Comments on: Trending with toddlers: pole dancing? http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/ Thu, 23 May 2013 19:15:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Roberto http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-14369 Roberto Fri, 18 May 2012 18:06:26 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-14369 Um what kind of parent would sign their child up to do this? If you are a parent that would sign your child up for pole dancing you don't deserve a child. And to all the people who say its not sexually provocative haha yea and I'm the king of Egypt. Um what kind of parent would sign their child up to do this? If you are a parent that would sign your child up for pole dancing you don’t deserve a child. And to all the people who say its not sexually provocative haha yea and I’m the king of Egypt.

]]> By: Heather http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-10118 Heather Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:45:40 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-10118 I expanded upon my original piece on my own blog and do appreciate the feedback and voices raised thus far. To further clarify, as I believe my point was largely missed: it‘s not the pole dancing practice I believe is cause for concern. I am certainly not disputing the physical rigors or even the athletic merit of the activity. I am simply calling into question the appropriate age for participation. There is a sexual subtext and symbolism in pole dancing that is deeply embedded in the fabric of our society. The debate that is on the table is not whether or not this link is just, but that it exists. The legitimacy or fairness of the stigma is not the topic of this particular post or the inspiration for my article, so I feel it is best left of out of this debate. While performing my highly criticized research, I did discover, and give credence to the fact that these classes are in fact surprisingly progressive and lauded as a sport in many circles. My daily Groupon’s inform me of many local course offerings and I was hardly lacking in the a availability of studios or impressive websites that often courted women with tag lines promising to make one “feel sexy at any age”. Of course not all employed this approach, but a large majority did have this advertising angle. And I’m not surprised by this. The inference of pole-dancing is that in many forms it is sexually explicit. It would stand to reason that feeling sexy would be par for the course, and thus a marketable position for some studios offering these classes. Pushing sexy is fantastic for a consenting adult. But for children and adolescents it is close to criminal. Teenage participation, is at the very least, problematic. I am neither in support or against this choice of a fitness regimen for adult men or women. With so many ardent supporters of the practice as physically challenging, I am willing to take on those who urged me to really get down with the subject. (No pun intended, I promise!) However, I still hold that teaching young girls or boys moves that in our culture have sexually explicit messages and connotations inextricably tied to it is what is up for discussion. Most girls and boys are not taught to love, honor or respect their bodies, but to objectify them. I think there are a plethora of child/youngster focused activity that thwarts the development of a healthy self-image. I am in full agreement with the commenter who highlighted the perils inherent in dance and gymnastics world. I have come into contact with many young girls and boys who were exposed in their most formative ages to the stressors of highly competitive and physically demanding sports that required an overemphasis on appearance and weight. This focus proved beyond damaging in terms of developing a healthy body image and many resulted in full blown eating disorders and adopted dangerously harmful behaviors. I have no doubt that studios exist that are completely devoid of any sort of sexual facet or approach. I'm not questioning the morality of the activity or the physical prowess required to perform it, nor am I stating that the association is a just one. Society objectifies and marginalizes women in a myriad of ways and there is certainly a stigma surrounding sex workers and the inanimate objects related to that trade, but that is a separate feminist issue that I did not intend to debate in this piece. Rather, I am acknowledging its existence and holding that it is an inappropriate offering for children and a questionable one at best for teens/pre-teens. I expanded upon my original piece on my own blog and do appreciate the feedback and voices raised thus far. To further clarify, as I believe my point was largely missed: it‘s not the pole dancing practice I believe is cause for concern. I am certainly not disputing the physical rigors or even the athletic merit of the activity. I am simply calling into question the appropriate age for participation. There is a sexual subtext and symbolism in pole dancing that is deeply embedded in the fabric of our society. The debate that is on the table is not whether or not this link is just, but that it exists. The legitimacy or fairness of the stigma is not the topic of this particular post or the inspiration for my article, so I feel it is best left of out of this debate.

