Tools or people that remove something, like paint stripper (removes paint), or people who perform striptease as entertainment.
From 'strip,' which comes from Middle English and likely from Old English 'strypan,' possibly from a Germanic root. The suffix '-er' makes it mean 'one who strips' or 'a tool that strips.'
The word 'stripper' is actually neutral—it can mean a person who removes tree bark, a tool that removes paint, or a person in an entertainment profession. Context determines meaning, which is why language can be confusing but also beautifully flexible.
Modern usage defaults 'stripper' to sex worker (usually coded female); occupational/mechanical meaning (tool, part) became secondary. Gender-coded morality attaches to the term.
Specify context: 'paint strippers' (tool/solvent), 'exotic dancers' (preferred by workers), 'those who remove X' (neutral). Avoid standalone 'stripper' in professional contexts to prevent gendered assumptions.
["exotic dancer","paint stripper","cable stripper"]
Sex workers, including dancers, are criminalized or stigmatized despite performing labor; using 'exotic dancer' respects worker-preferred terminology and avoids gendered moral judgment.
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