5 Pole Dance Controversies

By / June 26, 2021

Oh, the Pole Bubble – what a lovely place to be, too bad there has to be a pesky real world out there to rain on our parade. It can feel like the pole dance industry has come so far until you start to read articles online where there is no end to the slut-shaming and the pearl clutching.

And let’s get real about pole dance community. We may all share a love of pole, but that doesn’t mean we share the same experiences or opinions. There is plenty of controversy within the community too.

Jillian is highlighting 5 Pole Dance Controversies that have rocked the pole world! I will be sharing my own thoughts on each topic and want to hear what you think.

1. #notastripper vs #yesastripper

The Set-Up: Pole dancers, or perhaps more accurately pole fitness enthusiasts, began using the hashtag #notastripper on Instagram (and other social media sites) to make clear that while they were dancing or working out on a pole they are not to be confused with strippers.

The Controversy: By using the hashtag it appeared to many that these polers want to deny pole dance’s start within strip clubs and the many contributions from strippers that started pole dance as a fitness activity. It also plays into the stigma and slut-shaming view the non-pole world has of strippers. As a result, many strippers started using the hashtag #yesastripper to combat that stigma and show they are proud of the work they do.

Thoughts: I’ve read in many FB pole groups that people use the tag #notastripper because they simply aren’t a stripper – no harm intended, but I kinda don’t buy it. Certainly, you shouldn’t pretend to be a stripper if you aren’t, but to start off with that hashtag it feels like you are saying “Don’t you dare associate me with those gross strippers” and contributing to the stigma that already surrounds strippers. I do understand that those who often use the tag are new to pole and perhaps dealing with disapproving friends and family members for the first time, but strippers are human beings and no matter what you might feel about strip clubs they deserve to be treated as such. Without strippers pole dance wouldn’t exist, so let’s celebrate them not insult them. 

READ MORE:

Mary Sue’s “Yes A Stripper”

2. Pole Olympics

The Set-Up: The International Pole Sport Federation has been actively pushing to get pole sport into the Olympics. They are doing this by not only focusing on the sport aspect of pole (vs. dance) but developing rules and a governing board that match more closely with other Olympic level sports.

The Controversy: Around 2012 there were quite a few pieces by the non-pole media that on one-hand treated pole’s inclusion into the Olympics as inevitable but on the other chose to focus on ‘revealing’ clothing, crotchtastic moves, and strip club cliches. Articles were filled with not-so-subtle pearl clutching. Many commenters, not surprisingly, latched onto those ideas and seem unwilling to see pole as a multi-faceted activity that requires a huge about of skill and talent. Within the pole community, polers tend to either be supportive or not care. There are those who love the rebellious nature of pole and worry that pole’s entrance into the Olympics will be the end of it.

Thoughts: Before we get into my personal thoughts on all this let me just say that the skill and work required to master pole is absolutely on an Olympic level. That said I vacillate between not caring one bit and caring way too much, most of the time I’m just not thinking about it at all. If pole gets into the Olympics it will be a big deal for the community, I get that, and I might watch it but it will not be the form of pole dance I love. The way the Olympics work and their scoring system mean that very likely all the emotion, body rolls, and attitude I am obsessed with in pole won’t be featured. This, of course, doesn’t diminish the talent and athleticism of the would-be competitors it’s just not a style I enjoy and I worry it will cause a ripple effect throughout the community that means that sexy pole will go out of fashion. It may be a silly concern, so I don’t stress out about it too much, especially because it looks like it will likely be decades before pole is close to being included in the games. So while I won’t be leading the charge for pole in the Olympics I certainly won’t try to stop anyone. 

READ MORE:

US Pole Sports Federation “The Truth About Pole Sports in the Olympics”

Huffington Post “Pole Dancing As An Olympic Sport? Pole Dancers Say Yes!”

Jezebel’s “It’s Gonna Be A While Before Pole Dancing is in the Olympics”

3. Co-Ed Vs. Women Only

The Set-Up: Pole dance as it is commonly known today (i.e. not Chinese pole) has always focused on women, with many studios or classes being women-only affairs. It is an industry primarily run by women, for women. But as it has grown in popularity more and more men have started participating.

The Controversy: This is a discussion every studio owner has had to have with themselves and their staff – will classes be co-ed, women-only, or both – and it has spilled over onto the internet. One of pole’s biggest benefits is giving women a place to comfortably explore their sensuality and for many including men means losing that aspect. New female pole students are often not expecting men to be in their classes and can at times be put off by co-ed atmospheres when they are just starting to become comfortable with exposed flesh and sexy moves. For other’s they can see the many men who want to pole, want to be able to give them equal space to do that. Some male (and female) polers see it as discrimination to not include men. Pole’s vocabulary tends to use female terminology, making some men or genderqueer polers feel unwelcomed. Classes and competitions that are men or women only often leave genderqueer polers unsure of where they fit in.