While performing my highly criticized research, I did discover, and give credence to the fact that these classes are in fact surprisingly progressive and lauded as a sport in many circles. My daily Groupon’s inform me of many local course offerings and I was hardly lacking in the a availability of studios or impressive websites that often courted women with tag lines promising to make one “feel sexy at any age”. Of course not all employed this approach, but a large majority did have this advertising angle. And I’m not surprised by this. The inference of pole-dancing is that in many forms it is sexually explicit. It would stand to reason that feeling sexy would be par for the course, and thus a marketable position for some studios offering these classes. Pushing sexy is fantastic for a consenting adult. But for children and adolescents it is close to criminal. Teenage participation, is at the very least, problematic.

I am neither in support or against this choice of a fitness regimen for adult men or women. With so many ardent supporters of the practice as physically challenging, I am willing to take on those who urged me to really get down with the subject. (No pun intended, I promise!) However, I still hold that teaching young girls or boys moves that in our culture have sexually explicit messages and connotations inextricably tied to it is what is up for discussion. Most girls and boys are not taught to love, honor or respect their bodies, but to objectify them. I think there are a plethora of child/youngster focused activity that thwarts the development of a healthy self-image.
I am in full agreement with the commenter who highlighted the perils inherent in dance and gymnastics world. I have come into contact with many young girls and boys who were exposed in their most formative ages to the stressors of highly competitive and physically demanding sports that required an overemphasis on appearance and weight. This focus proved beyond damaging in terms of developing a healthy body image and many resulted in full blown eating disorders and adopted dangerously harmful behaviors.

I have no doubt that studios exist that are completely devoid of any sort of sexual facet or approach. I’m not questioning the morality of the activity or the physical prowess required to perform it, nor am I stating that the association is a just one. Society objectifies and marginalizes women in a myriad of ways and there is certainly a stigma surrounding sex workers and the inanimate objects related to that trade, but that is a separate feminist issue that I did not intend to debate in this piece. Rather, I am acknowledging its existence and holding that it is an inappropriate offering for children and a questionable one at best for teens/pre-teens.

]]> By: Sara http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-10101 Sara Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:12:56 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-10101 "It is not going to change a child’s opinion of themself by attending a pole fitness class, media and societies opinionated prejudices are what influences a child’s opinion of themself, and there are many resources that evidence this." But don't you see? That's the problem. Pole dancing/pole fitness is reflected in media and in society as a sexualized activity, and BECAUSE of this, it will have an impact on how they see themselves, especially as they get older and are influenced more and more by sources outside of themselves and their families. It's not that the activity itself is necessarily harmful, it's the societal/cultural associations that make it problematic. The fact that that may not be fair does not negate the powerful negative impact it could potentially have. Nobody is suggesting that it be outlawed, but it is definitely something that should be examined closely; the potential benefits as well as the potential harm should be analyzed and weighed. Although the author may have been a bit too biased in her language and word choice, it isn't wrong for somebody to question the appropriateness of such an activity for children. "another point that made me giggle was 5 to 7 yrs know what “sexy” is… you can not proove what a child means by what they say, they may know of the word but may have no idea of its social meaning." Again, that is part of the problem. We're talking about kids that are old enough to know the term sexy, and maybe have a vague understanding of the concept, but who don't really have the maturity to truly understand it's social implications. Because of this, we once again have to question whether or not it's appropriate for them to engage in an activity that many people will categorize as "sexy" (fairly or not). For example, a preteen girl may participate in pole fitness for a couple of years and not find anything sexy about it; however, she may mention the activity to a classmate. If it gets around to the boys, who are just starting to think about sex but still have no real understanding of (and certainly no sensitivity towards) it, they'll have no concept of it as a legitimate and rewarding fitness activity. All they'll know is "oh, that's what strippers do". Because of this, they now see her as like a stripper (i,e., a sexual object), and will change their treatment towards her. They may call her a stripper, or a slut, or they may actually commit ignorant acts of sexual harassment. None of this is fair, and none of it is really the fault of pole fitness; but it is still a situation that no one wants to see happen, and there are dozens of different scenarios like this that could potentially arise from a child's participation in such an activity. The goal of those who are pro-pole-fitness should be to calmly educate people about it, and to distance themselves from sexual activities such as stripping. As far as the "if you don't like it - don't do it"....it's always been a pet peeve of mine when people pull this out, and a lot of commenters on this particular article seem to keep coming back to it, directly or not. This is an opinion blog that questions society's treatment towards women; the operative words being "opinion blog". If not here, where is it okay for someone to state their opinion? You may disagree, and at the end of the day you may be right, but the proper way to demonstrate that is to state your case and intelligently debate the opinion, not attack her right to post her opinion. “It is not going to change a child’s opinion of themself by attending a pole fitness class, media and societies opinionated prejudices are what influences a child’s opinion of themself, and there are many resources that evidence this.”

