Offensive/degrading to women, or all in good fun?

[Earlybird]

At the hairdresser yesterday, a woman was telling her stylist (in a very loud voice) about her company (she obviously wanted everyone to hear as clients were/are her 'target' market). She teaches classes, and does 'many private parties for hen nights, birthdays' etc.

At the end of her appointment, she gave the salon owner (who was doing my hair), a large stack of business cards and asked if he would put them in the reception area. When the woman had gone, the owner asked what I thought of her company, and whether it would be 'good fun' to place her cards up front.

The woman's business? Female only classes where students are taught to pole dance, lap dance and do 'aerobic' striptease (though she hastened to add, no one strips off completely in class).

Your opinion?

Well I certainly would have been shocked as I was by the shenanigins in the 60's but that's just the type of gal I am and I'm generally out of synch with the masses

I'm becoming a little immune now as to what young women will do, do to themselves, how they act in public etc but I find it very sad and I can't see what can be done about it. If you tried to talk to some of the women they'd probably tell you to go wrap yourself round a lap dancing pole. it's a lack of self respect imho.

Having said all that, going to evening classes is slightly different, some women would do it just for a bit of a laugh and a social get together and giggle and moves may come in useful later. (Although why women should always be the one to look for ways to make things exciting in the bedroom beats me)

Harmless fun IMO, can't see how learning to do a cheeky dance or sensual strip is degrading. If you were forced to do it or felt pushed to then that is different but by joining a class for a bit of fun then thats fine.

My step-MIL and SIL went to pole dancing at the local leisure centre last week as its an exercise class there and said it was fun but both covered in bruises and so are sticking to squash!!

Loe dancing? I think it's wonderful that we are celebrating the national dances of our new Polish colleagues.

Tell me to lighten up but I did have a problem with Lap dancing. I thought it was a bit degrading, to be honest, and couldn't work out how they developed such a dance, living within the Arctic Circle and everything. There must be more to reindeer herding than we thought.

er, Pole dancing not Loe.

Oooh no, I would have been appalled to see myself at nearly 45 when I was 20, in my heterosexual Nuclear Family .

Admittedly I'm still not hog-whimpering wild about the Nuclear Family but I no longer wear badges objecting to it.

oh yes, I would have probably picketed it or something in my teens and twenties
or certainly have been very cross about it.
mind you, I went to Greenham Common. Twice. For fun.

was that to me MI? I was too busy, ahem, finding myself a man, to wear a badge of any kind . and here we are...

I hate the fact that either I wasn't clever enough to get it when I was 19 or I only get it now that everything's heading south...

lol at fio

(btw - can I give you my exciting news? I'm getting a virtually sah-husband! he's down to 50 days a year.)

It should be banned!

IF and only if you believe that women are inherently incapable of making sensible decisions for themselves and need protecting - like children.

Ooh, Hat, I assume that's 50 days in the office, not 50 days With You

The business cards are black with a drawing of a pink stiletto as the company logo. Company slogan: 'release your inner goddess'.

I wouldn't find it good fun!

Greyriverside - I agree.

But consider about 40% of women to be in that category, and 85% of men.

People need saving from themselves sometimes. It's a tough job but someone has to do it.

Though I am in a trans-cultural-political-quandry about this a la harpsi and MI.

not even in the office - 50 days' work - some of it from home.

well, I wouldn't display the business cards in a tasteful salon as they sound a threat to aesthetic integrity.

I am so out of the loop here

for my hen weekend we went on an 8 mile walk and then made some pasta

however I would say that it is marginally more appealing as a hen event than parading round town legless wearing a veil with condoms stuck on it

I imagine that is the demographic they are aiming at

so prob I think it's a good thing because it gets them off the streets, doing something which improves their aerobic fitness rather than injuring their liver

I think that women are deluded if they think it is liberating and empowering!

To reply to hatwoman - no, I was milly tant, now I've actually mellowed!

I just find it risible that there is actually training involved.

bran bellydancing wasn't originally to titivate men

it is actually culturally a way for groups of women to let their hair down and have fun, often in each other's homes, wearing quite a lot of clothes

it is the Bond-film type portrayal that make us think it is for blokes

it is another example of women's recreation being marketed as a sexual activity - saying that belly dancing started for men is like saying women play tennis so they can wear no knickers and look like the Athena poster

quite aside from the whole feminism aspect to this, I think it is bloody tragic that women can't think of anything to do with themselves together for an evening that doesn't involve sex

the idea that even single sex gatherings hve to involve some kind of carnal preparation is terrifying, and sets up an incredible expectation of both men and women in a relationship - if your dp can't get it up several times a night, every night, and you can't give him a lap dance, where is your relationship going, fgs?

I think it normalises activities such as pole-dancing and lap-dancing etc by presenting them as leisure activities we should all be happy to participate in
and if you're not happy then you're a prudey spoilsport

it's a bit insidious and am not particularly happy with it

but then again have always been a bit of a prudey spoilsport