Thoughts: I think the community is slowly figuring this one out, but it has been a slow change to get more classes and events that men are able to participate in on an equal footing. It is taking even longer for rules and regulations to be put into place to make sure genderqueer polers know they are welcomed. My own thoughts are a bit confused on this one. I would never want anyone to feel unwelcome in the community or not have the opportunity to train and participate, but I also don’t want pole to lose the magic that made it so transforming for so many women. I get that it isn’t the most PC thing to feel, but so much of our world is focused on the male experience, having pole be a space that can celebrate the female experience is something I want to keep and I’m not sure you get that without a few female-identifying only spaces. So yeah I’m a bit confused on this one. 

READ MORE:

Jezebel’s “Men Try to Prove Pole Dancing isn’t Just for Women… or Strippers!”

Pole Dancing Professor’s “As a Culture We Need Women-Only Dance”

4. Is Pole Dance Feminist?

The Set-Up: Pole dance has been marketed as empowering to women and even a feminist activity. 

The Controversy: While most polers may believe it is empowering and even feminist (assuming they themselves identify as such), many outside the pole bubble see pole dance as performing for the male gaze and therefore unequivocally antifeminist. They feel the strip club accessories like heels and small workout wear contribute to the idea that pole dance is a way to get women to perform ‘sexy’ for men disguised as exercise. Jokes about pole in tv shows and movies tend to be about how women have been ‘tricked’ into believing pole dancing is fitness when it is really just for men. Women within the pole community share their own stories of being empowered by pole dance and it being a space that allows them to be themselves and celebrate their body. 

Thoughts: US culture is extremely puritanical and the idea that women might gain strength from feeling sexy is just inconceivable to some. I do not believe everyone will get the same empowering feminist feeling from pole that many do, that’s fine it’s not for everyone, but I have seen too many women transform from shy and timid to confidently expressing and loving themselves to not believe it can be a feminist activity. I don’t know one poler who isn’t pole dancing entirely for herself, though I don’t think there is anything wrong about wanting to be sexy for your partner as long as it’s something you don’t feel pressured to do. As for me dancing on a pole is neither feminist or antifeminist, it just is. Pole dancing is something I do for myself, but I was pretty solidly confident in myself beforehand so I’m not sure I would categorize it as a feminist activity for me.

READ MORE:

Mind Body Green’s “7 Reasons Why Pole Dancing is Empowering to Women”

Psychology Today’s “Is Pole Dancing Actually Empowering for Women?”

5. Kids in Pole

The Set-Up: More and more pole classes and competitions for kids under 18 have popped up. There have even been elementary-school age polers on the tv talent shows.

The Controversy: Every so often a morning talk show likes to cover kids pole dancing, usually questioning if pole dance is ‘age-appropriate’. Several things get brought up such as ‘skimpiness’ of clothing, pole’s strip club past, and moves that either seem sexual in nature or crotch-focused. Typically a studio owner or parents of a kid poler are on the show to discuss why they believe pole is appropriate for kids and the hosts tend to admit that it takes skill while still feeling there is an ick factor to it. Internet commenters almost always call it disgusting, while the majority (but not all) of polers see pole as a gymnastic sport like any other for kids.

Thoughts: Like every poler I’ve ever heard talk about kids in pole, I do not think that kids should be performing sexualized moves – to my knowledge that has never happened. I really see no difference between a gymnastic-focused pole class and a regular gymnastic class that would include parallel bars and tumbling, they also have splitty moves and the lycra costumes. Honestly, I think there is something wrong with you if you are so focused on children’s crotches in what amounts to more coverage than many kids bathing suits. 

READ MORE: 

The Telegraph’s “Viewers ‘disgusted’ by 8-year-old children pole dancing on This Morning”

What are your opinions on these 5 Pole World Controversies? Share below!

Jillian is an avid pole dance student and instructor, accessories and costume designer, rhinestone aficionado, and a PDBloggers Executive Committee Member. She also writes at PoleGeekBlog.com

62 thoughts on “5 Pole Dance Controversies”

  2. genxxx

    Hollywood has made pole dancing look sleazy and the women shallow and dumb. Why does a woman preforming naked equate to her having lots of sex with many men? I just think that those who pole dance are the pioneers of pole dancing and in 20, 30, 50 years time it’s image will change as being more an art form / sport. I don’t think it’s such silly idea to have pole dancing as an olympic sport and I think it needs something like that to help change the opinions of those who judge and condemn it. I think you’re expecting and wanting an instant change of opinions when I believe it will take time, it will take many years.

    Ryan Gosling. I bet the guy is a drop kick. I rate him highly as a total dick head but as an actor he isn’t no John Wayne or Clint Eastwood.

    Lastly. I’d always rather watch your routines than Felix’s. I think you were robbed of a few titles by her.

  3. Laura

    I wish you’d included a link to some GENUINE information about the IPSF and their aims instead of a rival organisation that seeks to copy their work and a badly informed woman who misquote the facts. There’s never been an “Olympic Exhibition Event”.

    1. Editor

      @Laura thanks so much for your comment! My goal wasn’t to focus on the IPSF, but the controversial idea of pole dance being included in the Olympics. That being said I will be looking into everything you’ve written and the post will be updated accordingly.

  5. Harrison Cook

    Yes, you are right. There are a lot of controversies and myths related to pole dancing in many countries. Very less number of people know that there are pole dancing classes/studios that are follows non-stripping practices as well. I am running pole dance classes in Melbourne, Victoria and we only follow non-stripping concept for pole dancing.

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