But don’t you see? That’s the problem. Pole dancing/pole fitness is reflected in media and in society as a sexualized activity, and BECAUSE of this, it will have an impact on how they see themselves, especially as they get older and are influenced more and more by sources outside of themselves and their families. It’s not that the activity itself is necessarily harmful, it’s the societal/cultural associations that make it problematic. The fact that that may not be fair does not negate the powerful negative impact it could potentially have. Nobody is suggesting that it be outlawed, but it is definitely something that should be examined closely; the potential benefits as well as the potential harm should be analyzed and weighed. Although the author may have been a bit too biased in her language and word choice, it isn’t wrong for somebody to question the appropriateness of such an activity for children.

“another point that made me giggle was 5 to 7 yrs know what “sexy” is… you can not proove what a child means by what they say, they may know of the word but may have no idea of its social meaning.”

Again, that is part of the problem. We’re talking about kids that are old enough to know the term sexy, and maybe have a vague understanding of the concept, but who don’t really have the maturity to truly understand it’s social implications. Because of this, we once again have to question whether or not it’s appropriate for them to engage in an activity that many people will categorize as “sexy” (fairly or not). For example, a preteen girl may participate in pole fitness for a couple of years and not find anything sexy about it; however, she may mention the activity to a classmate. If it gets around to the boys, who are just starting to think about sex but still have no real understanding of (and certainly no sensitivity towards) it, they’ll have no concept of it as a legitimate and rewarding fitness activity. All they’ll know is “oh, that’s what strippers do”. Because of this, they now see her as like a stripper (i,e., a sexual object), and will change their treatment towards her. They may call her a stripper, or a slut, or they may actually commit ignorant acts of sexual harassment. None of this is fair, and none of it is really the fault of pole fitness; but it is still a situation that no one wants to see happen, and there are dozens of different scenarios like this that could potentially arise from a child’s participation in such an activity. The goal of those who are pro-pole-fitness should be to calmly educate people about it, and to distance themselves from sexual activities such as stripping.

As far as the “if you don’t like it – don’t do it”….it’s always been a pet peeve of mine when people pull this out, and a lot of commenters on this particular article seem to keep coming back to it, directly or not. This is an opinion blog that questions society’s treatment towards women; the operative words being “opinion blog”. If not here, where is it okay for someone to state their opinion? You may disagree, and at the end of the day you may be right, but the proper way to demonstrate that is to state your case and intelligently debate the opinion, not attack her right to post her opinion.

]]> By: Laura http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-10093 Laura Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:52:42 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-10093 This article is thoroughly under-researched - the author had time to facebook-stalk someone, but not to attend an hours induction class to see what pole fitness is all about? Ridiculous. Do you condemn gymnastics and ballet as well? I did both for many years when I was younger, and if you want to talk about "putting a premium on certain body sizes" and "encouraging conformity at formative ages", take a look at those sports (which are encouraged activities for young girls especially). The pressure on young girls to be dangerously skinny is rife within ballet and gymnastics, yet pole fitness doesn't demand any particular body shape or weight. I'd say it's a much healthier alternative! As a "feminist", have you ever considered that with this article, you are inferring that any woman who dances is in fact only doing it to impress/attract a man? Are we not allowed to express ourselves through dance without being seen as nothing but sex objects? Should we be forced to walk around, knees tightly together at all times, skirts at floor length, just in case a man should sneek a peek above our ankles? - An exaggeration, I know, but only in keeping with the tone of your article. Pole fitness is trying to build a reputation separate from that of the pole dancing you find in strip clubs, and this article is an excellent example of the kind of narrow mindedness that the pole dance community is having to battle against. Pole fitness is not inherently sexual, and you can see that from the videos posted in previous replies. It is an art - not a means of exciting a man. Would you refuse to let your boyfriend/husband go to the ballet because he might get too aroused? No. Would you stop your children from going to gymnastics because they would need to wear skimpy leotards and learn how to do the splits? No. As as sport, pole dancing increases flexibility, strength, co-ordination, confidence, positive body image, and general fitness. You're never pressured to do anything that you find scary or are uncomfortable with, and it's a great way to make friends. I don't see your problem. Your only objection to this sport is that YOU find it sexual because of your narrow-minded views. You've seen a TYPE of pole dancing in strip clubs and tar us all with the same brush. Pole dancing has evolved into something skilled and beautiful, and we don't need people like you judging us. This article is thoroughly under-researched – the author had time to facebook-stalk someone, but not to attend an hours induction class to see what pole fitness is all about? Ridiculous.

