USA 1974 | Director, Buch: Stephanie Rothman | Camera: Daniel Lacambre | Editor: John O’Connor | Music: Michael Andres | Cast: Sarah Kennedy, Laurie Rose, Mark Thomas, Lynne Guthrie, Ken Del Conte, Solomon Sturges, Gene Elman | Production: Dimension Pictures | Colour | 35mm | 81 min | amer. OV | UNCSA Moving Image Archives

Stephanie Rothman directed a number of "working girl" films in the sexploitation genre, accepting the genre's specifications for action, sex, and as many naked women's bodies as possible while she used every opportunity to incorporate the feminist convictions that were important to her – such as in THE STUDENT NURSES. In 1974, in accepting a film commission about a group of women and their sexual adventures, she called the ideology by its name: THE WORKING GIRLS (USA 1974). Law student Jill works as a stripper despite her misgivings; Denise finances her painting (preferred motif: naked male bodies) through advertising posters; unemployed Honey takes out an advert: "I will do anything for money. Have an MA in math." No one cares about the women's professional abilities and qualifications; as sex workers, on the other hand, they can start anywhere. By describing nakedness as work, THE WORKING GIRLS simultaneously describes the strings attached to the film's production. (Birgit Kohler, Arsenal – Institut für Film und Videokunst e.V., 2002)