not the normal restaurant dress code. Plus, the place is, in fact, called HOOTERS. Do they really think they’re fooling anyone with that little owl on the logo? Other potential names for HOOTERS could have been KNOCKERS, CLUNKERS, BIG BREASTS, or BOOBS. I guess HOOTERS just sounded best. Look, I know men tend to be obsessed with women’s breasts, but really they are two lumps of celluloid that can be used to nurture a child. They’re beautiful life-giving devices, not your personal play things. Then again, feel free to explore the beauty that is woman in the context of marriage, not gape at it when you’re sitting in your local HOOTERS. But you’re just there for the “good food”, right? Apparently, HOOTERS also serves up some good eye candy.
This brings me to my main point–Christian men should be above this. We all struggle with different areas in our lives. From what I hear about the world of men, a pretty woman turns a guy on. The less clothes a good-looking chick is wearing, the more aroused a man gets. Knowing this about themselves, why would godly men choose to put themselves in a place where temptation runs rampant? Doesn’t the Bible teach us to flee from temptation? In every sermon I’ve ever heard about King David’s affair with Bathsheba it’s been said that David first desired her in his mind. When he saw her bathing, he should have looked away. However, he indulged his fantasy and ended up murdering her husband and losing a child.
Plus, men shouldn’t be looking at women like that. I Timothy 5 : 2 says, “Treat older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” Just because it’s natural for a man to look at a beautiful woman lustfully does NOT mean it’s right. Is going to HOOTERS and indulging in a little looking and “harmless” flirtation really treating a younger woman as a sister and with absolute purity? Would you want your little sister serving guys food in skimpy clothes?
We women have a hard time when it comes to how we look. We primp and pluck and blob on make-up. We spend hours staring in the mirror critiquing our appearances. As much as we are told that God is interested in our hearts; the men around us are still interested in our bodies. Those of us who aren’t beauty queens may not interest any men at all, even if we have a good heart. Many Christian women who are blessed with great beauty are uncomfortable when treated as just a pretty object. We want to be treasured, loved, and appreciated for who we are. Those of us who struggle to feel lovely feel worse when HOOTERS girls are elevated. The bottom line is this–many of your sisters in Christ are hurt by how you view women because we don’t like how we look or because we wonder if you look at us the same way as you look at those HOOTERS girls.
Women aren’t completely innocent. We look at men and long for intimacy. Just as I encourage men to talk about and view women respectfully, I try and will continue to work on viewing men as brothers in Christ. Let it be said that it is OK for men to find a woman attractive and comment on it. However, remember to also compliment the qualities of the women around you, not just looks but personality and heart. Help us to become the women God wants us to be and teach us how godly men should be treated.
And, hey, if we go out for some good food…let’s go some place other than HOOTERS.
Amy Sondova is a writer specializing in media writing, including interviews and reviews, as well as blogging. Having interviewed over 30 of the top musicians, writers, and speakers in the Christian media, Amy has also written countless columns, reviews, and articles on various topics including mental illness, self-injury, working with teenagers, and Christianity. She lives with her best friend, Sarah, and has two dogs, a cockatiel, and a betta named General Tso.
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I don’t want to offend or anger you in any way, but I do have something to say.
I’m a Hooters girl, and over time I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that women who think like you do are objectifying the Hooters waitresses just as much as men do. When you say something like “..The bottom line is this–many of your sisters in Christ are hurt by how you view women because we don’t like how we look or because we wonder if you look at us the same way as you look at those HOOTERS girls,” you make it sound as though Hooters girls are not real women who should be loved and cherished. It is as though we are some kind of demon that needs to be avoided, and Christian men should not love us as much as they love anyone. That is just not true. Hooters is a fun restaurant where girls can make a lot of money. Personally, I’m a Christian girl who happens to be pretty and well-endowed, and I know that I can make enough money at Hooters to earn my business degree. I don’t believe anyone has the right to talk down to me or act as though I don’t deserve the same amount of respect and love as any other woman who chooses to hide her body.
Renee, thanks for your comments!
It’ s nice to hear from someone who actually works at Hooters and get another opinion on the matter.
Of course, women who are employed by Hooters deserve to be loved and cherished, and no one should talk down to you or disrespect you. But isn’t that exactly what men do when they *just* value you because you’re pretty and well-endowed? We all know why men go to Hooters–to goggle at girls like you.
I am happy that you are beautiful, intelligent, and working towards your business degree. If you choose to work at Hooters, that’s your decision. However, I do have an opinion on Hooters and the men who frequent the place…I hadn’t thought much about the women who work there.
I am not offended or angered at all, and thank you for your comment!
Best of luck getting your degree!
Amy
Amy,
I recently applied, and was subsequently hired, at Hooters. Before applying, I researched the company thoroughly, seeking out all the information I could find on the internet, as well as speaking to former and current Hooters servers.
I think that it is important to mention that the management of Hooters restaurants seems to be made up of great people who genuinely care about the comfort and well-being of the girls who work there. Customers who harass the girls are quickly escorted out in an efficient manner, which is a far cry from how such incidents are handled at my former workplace, a “family-style” diner restaurant in a small, conservative, religious town. You might be surprised to hear how often the men of this town, men who attend church and have families, hit on girls young enough to be their granddaughters, try to grope them, say lewd things, and find themselves unable to draw their eyes from our chests. This is at the family restaurant! If I must cope with that treatment regardless of the restaurant I work at, I would much prefer to work at Hooters, where management actively combats such behavior and I am compensated more for the hassle.