Do you condemn gymnastics and ballet as well? I did both for many years when I was younger, and if you want to talk about “putting a premium on certain body sizes” and “encouraging conformity at formative ages”, take a look at those sports (which are encouraged activities for young girls especially). The pressure on young girls to be dangerously skinny is rife within ballet and gymnastics, yet pole fitness doesn’t demand any particular body shape or weight. I’d say it’s a much healthier alternative!

As a “feminist”, have you ever considered that with this article, you are inferring that any woman who dances is in fact only doing it to impress/attract a man? Are we not allowed to express ourselves through dance without being seen as nothing but sex objects? Should we be forced to walk around, knees tightly together at all times, skirts at floor length, just in case a man should sneek a peek above our ankles? – An exaggeration, I know, but only in keeping with the tone of your article.

Pole fitness is trying to build a reputation separate from that of the pole dancing you find in strip clubs, and this article is an excellent example of the kind of narrow mindedness that the pole dance community is having to battle against. Pole fitness is not inherently sexual, and you can see that from the videos posted in previous replies. It is an art – not a means of exciting a man. Would you refuse to let your boyfriend/husband go to the ballet because he might get too aroused? No. Would you stop your children from going to gymnastics because they would need to wear skimpy leotards and learn how to do the splits? No.

As as sport, pole dancing increases flexibility, strength, co-ordination, confidence, positive body image, and general fitness. You’re never pressured to do anything that you find scary or are uncomfortable with, and it’s a great way to make friends. I don’t see your problem.

Your only objection to this sport is that YOU find it sexual because of your narrow-minded views. You’ve seen a TYPE of pole dancing in strip clubs and tar us all with the same brush. Pole dancing has evolved into something skilled and beautiful, and we don’t need people like you judging us.

]]> By: J http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-10030 J Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:51:14 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-10030 As a student of Early Childhood Studies, (who just to point out for those of you who may find this odd; I am CRB checked) and a pole fitness student, i see no difference in these classes to the classes like freestyle dancing. Classes and activities such as free style dancing, ballet or any other high impact activity can damage your body just as much as pole fitness, the children are expected to wear revealing outfits (which pole fitness classes do not) but they is normally excepted in society. It is only people with closed minds who see pole fitness as sexualized and therefore apparently "wrong". It is not going to change a child's opinion of themself by attending a pole fitness class, media and societies opinionated prejudices are what influences a child's opinion of themself, and there are many resources that evidence this. If pole fitness is going to do anything for the child it would only build their confidence of their body image, as it promotes strong rather then thin. If you need to blame anyone for sexulising children then you can put the blame on the media as its fashion and make-up industries are forcing children into adult ideas of "beauty" and it is much more publicly available and advertised then a pole fitness class, which parents and children can CHOOSE whether or not to go to (just because its available doesn't mean you have to attend!) another point that made me giggle was 5 to 7 yrs know what "sexy" is... you can not proove what a child means by what they say, they may know of the word but may have no idea of its social meaning. I dont understand how you think this is ok to actively comment on your own prejudice and believe that it is totally correct, it may be your belief and thats fine, but it is not everyone's and you should except that and value it. Going back to an old wives tale here "if you dont like it- dont do it" As a student of Early Childhood Studies, (who just to point out for those of you who may find this odd; I am CRB checked) and a pole fitness student, i see no difference in these classes to the classes like freestyle dancing. Classes and activities such as free style dancing, ballet or any other high impact activity can damage your body just as much as pole fitness, the children are expected to wear revealing outfits (which pole fitness classes do not) but they is normally excepted in society. It is only people with closed minds who see pole fitness as sexualized and therefore apparently “wrong”. It is not going to change a child’s opinion of themself by attending a pole fitness class, media and societies opinionated prejudices are what influences a child’s opinion of themself, and there are many resources that evidence this. If pole fitness is going to do anything for the child it would only build their confidence of their body image, as it promotes strong rather then thin. If you need to blame anyone for sexulising children then you can put the blame on the media as its fashion and make-up industries are forcing children into adult ideas of “beauty” and it is much more publicly available and advertised then a pole fitness class, which parents and children can CHOOSE whether or not to go to (just because its available doesn’t mean you have to attend!)

