The article “Hustlers“ written by Jessica Pressler gives an inside look and an overall different perspective on exotic dancers. Strippers, as they are more commonly known as are often times ridiculed by society. Many view their job as a last resort and often times consider it degrading. This article however serves to do the opposite. It was written to show the women as intellectual equals with the men who seemingly used them, referring to them as ‘robinhood’ for taking from the wealthy. The writer also attempts to humanize the ‘victims’ by giving them a voice. Rosie, one of the ladies to be introduced gave  insight on her cultural background. She tells us that she is of Cambodian descent. She briefly explains that her parents came to America with ideals that they eventually strayed from. This information was crucial. It illustrates how a change in focus and the neglecting of children can greatly affect their future. Having to fend for herself Rosie had to mature earlier than most young women and find a way to essentially make ends meet. Being left at the mercy of a large city, the young unqualified woman took an unconventional route to financial security by owning her sexuality and having men pay large sums whilst succumbing to their carnal desires. This in and of itself was extremely empowering. For years women were made to feel shameful to do anything remotely sexual. The article in a sense Restored the confidence that was stolen from woman by the men in society. It painted the woman as masterminds in their own narrative as opposed to a mere body in that of a man’s. 

This article is packed with a multitude of cultural information.  For example, one angle speaks to some of Rosie’s culture, pointing out the differences between her childhood consisting of selling bulk candy and getting into fights at her school in Rockland County and the contrasting glamorous ambience of the New York City club scene.  Amongst many other displays of cultural information, the article also reveals a small amount of insight into her Cambodian parents’ culture, as they are said to have gotten caught up in the American Dream and ultimately prioritized the allure of the material world over their two children.

Some of the background information that was conveyed in this storytelling included the synopses of the women involved in this intense recollection of the past.  This information gives the reader a glimpse of the lives of these individuals which helps to better understand them as people and the attitude that they shared towards those men.  The descriptions of the informants brought those individuals to life because it gives the audience a succinct, yet extremely informative idea of who they really are.  Not only did their basic demographic and physical descriptors help create this image, but the various indicators of their personalities or mindsets and especially the direct quotations formed this telling that became extremely vivid.  The author effectively creates a verbal portrait of the informants by maintaining the integrity of each individual’s persona throughout the entirety of the piece.

The illustrations of the informants both add texture and help set the scene by constructing a narrative that draws the audience into the world and minds of these women.  This article provides such a clear picture for the reader that it almost feels like you are in the room with them and observing each of these occurrences as they happen in real time.  Additionally, the portrayals of the men involved in this scene supply the curious with a better understanding as to why the women felt justified in their actions.  Personally, I found myself cheering them on as they empowered themselves to shut down the corruption in their own unique way.

The whole of this narrative thoroughly draws out the truth of the situation despite how it may appear at a glance.  Initially, the story seems to shed light on some badass women serving justice from their perspective.  However, a larger theme reveals itself as we learn how ugly and terrifying this lifestyle actually was for these women.  The shame, guilt, and fear becomes exposed throughout, and it displays the lifestyle’s reality.  In facing the inevitable consequences of their actions, the women feared jail time for their crimes.  In spite of the potential ramifications, they persisted in a seemingly unfazed manner.  Rosie even states that she was aware of why they did what they did: “Hurt people hurt people”, which exemplifies the entire motive behind this operation.  This article is an incredible communication of the (cliché) concept: ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’.  The author truly uncovered the actuality of an event that appeared so differently than how the insiders experienced it.

The article written by Jessica Pressler tells of the experiences of women who went from being strippers to criminal masterminds as they would use their wits & physical attraction to draw in wealthy men-usually ones that worked on Wall Street & were married-that they would later drug and steal thousands of dollars from. Almost immediately stated within the article is how different stripping was viewed due to third-wave feminism, as it went from being seen as degrading to “sexually liberating & financially empowering”. This could be one of the reasons why Rosie became a stripper along with her seeing how much strippers made in the documentary “G String Divas”. Rosie’s background info helped us better understand why the way she is & why she joined Samantha in “marketing”, as it explained her difficult upbringing (her parents abandoning her & her brother when they were young, getting in with the wrong crowd, dating bad men, getting into fights, eventually dropping out of school & this claim that her physique got her into trouble as well) & her need to financially provide for herself & later also her child. When describing people she worked alongside, she described their striking features, such as Samantha’s “Cleopatra black” hair. She also described some of her client’s while & after working as a stripper & compared them to being damsels in distress, as they would see these women as opportunities to vent about their lives. Their system of scamming men was working out fine until, in Rosie’s opinion, the girls got greedy as they wanted an easy “$50,000 tree” & not the forest Rosie saw. It’s not until one man with evidence that the girls scammed him were they arrested & charged. Karina, Marsi (two women involved in the scamming system Samantha & Rosie built up) & Samantha plead guilty while Rosie is awaiting trial. But, as stated early on in the article, Rosie is known to lie & after many interviews discussing this series of events with Pressler along with evidence to corroborate with it, she eventually claims that she made all of it up.

