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?

I hadn't previously compared poledancing clubs with kayaking clubs

I'll take your word for it that only the poledancing clubs are full of wankers

yeah and if you go to a live sex show (amsterdam) Im sure you will find the same scene..so what next...Ban sex men:woman, as its to degrading.

I can smell something....Possibly the smell of burning bras...

BTW my friend who does pole dancing lessons, had NEVER performed for her dh..[hm]

but they are not going to be pole dancers, they are just going to try it out for fun.

yeah, right, fun. Since when did the sex industry become fun?

I would love to learn to pole dance....it would be fun!! I would not be working in the 'sex indusry' but I do believe that sex should be and is 'fun'......

You might not be, but where do you think pole dancing comes from, the WI?

Maybe it would be 'fun' to get people dressing up in white sheets and staging mock hangings of black men. But I doubt anyone would go for that.

The word "fun" can be used to justify the most awful things.

Oh God....i mention that pole dancing would be fun (imo) and you make references to KKK!!

What the hell is all that about??

Because it's not FUN it's one method the sex industry uses to exploit women and separate stupid men from their wallets. Do you not think strippers might come under a bit of pressure to act as prostitutes? Do you think all prostitutes do it out of their own free will? The sex industry uses violence and drug addiction to hold women in subjection - quite apart from the literally slavery of people trafficking.

It's about oppression, just as the KKK were about oppression. Only when the victims are women, somehow it's not so bad.

Edam, is this another 'thin end of the wedge' thing? If we 'allow' women to dance it will lead to racism.

Apart from which, it screams NAFF

I think poledancing objectifies and degrades women

it leads men (and sadly some women too, judging by this thread) to think that this behaviour is normal

It leads directly to the sex trade, trafficking women and teenagers

It supports the power fantasies that some men have over women (read the rape thread)

It demeans us all

How can you honestly have friends who do things like that?

i think pole dancing objectifies the pole

Lighten up!!! I've taken pole dancing lessons, twas great fun, no men around to gawp, just ladies of different ages from different walks of life. Made great friends, got me out of the house and got fit in the process. Nothing seedy about it! It can be very sexy and makes you feel powerful (like burlesque and belly dancing but also it takes a lot of skill, physical strength and stamina to perfect the moves. My partner bought me a pole so that I could continue at home but unfortunatley we don't have the room at the mo to set it up. It's definately something I am going to start up again to regain my pre-pregnancy body after I've had my LO.

Its personal choice, I dont find it offensive personally... It has been offered as a form of keep fit. I haven't got the backbone to do it, however many if the women I know who do it I know, do cos they want to for fitness, not to be exploited. Fair play, theyer not naked.

Its personal choice, I dont find it offensive personally... It has been offered as a form of keep fit. I haven't got the backbone to do it, however many if the women I know who do it I know, do cos they want to for fitness, not to be exploited. Fair play, theyer not naked.

Ann Summers parties are always good for a laugh too.

Agree with Harpsi.
I know someone who went to learn striptease as a valentines present for her dp and dh adn I thought it was a bit seedy and sad and desperate tbh.

I agree WWW-seems a bit sad and desperate to me.

and in fact , i find the fact some women don't find it seedy and don't see it as part of the sex industry's normalisation of it's practice into mainstream society and think of it as 'harmless fun' more concerning than the darn pole dancing itself.

the thing is though yes there are other ways to keep fit and tone up but tbh sit ups aren't my idea of fun. they're boring - pole dancing isn't!! you can have a laugh at the same time as doing those other things and it also gives shyer people a lot of confidence about themselves.