It is a widely accepted idea that while Americans are comfortable with displaying violence, they often shy away from eroticism. In most places in Europe, things are reverse (except for in Britain, where they sort of look shun away from both). In the States, this offers a great business opportunity for stirring the spirits and attracting attention by means of … showing some flesh.
Hooters girls look innocent compared to...
A great example is Hooters (hooter: 1. one that hoots, especially an owl; 2. slang for a woman’s breasts). It’s a casual beach-themed bar/restaurant with over 400 outlets in 44 states and 28 countries. The signature Hooters offerings are the spicy chicken wings, the sports on television, and the girls in scanty white-and-orange uniforms. 68% of the clientele is males, mostly in the age bracket 25-54.
Hooters greatly benefits from the scandalous use of sex appeal that the Hooters Girls are known for: the majority of American women claim that the name of the restaurant and the waitresses’ uniforms are degrading. Still, the restaurant and its huge fan base retort that the girls are as socially acceptable as any cheerleader or swimsuit model. What is more, the “attractive, vivacious” Hooters Girls are the businesses’ staple according to its mission statement and have allowed Hooters to extend its brand with a Hooters Calendar, merchandise and apparel, and various sports events sponsorships.
...Bulgarian chalga singers and pop idols Andrea and Galena
The reason why Hooters is so notoriously successful is that as a hole, Americans are very conservative and this restaurant is one of the few places where men can commit some “socially acceptable” sins – get drunk off beer, overeat with wings, and hoot a little bit at the young girls. In fact, this is as scandalous as it can get in an American public establishment.
The reason why this restaurant concept will not work in Bulgaria is that it is way too innocent for us! In a country where the difference between the porn channels and the music channels is only in the sound, and where the ideal of beauty involves silicone, botox, and bleach blonde hair, the Hooters Girls will simply blend in (or even look way too sporty). It is very sad that Bulgarian pop culture has been completely taken over by the pop folk (chalga) singers who have plenty of sex appeal, but little other talents. And while the Hooters Girls stay within the confines of the restaurants, our distorted perception of silicone-beauty spills over everywhere: among the highlife, in the nightclubs, in cafes downtown, in the malls, and in high schools.
Read more about Bulgarian chalga pop culture:
Sex and Watermelons in Bulgarian Pop Culture
Throw Napkins in Clubs in Bulgaria and Dollars in the Bahamas
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February 12, 2012 at 3:17 pm
katley
I have never been inside Hooters, since I have never been a fan of sports bars. My husband has been to a few “gentlemen’s clubs” (a euphemism for strip clubs) for bachelor parties. From what he has told me they are no big deal. Basically it’s women who strip down to a g-string and pasties and gyrate around poles. It drives the men nuts. Some women have a problem with significant others going to these places. I don’t because I know it’s all an act. Maybe I’m just more liberal about sex than most Americans.
Violence is something I find disturbing, and it’s all pervasive in the media here.
February 18, 2012 at 10:23 am
taraleshdude
Very much right. The current Bulgarian pop-folk music imagery seems to fit more truck-driving circles (still respect for truck drivers) than general public situations ..