The article written by Jessica Pressler tells of the experiences of women who went from being strippers to criminal masterminds as they would use their wits & physical attraction to draw in wealthy men-usually ones that worked on Wall Street & were married-that they would later drug and steal thousands of dollars from. Almost immediately stated within the article is how different stripping was viewed due to third-wave feminism, as it went from being seen as degrading to “sexually liberating & financially empowering”. This could be one of the reasons why Rosie became a stripper along with her seeing how much strippers made in the documentary “G String Divas”. Rosie’s background info helped us better understand why the way she is & why she joined Samantha in “marketing”, as it explained her difficult upbringing (her parents abandoning her & her brother when they were young, getting in with the wrong crowd, dating bad men, getting into fights, eventually dropping out of school & this claim that her physique got her into trouble as well) & her need to financially provide for herself & later also her child. When describing people she worked alongside, she described their striking features, such as Samantha’s “Cleopatra black” hair. She also described some of her client’s while & after working as a stripper & compared them to being damsels in distress, as they would see these women as opportunities to vent about their lives. Their system of scamming men was working out fine until, in Rosie’s opinion, the girls got greedy as they wanted an easy “$50,000 tree” & not the forest Rosie saw. It’s not until one man with evidence that the girls scammed him were they arrested & charged. Karina, Marsi (two women involved in the scamming system Samantha & Rosie built up) & Samantha plead guilty while Rosie is awaiting trial. But, as stated early on in the article, Rosie is known to lie & after many interviews discussing this series of events with Pressler along with evidence to corroborate with it, she eventually claims that she made all of it up.

This article tells a really interesting story about a woman’s rise to the “top”. Roselyn Keo (known as “Rosie”) starts off from a humble beginning working at a diner to help her grandparents to making hundreds of thousand of dollars off rich men at the Scores Gentleman’s club. There’s a lot of cultural information present in this article related to things like beauty and the glitz of high value items. The article author, Jessica Pressler makes sure to include brands like Gucci, Chanel and Cadillac (their Escalade model) to paint a picture of the kind of lifestyle Rosie had attained with her new “profession”. She also uses examples of real and fictional feminine beauty icons such as Jessica Rabbit, Angelina Jolie, and Cleopatra to show the reader that these women were very attractive and could use their beauty  as an asset to help them lure in clients. Pressler includes a good deal of background information pertaining to Rosie’s upbringing. This helps the reader to understand the story better by giving the reader an idea of why Rosie became attracted to such a lifestyle. Rosie had came from a poorer background having been left with her grandparents after her mother and father left to Atlantic city, and was attracted to the idea of making money to help supplement income for her grandparents. Pressler describes her informants in a very “colorful” way showing the reader that Rosie was very capable, smart, and was basically the mastermind of the operation. To achieve this effect Pressler describes Rosie as “business-savvy”, and having “legendary organizational skills” among other things. This kind of language idealizes Rosie as a “genius” and makes it very entertaining to read. Ultimately, the article does a good job of being both informative and entertaining in its execution.

Jessica Pressler’s article, “The Hustlers at Scores”, included multiple narratives extracted from interviews with insiders about the ‘hustler’ culture. The article includes and discusses the multiple cases of the robbing and drugging of men by a group of women in the early 2000s. Pressler shares cultural information throughout the article– for instance age, Pressler notes that 30 years old is considered ancient in stripper subculture. She also shares a bit of information about the drug and drinking ambient in the clubs. The article mentions the day to day routine of the dancers and practices they conduct together. The dancers work in groups and split profits– each member is in charge of a different role.

Pressler’s use of background information allows an audience to gain a better vision/understanding of the stripper subculture. She uses background information about Rosie and other informants to contextualize scenes. Rosie’s background allows the audience to see her motives and purpose for entering the subculture. Pressler also adds context about the time period the insiders are described in. She notes how in the early 2000s, the act of removing one’s clothes in front of an audience was no longer considered degrading– but was seen as sexually liberating and financially empowering. Additionally, the article mentions the decline of strip clubs ranging from mob-related arrests to the wall street crash. The decline of strip clubs is helpful in understanding the story.

Jessica Pressler used colorful descriptions to bring her informants to life allowing the reader to visualize the settings and appearances. She also makes use of visual aids to create a more solidified picture. The descriptions given are also used to envoke emotion and relatability. For instance, Rosie is a mother who claims to go back to New York for financial independence for her and her daughter. Pressler connects their actions with the story of Robin Hood– a story that most know or have heard of.