another point that made me giggle was 5 to 7 yrs know what “sexy” is… you can not proove what a child means by what they say, they may know of the word but may have no idea of its social meaning.

I dont understand how you think this is ok to actively comment on your own prejudice and believe that it is totally correct, it may be your belief and thats fine, but it is not everyone’s and you should except that and value it. Going back to an old wives tale here “if you dont like it- dont do it”

]]> By: Mel Love http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-10024 Mel Love Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:14:43 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-10024 I can see both sides of this argument. 1st side. Guess what? Sex exists. Why? So we can reproduce. Are we allowed to enjoy it/flaunt it/feel confident in it? Yes. WHY NOT? Get over it. Especially since you are a YOGA instructor. Must we bring up some particularly INTERESTING yoga poses?! Can't people of all ages do yoga? My goodness, little children doing provocative yoga poses should be banned! 2nd side. When I first thought of pole dancing, I have to admit it brought to mind many sexual connotations and perhaps little children without maturity, understanding or knowledge of important topics such as sex etc. shouldn't be introduced at SUCH a young age to a sport that is commonly used for two different things in the world (stripping and exercise). I am not sure many children would understand the line between the two and this could cause some problems (emotional, social, etc). I DO believe that pole dancing is an AMAZING sport where you gain extreme strength, confidence and all those other good things that make your body happy and your life better. I have never felt so good as those moments when I find I have improved something a week or two after just learning it, especially since I was always terrified of competitive sports. In earlier years I played football and rugby and ended up injuring myself fairly badly. I never wanted to play sports again until the moment I tried pole dancing. It brought back my interest in physical activity when for YEARS I remained static in any sort of interest to 'work out at the gym' or involve myself in any activities. I read above as well that muscle growth would also be a factor in this. Children doing all those tricks and heavier exercise on a pole COULD possibly be dangerous... But I am sure you would be hard pressed to find any sort of scientific study or facts proving this is dangerous. Get off your computer. Enjoy the sunshine. Worry about the bigger problems the world is facing. I can see both sides of this argument.

1st side. Guess what? Sex exists. Why? So we can reproduce. Are we allowed to enjoy it/flaunt it/feel confident in it? Yes. WHY NOT? Get over it. Especially since you are a YOGA instructor. Must we bring up some particularly INTERESTING yoga poses?! Can’t people of all ages do yoga? My goodness, little children doing provocative yoga poses should be banned!

2nd side. When I first thought of pole dancing, I have to admit it brought to mind many sexual connotations and perhaps little children without maturity, understanding or knowledge of important topics such as sex etc. shouldn’t be introduced at SUCH a young age to a sport that is commonly used for two different things in the world (stripping and exercise). I am not sure many children would understand the line between the two and this could cause some problems (emotional, social, etc).

I DO believe that pole dancing is an AMAZING sport where you gain extreme strength, confidence and all those other good things that make your body happy and your life better. I have never felt so good as those moments when I find I have improved something a week or two after just learning it, especially since I was always terrified of competitive sports. In earlier years I played football and rugby and ended up injuring myself fairly badly. I never wanted to play sports again until the moment I tried pole dancing. It brought back my interest in physical activity when for YEARS I remained static in any sort of interest to ‘work out at the gym’ or involve myself in any activities.

I read above as well that muscle growth would also be a factor in this. Children doing all those tricks and heavier exercise on a pole COULD possibly be dangerous… But I am sure you would be hard pressed to find any sort of scientific study or facts proving this is dangerous.

Get off your computer. Enjoy the sunshine. Worry about the bigger problems the world is facing.

