Overcoming sexual stigma: Springfield massage therapist shares experiences, hardships - The State Journal-Register

[Claire Grant]

• Massage therapists work to overcome sexual stigma brought on by unlicensed massage parlors.
• Alicia Depew is an award-winning licensed massage therapist who has seen the stigma firsthand.

When you go to a restaurant, you want your food cooked by a chef who knows what they’re doing in a clean kitchen. If you go to a bar, you expect to see a license on a wall.

If you can expect a safe and clean environment at a local eatery, shouldn’t the same be said for all massage establishments?

Less than one year following an ordinance requiring massage establishments to be licensed, 11 locations have been shut down by the city.

More:City of Springfield releases names of 11 massage parlors that were shut down

The closures are a step forward for practitioners of bodywork and licensed professionals like Alicia Depew.

“It’s more frustrating we have to continually fight and educate and it’s more since people still view massage therapy in general as a sexual thing,” Depew said. “We work really hard for our licenses here and it’s frustrating when there are places that operate like that.”

Last week, the city requested an emergency restraining order against Illinois Relax Spa and Cozy Cabin Spa for continuing to operate despite being forced.

More:City of Springfield requests restraining order against two closed massage establishments

Depew has been a licensed massage therapist for almost two decades. She says she first found her love for the form of medical care when going on a trip to Chicago to shadow different medical providers and feeling the relaxing and positive effects massage had in that moment.

While attending St. Charles School of Massage Therapy in Missouri to obtain her license, she was taught about massage parlors, different to licensed establishments, and how to tell if a location is legit.

Depew said some of the biggest red flags for establishments are obvious like provocative pictures on doors, covered windows, but there are other ones you may not think of.

“Sanitation is also part of license practice,” Depew said. “It’s important to have safe sanitation practices because if you’re touching one person and touching another person you can transfer what that first person had. It happens unfortunately and it’s incredibly important to go somewhere that is licensed who follows continued education.”

In June of 2024, the City of Springfield passed an ordinance requiring massage establishments within the city to apply for a business license to curb the rise of spots dotting the map offering prostitution. To obtain a license, locations must pass several branches of city inspections as well as have documentation for licensed massage therapists onsight.

Depew says she’s relieved to see the new licensing process in the city to better differentiate parlors from therapy clinics and spas.

Overcoming the sexualized stigma​

Depew admitted she had been sexually assaulted on more than occasion while working on a patient who expected more from her.

“Even though it’s taught in school how to handle these situations by the book, when you’re in these situations you don’t know what to do,” Depew said. “I didn’t tell anybody ... because I felt like I did something wrong. Looking back years, it’s like, I did nothing wrong ... but I was in a very vulnerable spot.”

Depew said after winning an award for her medical work, she received an influx of emails requesting to see provocative photos of her or requesting for a massage that was more sexual in nature.

“Massage has this sexualized stigma with it and we’re trying to break free from that,” Depew said.” “But people who continue to patron those establishments that do offer those services continue to sexualize this career. It’s why I’m so passionate about this … I’m not into that and people still presume. … It’s very frustrating.”

Lack of information can be dangerous​

Depew says massage can cause long-term nerve damage if done incorrectly and unlicensed establishments can be predatory toward customers who don’t know the difference between parlors and spas.

“I had a client who was sending her son to me, and he accidentally went to the wrong location,” Depew said. “He said he was there for me, and they took him and told him he was in the right place … luckily nothing sexual happened but he felt uneasy and uncomfortable the whole time.”

When looking to get a massage, the internet is a key factor. Most locations listed on Google maps have an attached website or phone number: search online the name of the establishment and be wary of provocative images, or websites not containing the names of licensed massage therapists – not masseuse – on the website.

If a name pops up, you can use the online verification tool provided by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

“(The massage clinics are) trying to branch out away from establishments like that,” Depew said. “And then you have people who have no idea because the (parlors) say massage. Even if they do not receive any sexual services they should not be able to perform those services.”

Depew enjoys working as a freelance massage therapist at Waggener Chiropractic and Wellness Center at 7012 Kingsmill Court and says it’s been a while since the encounters at the workplace happened.

Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted