Spectacles of Agency and Desire: Dance Histories and the Burlesque Stage

Kinsey Scale- Sexual Stimuli

In 2006, the Kinsey Institute published an experiment about the differences in viewing sexual stimuli due to gender. Both men and women were given sexualized images and the duration of viewing, and the area of viewing on the picture was recorded. The three test groups: men, oral contraceptive women, and naturally cycling women all viewed similar images. This experiment concluded that men appear to be more influenced by the sex and gender of the sexual stimuli whereas women’s response differed with the context of the stimuli depicted. This conclusion proves that physiologically women are more interested in what is being portrayed visually and females no matter what is being portrayed physiologically stimulate men. This study can support why women are shown in the audience at Burlesque shows. The women are interested and intrigued by the movement. 
 
In the McCaghy interviews a performer discussed the differences in acts that caused women to applaud. In Buffalo, New York a performer discussed if a “dirty” act was performed the women in the audience didn’t applaud which caused the men to not applaud.  If an act was about the presentation of the body the women would applaud and the men would follow their lead. This example emphasizes that women are impressed and stimulated by acts that focus on the ability and movement of the body. Women are more impressed when a women's act looks like it relies on more than just a naked body. The use of humor, wit, and artistic skill is much more impressive to the women gaze. Interpreted by this study, a male 

 
Works Cited:

Rupp, Heather A., and Kim Wallen. "Sex Differences in Viewing Sexual Stimuli: An Eye-tracking Study in Men and Women." Hormones and Behavior 51.4 (2007): 524-33. Web.

McCaghy, Charles and James Skipper. Binder of interviews. Series 6, Box 7. Charles H. McCaghy Collection of Exotic Dance from Burlesque to Clubs. Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theater Research Institute, Ohio State University Libraries, Columbus, OH. 25 Nov. 2015.

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