On Thursday April 10th, a dozen students from Randolph College got to go on a special field trip. The students got to tour the world famous (perhaps infamous is more like it) Chicken Ranch, a legal bordello in the desert 60 miles outside Las Vegas. The class trip included seminars from the working girls, concluded a class at the private liberal arts school in Lynchburg, Virginia on American Consumption, based on “Ideas that Consume Us.”
At many of Nevada’s 27 legal brothels, academic and media inquiries are daily occurrences. Though many don’t like the spotlight and shy away from scrutiny, the Chicken Ranch welcomes the publicity.
We’re always open to trying to educate the public about legalized prostitution
Debbie Rivenburgh
Chicken Ranch general manager
Chicken Ranch general manager Debbie Rivenburgh acknowledged this was the first time that a class tour request had been received in 21 years. Julio Rodriguez, the director of the college’s American Culture Program, said that the brothel tour was a perfect fit for a class that encourages students “don’t just study America… live it”. The course scrutinizes a particular variety of American culture and ends with a class field trip.
Nevada is currently the only state where prostitution is legal. Brothels are allowed in 10 Nevada counties. The only exception is Las Vegas, oddly enough.
Brothel Study Aides
To further research their unusual and interesting topic, students studied The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women
by feminist author Naomi Wolf
, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
, by the late, great Hunter S. Thompson, and an episode on prostitution on TV’s “20/20″ with Diane Sawyer.
We gave them all the option to either opt out or express reservations privately. No one did. Nor did we receive any objections from parents or school administrators.
Julio Rodriguez
Director of Randolph College’s
American Culture Program
Bashful Hookers
Some of the working girls at the Chicken Ranch had reservations and did not jump at the chance to divulge to strangers what they do for a living. Many are concerned and frightened of having friends and family finding out that they are prostitutes. They are all too familiar with how much of the outside world sees them, the stigma attached to their chosen profession.
General manager Debbie Rivenburgh said that “99% of the working girls will not participate. Each woman has got her reason… and her limitations. I couldn’t have done better with the two that said yes, though.”
Interview with the Working Girls
Thirty eight year old Alexis, and Alicia, who says only that she is “over 30,” sat in front of the young, female students in the brothel’s Victorian-style parlor. The Parlor is more often than not the setting for the “lineup”. The students took notes while a few TV cameras and reporters looked on.
Alexis, sporting blonde hair, jeans, and platform boots, spoke about the flexibility her job provides: with the free time, working at the Chicken Ranch has allowed her to write a book about her life.
With a little tattoo on her left breast that says “Famous”, Alicia wore a black-and-white gingham nighty.
I enjoy giving back what some people don’t get in their lives, as far as companionship, time, just the touch of a woman. My job allows me to take care of my mother and grandmother. I also work in real estate.
Alicia
Chicken Ranch working girl
Students Question the Sex Workers
Q: Do you consider yourself a feminist?
Alexis: Most women in this business wear the pants in the family.
Q: Is there a certain look most men prefer?
Alicia: Every man wants something different. There are all different kinds of girls.
Q: Why aren’t there brothels with male prostitutes?
Rivenburgh: Former Hollywood Madame Heidi Fleiss is trying.
Q: Do you still give a military discount?
Rivenburgh: Yes.
Q: What’s the worst part?
Alicia: Being confined, being cooped up. I have to be here 24 hours a day.
A Slice of American Culture
The student got a tour of the Chicken Ranch, and some time to socialize. They then received gift bags containing a menu of services, Chicken Ranch key chains, and a brochure.
Next stop: Las Vegas for a backstage tour of the burlesque revue “Jubilee.” They sure don’t make field trips the way they used to!
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