I’m currently watching a british soap called Coronation Street. The character Bethany is 17 years of age and was involved in a horrible storyline involving grooming, rape and sexual assault.

The man who pretended to love her to use her at parties in which she would be shared among many men. Bethany didn’t realise this was abnormal until later on in the relationship. The men have been sentenced and she is recovering from the awful ordeal.

Now, the storyline is that Bethany has become a lap dancer/ stripper/ exotic dancer (whatever you would like to call it) in which her boyfriend is very upset about. Her mother has just found out and they are scared for her. Before this even came out I worked out that as a survivor, working in a club she would have protection and could stop when she wanted to. To me, I completely understand it and see how it helps her! (P.s in this country we have laws that you can’t touch the dancers, if you do you face getting kicked out, banned, probably beaten up and potentially the police).

So my question is, how would you feel if a friend or family member had this happen and then chose that path?

Do you believe it is a good coping mechanism?

Would you judge her for her decision?

I hope people have read my trigger warning but I apologise if this affects anyone. This situation is obviously hypothetical but please try to answer openly! Thank you.