]]> By: Shawn http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-9892 Shawn Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:39:01 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-9892 This is a fantastic article. I am thoroughly dumbfounded by the amount of negative responses you are getting... Frightened might be a better word. To those of you who say "this is simply a 'fitness' program" for kids," why not try the 100s of other exercising activities that don't tie DIRECTLY towards the objectification of women? How naive can you be to say "oh well we don't discuss stripping in class" or "our moves aren't exactly the same"... or better yet, how naive do you think your kids are? Do you honestly think that at some point these kids won't grow up to connect the dots? Psychologist's everywhere will be making money hand over fist explaining how mommy didn't really have them dancing on a pole at age 3 but "exercising." Everyone is crying for research research research... here's research, OPEN YOUR EYES. Who will deny that our children are engaging in risky sexual behavior at a younger age than ever before? Sure I can give you statistics, but unless your oblivious to the real world you know it's true. So here's a good idea to combat it, let's promote it through popularizing it! Teenagers are in their age of sexual exploration... let's give them more tools to play around with! Don't worry.... its just exercise! There is no doubt this is a challenging activity that has many health benefits, so those of you who workout this way can get off your horse. Nobody's trying to ban it for adults who can obviously separate exercise from stripping. But immature TODDLERS and sexually charged teens? I'm not so sure they can differentiate as easily. The adults who engage in this form of fitness personally, I'm not sure why you are so sensitive about it. No one attacked you or judged you. The question is related to the appropriateness for younger demographics. I for one think its a horrible thing, please let common sense win this debate. This is a fantastic article. I am thoroughly dumbfounded by the amount of negative responses you are getting… Frightened might be a better word. To those of you who say “this is simply a ‘fitness’ program” for kids,” why not try the 100s of other exercising activities that don’t tie DIRECTLY towards the objectification of women? How naive can you be to say “oh well we don’t discuss stripping in class” or “our moves aren’t exactly the same”… or better yet, how naive do you think your kids are? Do you honestly think that at some point these kids won’t grow up to connect the dots? Psychologist’s everywhere will be making money hand over fist explaining how mommy didn’t really have them dancing on a pole at age 3 but “exercising.”
Everyone is crying for research research research… here’s research, OPEN YOUR EYES. Who will deny that our children are engaging in risky sexual behavior at a younger age than ever before? Sure I can give you statistics, but unless your oblivious to the real world you know it’s true. So here’s a good idea to combat it, let’s promote it through popularizing it! Teenagers are in their age of sexual exploration… let’s give them more tools to play around with! Don’t worry…. its just exercise!
There is no doubt this is a challenging activity that has many health benefits, so those of you who workout this way can get off your horse. Nobody’s trying to ban it for adults who can obviously separate exercise from stripping. But immature TODDLERS and sexually charged teens? I’m not so sure they can differentiate as easily. The adults who engage in this form of fitness personally, I’m not sure why you are so sensitive about it. No one attacked you or judged you. The question is related to the appropriateness for younger demographics. I for one think its a horrible thing, please let common sense win this debate.

