Striptease industry in Finland faces financial disparities and lack of protections for performers

In Finland, the striptease industry operates with significant financial disparities and a lack of formal employment protections. There are around a dozen strip clubs, with some generating substantial profits, while performers like Muusa May reveal that dancers may earn nothing on certain days due to the absence of customers. She highlights that their pay relies primarily on tips from patrons and that the compensation is often paid off the books, evading taxation.

The striptease scene in Finland has seen the establishment of at least 12 clubs and five venues that offer daytime performances. The industry has concentrated in larger cities, and recent trends, such as platforms like OnlyFans, have expanded the erotic service market.

Despite the closure of several venues over the past decade, some clubs have reported flourishing financial health. According to Jari Kankaanpää, a university finance professor, the major strip clubs in Helsinki and Tampere demonstrated promising revenues, suggesting strong demand in a post-pandemic recovery phase.

Muusa May, who has experience in both stripping and sex work, indicates that many performers are essentially self-employed, facing both opportunities and challenges in setting their prices based on the services offered. The Finnish legal framework complicates the establishment of ethical adult establishments, as providing space for selling sex is illegal despite the legality of the transactions themselves.

May aspires to establish an ethical strip club and bordello, focusing on improving working conditions for performers. She expresses concerns over the stigma attached to the industry, which may deter both clients and workers from engaging in sex work openly.