It’s also crucial to note that for many of the regulars at Hooters, it isn’t all about the appearance of the girls inside. While that may be what draws them in initially, many return to see their favorite servers, so chosen for their personality and conversation. It’s not all about looks for everyone, and to assume so is unfair.
I agree with Renee on the point that those who think like you do are objectifying and discriminating in your own way. Really, it’s just a waitressing job. Yes, clothing is minimal, but really, it’s more than many junior high students wear to school. The shorts are quite short, but thick nylons ensure that nothing inappropriate will show. The tank tops are very tight and many girls display cleavage, but I see lower every day, every where. I also think that Hooters does a good job of enforcing a simple, natural beauty. While many servers wear a great deal of make up or have implants, you can be sure that no tattoos or exotic piercings will be seen, and really, if you have a young daughter, which is she more likely to want? A boob job or a tattoo?
I feel as if you are projecting your insecurities, and blaming Hooters Girls for them. While most girls working at Hooters are quite attractive, it is YOU that feels insecure when you compare yourself to them. I would recommend seeking therapy for your self-doubt if Hooters Girls really make you feel that horrible about yourself.
Bottom line for me, Hooters features pretty girls in skimpy clothing. Some men go for the food, some the conversation, and some the eye candy. Everyone who enters a Hooters, be it to work or be served, is aware of what they are getting themselves in to. Servers are compensated well for the extra bit of ogling, much of which is found in every type of serving position. Any insecurity, negative self-image, or issues with men not treating you with respect lies within you. It is your job to rectify it, not the girls at Hooters.
KH, while I do admit to some insecurities (as noted on my personal blog), that is not why I take issue with scantily clad women. I also do not like women being judged for their bodies or their bountiful bosom. A lot of women try hard not to be objectified, and when you work at a “family restaurant” like Hooters, you are objectifying yourselves.
Of course, the church men grab at you…that’s what this whole discussion is about. It has less to do with Hooters girls and more to do with Christian men in general. The fact is that Christian guys should be different, and they’re not.
If you and your friends like being objectified, that’s your choice. However, don’t think that you’re just as insecure about your body as I am about mine. Oh, you ladies can make your choices about where you want to work…I’m not denying you that. I’m just calling Christian men (and ladies) out to make what I feel can be better choices.
Thanks for your comment.
Amy
Amy,
Of course many women try hard to to be objectified. I try as well, however, it is going to happen, no matter where you work, what you wear, or how you look.
As a woman, you should be fully aware that all women, especially those with even a hint of attractiveness, are objectified constantly, regardless of their behavior or dress. I receive sexual harassment from men on a nearly daily basis. Sure, some days I am in my Hooters outfit, fully made up, or perhaps in a mini skirt or a low cut top. However, the same men which harass and objectify me while I am dressed skimpily also harass and objectify me when I am in baggy jeans and an over-sized sweatshirt, wearing no makeup and making no attempt to garner their unfavorable attention. I think that this makes it clear that the objectification of women is not dependent upon the way a woman is dressed or such, but rather upon the men themselves. Saying that a woman is “asking” for it based on her dress is rather like blaming the victim, don’t you think?
Anyhow, I think that the Hooters Girls are simply realizing that there are many people who are going to objectify you, regardless of your behavior or your dress, and simply choose to take advantage of being objectified by taking generous tips from those doing the objectifying. We are being objectified, just like we always have/will be, but a least we can exploit them a bit, for our own profit, as well.
I also find it quite telling that the Hooters crowd seems much more respectful than the conservative, small town, religious crowd at my old workplace. I am still not quite sure how to explain that…
KH
OK, enough is enough. I didn’t know that my post about HOOTERS would wind up being as misinterpreted as the facts in the presidential debate.
Nowhere in my above posts or comments do I attack HOOTERS employees. I said that Hooters demeans women and that the uniforms are scanty, but any other inference is your own, not mine. I am sure that HOOTERS girls are lovely people and am not attacking you personally. Unfortunately, you are trying to make it very, very personal (as evidenced by a couple of scathing blog posts…nice).
I don’t mind comments and healthy discussion here on Backseat Writer, but remember that this is a faith-based site and as such, we write about how we live our faith. I mean, if you’re not cool with our belief systems, that’s just fine, but understand that we do have a different worldview.
Personal attacks on blog posts or comments are definitely not helpful.
Thanks Amy. I loved your blog! The point is . . . Women need more self-respect. We know that men are more easily tempted by physical appearance than women are. It’s biological. Since we know this ahead of time, why would we put ourselves in a situation that will only tempt men more?
We have a responsibility to ourselves, as well as, all women. Respect by men, or anybody else, is earned, and it starts with self-respect, and self-respect is demonstrated by our choices. If we present ourselves as sexual beings, due to our choice of clothing, this is the way we will be treated. Women are much more than eye candy. We are thinking, feeling, nurturing, giving, loving, teaching beings that should be treated as such. Disrespecting ourselves by wearing tight, revealing clothes, only invites disrespect from the opposite sex. It is our responsibility to teach men how to treat us. It is our responsibility as Christians to conduct ourselves in a manner that does not cause someone else (man or woman) to stumble in their Christian faith.
I realize this post is old, but I appreciate the thought you put into it. I could not agree more. Christian men, along with Christian women should hold their selves to a standard that aligns itself with Gods word.
We all want to have some fun in life, but there are other places to go to do that, places that do not make objects out of women. Places that you would feel comfortable with your daugter working.