]]> By: Frustrated Dancer http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-9884 Frustrated Dancer Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:58:33 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-9884 In retort to your comment above, I must express how infuriating it is that the words 'pole dancing' instantly connote stripping and the sexualisation of the individual. The moves taught are not taught for any sex-appeal (of which there is little when sweating and bruised as pole fitness demands), they are taught to strengthen the required muscles and tone the body. I'm a student with numerous self confidence issues, so believe me when I say that the idea of stripping is far from my mind. I've been attending lessons at The Art Of Dance for the past 5 months and the difference it's made to my fitness and muscle strength is incredible. I am regularly explaining to ignorant people that pole fitness is not related to stripping at all, and as it's been suggested above, you'd do well to attend a lesson or two before passing judgement on others, as you might then have some appreciation for the strength, and control, that the sport requires. There are various pole dancing competitions in the UK, which are both enthralling to watch, and terrifying. Some of the moves performed I can only dream of attempting and the fact that this sport is linked with stripping is a sad fact, but perhaps it demonstrates the narrow-mindedness and stubbornness of our society that people cannot dissociate the two actions and allow them to exist independantly. I hope that you'll actually consider attempting a lesson or two before making any more ignorant and ill-informed claims about what i will continue to call a sport, as that's what it is, regardless of your opinion. In retort to your comment above, I must express how infuriating it is that the words ‘pole dancing’ instantly connote stripping and the sexualisation of the individual. The moves taught are not taught for any sex-appeal (of which there is little when sweating and bruised as pole fitness demands), they are taught to strengthen the required muscles and tone the body.
I’m a student with numerous self confidence issues, so believe me when I say that the idea of stripping is far from my mind. I’ve been attending lessons at The Art Of Dance for the past 5 months and the difference it’s made to my fitness and muscle strength is incredible. I am regularly explaining to ignorant people that pole fitness is not related to stripping at all, and as it’s been suggested above, you’d do well to attend a lesson or two before passing judgement on others, as you might then have some appreciation for the strength, and control, that the sport requires.
There are various pole dancing competitions in the UK, which are both enthralling to watch, and terrifying. Some of the moves performed I can only dream of attempting and the fact that this sport is linked with stripping is a sad fact, but perhaps it demonstrates the narrow-mindedness and stubbornness of our society that people cannot dissociate the two actions and allow them to exist independantly.
I hope that you’ll actually consider attempting a lesson or two before making any more ignorant and ill-informed claims about what i will continue to call a sport, as that’s what it is, regardless of your opinion.

]]> By: Natalie http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-9883 Natalie Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:23:30 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-9883 As a pole fitness instructor myself, I obviously feel the same as most of the other people that have commented on this blog. Pole is an unbelievably skilled and beautiful form of exercise. To be honest, when people have these narrow minded views based on little or no experience and research, it really bores me. It used to offend and/or upset me when people made comments about pole being sleazy or sexual, but now I just laugh and let them go on their way back to their boring lives!! However, there is always going to be a stigma attached to pole, and no one can deny that a woman dancing/performing tricks/posing can look sexy. That is why my classes are just for women, no men, and no children. Why shouldn't us women have something that is just for us? And after I have held my body horizontally away from the pole in a flag position (extremely advanced and requiring a lot of strength and skill), I might even wiggle my bum and flick my hair! I think if you really are that concerned about children keeping fit, teach them circuits, play games and let them be kids. I am not saying that I totally disagree with kids being taught pole, I just don't understand why instructors want to if there business is successful teaching adults? Maybe because it gets in the news?? Bit of free publicity?? My main concern is are these instructors teaching children safely understanding the ways that their bodies are changing at different stages? No one has questioned yet whether or not the schools involved are actually QUALIFIED to teach fitness to children!! Just because Sam has been approved by the Pole Dance Community, that doesn't mean everything she says should be taken as gospel. After all, she runs the Pole Dance Community and so is approving herself!! DUH!! As a pole fitness instructor myself, I obviously feel the same as most of the other people that have commented on this blog. Pole is an unbelievably skilled and beautiful form of exercise. To be honest, when people have these narrow minded views based on little or no experience and research, it really bores me. It used to offend and/or upset me when people made comments about pole being sleazy or sexual, but now I just laugh and let them go on their way back to their boring lives!!
However, there is always going to be a stigma attached to pole, and no one can deny that a woman dancing/performing tricks/posing can look sexy. That is why my classes are just for women, no men, and no children. Why shouldn’t us women have something that is just for us? And after I have held my body horizontally away from the pole in a flag position (extremely advanced and requiring a lot of strength and skill), I might even wiggle my bum and flick my hair!
I think if you really are that concerned about children keeping fit, teach them circuits, play games and let them be kids. I am not saying that I totally disagree with kids being taught pole, I just don’t understand why instructors want to if there business is successful teaching adults? Maybe because it gets in the news?? Bit of free publicity??
My main concern is are these instructors teaching children safely understanding the ways that their bodies are changing at different stages? No one has questioned yet whether or not the schools involved are actually QUALIFIED to teach fitness to children!! Just because Sam has been approved by the Pole Dance Community, that doesn’t mean everything she says should be taken as gospel. After all, she runs the Pole Dance Community and so is approving herself!! DUH!!

]]> By: frankie http://www.about-face.org/trending-with-toddlers-pole-dancing/#comment-9882 frankie Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:46:14 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=10004#comment-9882 I would also like to point out these are my views only I would also like to point out these are my views only

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