I studied Hooters Girls about a living-what I learned about their well-being

This is the end of an era.

On March 31, Hooters applied for bankruptcy – not long after closed dozens of “shops with less results”.

While the restaurant chain will not close its doors forever, it has announced plans for “redirection”-the other with its famous “bikini evenings” and tries to return to its “family roots”.

Hooters was founded in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida-and quickly became known for its attractive and scarcely clothed waiting, most of whom was a woman.

Its success gave rise to an entire genre restaurant, known as the Burshaurants, and its proposed repetition leaves the future of the famous Hooters girls.

But how much do we really know about the inner life behind those bosom?

Many women have been attracted to Hooters with the promise of higher revenue and flexible schedules – some claim that they have earned hundreds or even thousands of dollars per shift.

But the impetus of their bank accounts can sometimes come at a rather high psychological price.

“I was initially interested in studying servers at Brastaurants because I could feel an interesting dynamic in the game,” Zora Shamansky, Professor of Psychology at the University of Tennessee, wrote in the conversation.

“On the one hand, it may feel good to compliment your appearance. On the other hand, I also wondered whether it could be constantly criticized could ultimately carry these servers.”

Through a series of research, Shimanski and her team revealed a slightly depressing reality behind the “delightfully lying but still unrefined” slogan.

First, they found that the managers of these restaurants were often very controlled when it comes to the appearance of their servers – which were given brochures with instructions for beauty to hair and nails and practically forbidden to gain weight or to change their appearance in some way.

On top of that, they had to be charming and enjoyable at any time.

“They were instructed to make men’s customers feel special, to be their” personal cheerleaders “, as one interviewed, and never challenges them,” Szymanski writes.

Of course, this is a problem – especially when customers were rude and inappropriate, as reported that they were often.

“It will probably be no surprise that Hooters servers often encounter negligent remarks, sexual progress and other forms of sexual harassment from customers,” writes Szymanski.

“But since their managers often tolerate this behavior by clients, it has created the additional weight of what psychologists call” double relationships “-Sitations in which controversial reports make it impossible to respond correctly.”

Servers would also not be able to expect to be protected by their colleagues-as the environment succumbs to competitive behavior, as well as “gossip, summoning names and redemption”, according to Szymanski.

Not surprisingly, her research finds that this combination of factors can be a mental health bust.

“Servers working in sexual objectification of restaurant environments, such as Hooters and Twin Peaks, report more symptoms of depression, anxiety and disorder than those who work in other restaurants,” Szymanski writes. “In addition, they wanted to be thinner, they were more likely to observe their weight and appearance and were more satisfied than their bodies.”

But not always everything is bad.

In 2022, the Madison New Server – who was crowned Miss Hutters that year – said she was first inspired to work in the chain when several Hutters girls visited her at the hospital when she had rare kidney failure as a teenager.

She also pulled away against common misconceptions about the brand and her servers.

“I know so many girls who learn and think about their future,” Novs told Fox News. “They have dreams of becoming lawyers and doctors. Some of them are also wives and mothers. There are just a lot more for Hooters than just orange shorts and tank.”