If you are in immediate crisis, Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line, or call 911 for immediate emergencies.
- The Glitter Crash: Performing creates an intense rush of adrenaline, dopamine and endorphins, but once the show is over and the dancer returns to the mundanity of daily life, those chemical levels plummet. This can result in a sudden onset of depression and feelings of emptiness that can last for days.
- Body Image Dysmorphia and Comparison: Burlesque is paradoxically both a haven for body positivity and a source of intense body scrutiny.
- Social/Internal Stigma: Some burlesque performers face stigma from the general public for being “strippers,” while simultaneously creating internal stigma by distancing themselves from sex workers to appear more “legitimate” or “artistic.” Others openly perform various forms of sex work as part of their creative life.
- Hustle Culture Burnout: Most burlesque performers are solo independent contractors who wear all the hats (producer, choreographer, costumer, makeup artist, manager, booking agent). Pay is often inconsistent and health insurance is non-existent which creates a state of chronic low-level anxiety and leads to burnout.
- Nightlife Environment: Burlesque usually takes place in bars, clubs and festivals where alcohol and drugs are plentiful. Substance use is often normalized as a way to manage social anxiety, networking and the physical pain of performing. It can be isolating for sober performers to navigate a workspace where their colleagues and audiences are frequently intoxicated.
- Sexual Harassment and Safety: Despite being a performance, the removal of clothing can lead audiences to cross lines of consent, leading to unwanted touching, harassment or stalking. While some use burlesque to heal from past sexual trauma, the vulnerability of the stage can also unexpectedly trigger PTSD, especially if an audience member behaves aggressively.
- Queer Safety: Burlesque shows often function as insulated “safe spaces” where gender non-conformity and queer expression are celebrated. Transitioning from a space of extreme acceptance back into a world more hostile to LGBTQ+ folks can cause psychological whiplash, hypervigilance and chronic anxiety.
- Political Harassment: With the rise of anti-drag and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and legislation, performers often face existential dread regarding their livelihoods and physical safety. This can lead to “community trauma” where the stress is collective rather than individual. Queer performers can be the targets of doxxing, hate speech and threats of violence.
- Identity Labor: For performers from marginalized communities, the stage is often a place of euphoria. However, they may also face the exhaustion of having to educate peers, producers or audiences about inclusivity, even within a community that prides itself on such things.
It is worth noting that many people are drawn to burlesque because of mental health struggles, using it as a form of therapy to reclaim autonomy over their bodies. This means the community has a higher-than-average baseline of people actively working through trauma, depression and anxiety, which can create a supportive but emotionally heavy peer environment.
Faith's Place 