The author, Jessica Presser, uses background information to introduce quotes her interviewee, Rosie, mentions: “According to Rosie, her parents were Cambodian refugees who came to America hoping for a better life and “got caught up with the, you know, material crap, and the nice cars, and the nightlife,’ she said.” Also, the author tries to be comical but I sort of found it a little condensing, blunt nonetheless. The author writes “according to Rosie” because her family did not respond to interview requests, and because Rosie is an admitted liar with multiple pending felony charges. Still, she is occasionally prone to offering up indisputable truths. “American culture is a little fucked up,” she mused. “You know?”)” The author does a good job showing this vividly through her words and using popular sex symbols in the media to describe the physic and looks of the strippers. She compares Samantha, the leader, to Jessica Rabbit, her lips as “Angelina Jolie puffy”; her hair is “Cleopatra black” that hid “tattoos of a cascade of stars running down her neck.” The author writes an intense description of the strip club environment, hierarchy, customers, clients, and police. Another part that’s condescending is when they all get caught, she writes, “Even without their hair and makeup, they were a sight to behold, four exotic birds chirping in a cage.” This line creates imagery. The language used clearly shows that overall people tend to succumb to greed and capitalism and materialism and crime and bad habits. The preview to the essay claims the strippers fro scores are hustlers that have a “modern Robin Hood story: the strippers who stole from (mostly) rich, (usually) disgusting men and gave to, well, themselves.” The descriptions of the testimonies from the cops help set the scene. The details provided by the author to describe how the strippers would actively lure and drug men were vivid.

  “The Hustlers at Scores” by Jessica Pressler interviewed two real life hustlers and subjected their life story which was featured in NewYork Times magazine and also made a movie out of the story. A woman Samantha Barbash a single woman from Bronx and her crime partner Roselyn Keo both used their wits and smarts to manipulate money from the customers at the club to become rich. According to Rosie the reason behind her getting into the stripper industry is her parents and her poverty. She wanted to make a lot of money then she used to get from a regular job at a restaurant. The cultural information and belief of the article was that people mess up their lives if they do not get the right direction from their parents. Also, they get greedy at some point of life about money that even if they get it enough they feel like it is never enough for them. 

                Roselyn Keo felt the same that even if she thought that was enough money but she still did not stop scamming money from the clients who came to the club. They would run the clients whole card to 0 balance it they piss them off by saying something. They would do it without any hesitation and later on if their customers complain they would blackmail them and take the  money from them. Sometimes they would add drugs to the customers drinks too. The industry was enjoying the cultural momemt of the third feminist taking off one’s garments in the front of an audience was no longer degrading but sexually liberating and financially empowering.They got arrested after one victim managed to report one of his perpetrators admitting how she carried out his to the club while he used to be drugged. Roselyn was never worried about her former colleagues who got arrested. They all pleaded not guilty and got bailed. The background information helped to understand the whole story better because we got to know why they come to that point in their life and all the details. 

“The Hustlers at Scores” by Jessica Pressler tells us the story of a two master minded women fishing wealthy men by drugging them and maxing out their credit card. By doing this they have made hundred of thousands of dollars. Some cultural belief that was presented in this article was that some times you have to somethings that you don’t want to do. This was literally Rosy who had no one looking after her so she decided to be in the business. She was a smart women who had great potential but the financial issues stopped her.

Pressler gives a lot of background information in this article. She gives background information about every stripper from the group. This helped us readers understand what made them come to the point they came to. Also, gave information about the clients they “scammed”. For example, information such as the amount of money they spend every time they come to the club. Also, what type of jobs they have. Additionally, Pressler tells us how the recession was the reason they started scheming people. The recession left a lot of people unemployed from Wall street which decreased their clients. So to support themselves, they started drugging people and maxing out their credit cards. These background information gives us a better understanding of what made them to such things.

Pressler describes the informant to make them come to life. She put some quotes from the interviews she did with her. Also, describes how she wears designer brands like gucci which is pretty expensive and she had a closet of them. Also, she was messing with the cops in the car after she was arrested. This brings out her personality and how lavish her life style is.

This reading tells the story of the lives of strippers who depend on Wall Street clients after the financial crisis. The club’s main customers were the men of Wall Street. These strippers can easily make a lot of money in one night. Like putting some medicine in their drink and then taking their credit card and wiping out a lot of money. There are also some subcultures in their careers, such as when they are over 30, they are no longer suitable to stay in this job, which is always suitable for young girls. They believe that “They are there for me to manipulate and take money from.” so they don’t feel guilty about making a lot of money from men. The reason these clubs stay open for so long is that men who have been cheated often don’t report them when they’re sober, because they don’t want to expose their sexuality and stupidity.

Rosie is from an immigrant family, from her family background that her parents left her when she was young, without a good education by her parents, her kid’s life was terrible. In particular, there was an elderly grandmother who needed to earn money to support her family. Her poor home environment led her to work as a stripper. Most strippers also come from poor families, which explains their growing desire to earn money in the job. For example, at first, they only want to earn 1000 dollars, then 10000 dollars and the increasing desire makes them unable to stop. And what we can learn from this background information about why they’re going to be strippers and getting more involved.

Pressler has created a living image by describing her informant’s life and work experience in the past. Explained why Rosie got used to this quick way of getting money, and in the company of her companions, she no longer found cheating or selling meat so strange and ugly. Also, a description of one of the strippers, named Samantha Barbash, gives readers a mental picture of her. It gives the changes in appearance caused by working in that kind of environment. In conclusion, this is not only the experience of strippers but also some of the pathologies in society. When girls don’t have a good diploma, they can’t find high-paying jobs when they go out of society. Then these can quickly get high – paying jobs have a great attraction for them.