Writing & Research

Burlesque as Embodied Resistance: Comparative Perspectives in the US and France

2025-2026 Penn State University Undergraduate Research
 

     This research examines how burlesque performers in France and the United States negotiate agency, autonomy, and empowerment within their performances, particularly considering their contrasting socio-political landscapes regarding reproductive rights. French performers operate in a country where reproductive rights are enshrined in the constitution, while American performers navigate a post-Roe v. Wade reality marked by increasing restrictions on bodily autonomy. By comparing the experiences of new artists, veteran performers, ensemble members, soloists, and potentially producers across a variety of venues in both countries, this study will explore how burlesque serves/has served as a medium for feminist resistance and self-expression.

The project centers on the intersectionality of subject and object in burlesque performance, analyzing how performers reclaim their bodies as sites of empowerment while navigating societal pressures that often objectify female sexuality. It will also investigate how these performers use their art to celebrate bodily autonomy and challenge systemic inequities. By focusing on diverse venues—from large-scale cabarets like Moulin Rouge to smaller, experimental spaces—and interviewing performers with varying levels of experience, this study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of burlesque as both an art form and a platform for activism.

Key questions:
1) How do French and American burlesque performers conceptualize agency and autonomy in their work?
2) In what ways do legal protections (or the lack thereof) influence performers’ sense of empowerment?
3) How does the personal task of holding personal empowerment in tension with audience objectification manifest differently in these two contexts?

Significance:
This project contributes to feminist scholarship by examining burlesque through the lens of reproductive justice and bodily autonomy. It highlights how performers navigate the tension between objectification and empowerment, using their art to critique patriarchal norms while celebrating their own agency. By comparing French and American performers, the research will illuminate how socio-political environments shape artistic expression and activism.

​

To learn more about this study, email Sarah.