FiLiA Research Report on Women in the Vicinity of Strip Clubs
Life near Strip Clubs: Women’s Voices from UK Cities, by Dr Laura Favaro, presents findings from a FiLiA study examining how strip clubs are viewed and experienced by women living, working and moving in their vicinity in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester. Fieldwork took place in late 2025 using two methods: street-level engagement with women near strip clubs and in-depth interviews with local women who reported feeling affected by their presence. In total, 685 women provided street-level comments and a further 23 women took part in an interview.
Across the three cities, opposition to strip clubs was the dominant response, expressed in 55% of comments, while supportive views formed a small minority at 8%. Other respondents expressed more ambivalent or indifferent views, though these still tended to lean more towards critical perspectives than support for strip clubs. Across response types, strip clubs were understood as part of the sex trade, with the majority of participants supporting their abolition.
Women emphasised that the impacts of strip clubs extend far beyond the venues themselves. Most immediately, strip clubs restrict women’s use of public space. In all locations, women living and working nearby reported feeling uncomfortable, vulnerable or unsafe when passing the venues, particularly at night, and described altering routes, behaviour and routines to reduce risk. Some reported intimidation or harassment by male customers outside the venues. Interview participants additionally reported direct experiences of harms to relationships, wellbeing and sexual norms. More generally, strip clubs were widely understood as institutions of sex-based inequality, normalising the sexual objectification of women, reinforcing male entitlement and contributing to a broader culture in which women are devalued and subjected to discrimination and violence.
The findings demonstrate a fundamental incompatibility between the continued licensing of strip clubs and women’s safety, dignity and equality, including equal access to public space. They further show that current licensing practice and the legislative framework cannot be reconciled with duties under equality law or with the Government’s wider commitments to address male violence against women and girls. The report issues a number of recommendations for decision-makers, including the closure of strip clubs alongside well-resourced support and viable alternative pathways for women exiting the industry.
You can read and download the full report here.
You can read and download the report summary here.
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No More Strip Clubs – Join Our Campaign!
To coincide with the publication of this research, we are launching our #NoMoreStripClubs campaign, with the aim to close down all strip clubs in the country – starting with providing women with the tools, knowledge and evidence to object to strip clubs in their local areas.
We are campaigning for:
An end to licensing of strip clubs as sexual exploitation venues.
For existing venues to be closed.
For women currently ‘working’ in these establishments to be supported with routes to exit the industry.
Head over to our campaign page to find out more!
#TimesUpForStripClubs
