Pole dancing parties for eight year olds - starting a bit young?

[nemoni]

So, whilst trawling the internet for a suitable party venue for one of my children I was fairly surprised to see pole dancing parties listed under 'children's party venues in Manchester' on the local netmums page www.netmums.com/manchester/local/view/parties/venues/pole-dance-and-beauty-party

So, 'Caters for adults and children's parties from 8+' - pole dancing parties for eight year olds? Am I missing something??!! Or, am I being unreasonable in my assertions that this is a bit inappropriate and perhaps takes girl's make-over parties to a whole new level? Surprised to see it advertised as a children's party venue, even more surprised to it it on said website.

Over to you fellow mumsnetters...

The point is if you don't want to wear make up or high heels then great it's your choice and you should feel free to do what you want dress how you want without the fear of being called names.

Also I'm sorry but my 7 year old enjoys looking things up and finding out information otherwise known as research.

I hope you have a filter on your pc

Wearing make up in something that mainly prostitutes used to do. Things move on.

My 8 year old daughter had a beach party in the back garden (shorts and t-shirts not bikinis) with a bouncy castle, she doesn't have a clue what pole dancing is.

I wouldn't want DD to copy the pole dancing OR the Beyonce video. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

Pop videos are certainly getting more sexual, it is vile - but the fact that pole dancing can be less sexualised in some cases doesn't make it ok for children to do. Especially not with a makeover paired with it

I sit with her and we do the old fashioned thing of talk there are all sorts of influences in the world that as time goes on she will encounter so if she wants to ask a question she just asked we are honest with her.

Well I have plenty of self respect thank you and so do all the other women who go to classes with me. I am an intelligent woman as well thanks and like I said, just because I do not agree with you on this doesn't mean I am stupid.

You have your opinions, I have mine. I know I am not letting anyone down in the choices that I make, there is nothing degrading in what I do.

In real life I have never ever had any negative comments made about poling, the only negative stuff I have seen comes from here. Maybe people are braver behind their screens, either that or they like to follow the virtual crowd.

Maybe before criticising it people should try it go on live a little give something new a try.

If as an adult you have actively considered what pole dancing is, what industry it is connected with and its connotations, and have decided that you want to make it your exercise of choice then that's your look out, obviously. Can't say I'm not mystified as to why an intelligent woman would choose to pole dance, but hey ho, I'm sure you'll get over that!

However, that's a world and a half away from holding a pole dancing party for an 8 year old imo.

... pole dancing has become more mainstream and requires significant upper body and core strength, coordination and flexibility to do it well.

That's true, but so does kung fu - which is a hell of a lot more empowering, if empowerment and body strength is REALLY what you're after.

What do mean try something new - pole dancing, or getting my 8 year old to research the subject online?

"Maybe before criticising it people should try it go on live a little give something new a try."

I don't need to try it to know where pole dancing came from, its connotations and the implications of encouraging young girls to try it.

If it's all about fitness and so on, why don't men do it?

There's a childrens playground around the corner from me and one of the pieces of climbing equipment is a giant suspended cobweb attached to a massive wooden frame. In all honesty it doesn't look dissimilar to some BDSM equipment I've seen.

Would you also see that as sexualising children?

My point being that pole dancing only becomes sexualised when adults put that spin on it. (pun intended)

yes 'live a little'....after all you can't criticise something unless you have tried it. My motto all the way.
Do you extend this line of argument to all areas of your life Joholliman? accessing child porn, for example?

If it's all about fitness and so on, why don't men do it?

Loads of men do it!! There are some brilliant male polers out there.

ah give me old fashioned dc's parties any day. All this theme stuff is getting out of hand.

"
In real life I have never ever had any negative comments made about poling, the only negative stuff I have seen comes from here. Maybe people are braver behind their screens, either that or they like to follow the virtual crowd."

You obviously missed the outcry round here when the new "pole fitness salon" tried to have a pole dancing float in our annual carnival.............

I know the circus space in manchester does pole classes with youngsters but its very gym based. I think the issue here is the combining it with all the makeover stuff too. Together I think it's a bit much for any child x

seeker many men do do it. I saw the last UK championships which included a mens catagory, they were more like athletes than strippers.

Yep "loads of men!"

Anyone on here's dp do it?

"they were more like athletes than strippers"

What unlike the women, you mean?

YANBU its disgusting, there is no way my DD will do anything like that, til shes atleast 30!!

This kind of thing (pole dancing, sexualisation of childhood) is why I cried when I found out I was expecting a girl. I am so worried for her future.

You know, you can get bibs that say "Future WAG"? Because that is what I want for her future. To be an ornamental wank sock.

• the classes are mixed btw and a precursor to more strength work like the silk ropes and trapeze as far as I understood when on their open day x

Nothing to do with the sex industry then Pinky? Nothing at all? All good, clean, innocent, child-friendly fun that the naughty adults have got their grubby hands on and made into something sexual?