ORIGINAL PAPER Exotic Dance Research: A Review of the Literature from 1970 to 2008 Ste ´phanie Wahab • Lynda M. Baker • Julie M. Smith • Kristy Cooper • Kari Lerum Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010 Abstract This article presents the process and findings of a review of the empirical research literature on exotic dance/dancers in the United States and Canada from 1970 to 2008. We present research methods represented in this sample, as well as the main purposes of these studies, the deployment of theory in exotic dance research, and the visibility of researcher subjectivities. Over time researchers have gradually moved from micro-level analysis with singular explanations toward multi-dimensional and contextual understandings of exotic dance/dancers. Con- temporary researchers are less grounded in deviance, pathology, or victimization. We conclude with a discussion and a series of recommendations for future research. Keywords Exotic dance Á Literature review Á Research Á Theory Á Subjectivity S. Wahab (&) School of Social Work, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751, USA e-mail: wahabs@pdx.edu L. M. Baker School of Library and Information Science, Wayne State University, 35771 Ash Rd., New Boston, MI 48164, USA J. M. Smith College of Education, Wayne State University, 676 Bosco Drive, Lake Orion, MI 48362, USA K. Cooper William P. Faust Westland Public Library, 6123 Central City Pkwy, Westland, MI 48185, USA K. Lerum Sociology, University of Washington, Bothell, 11136 N.E. 180th St., Box 358511, Bothell, WA 98011-1713, USA 123 Sexuality & Culture DOI 10.1007/s12119-010-9084-8