pole dancing for fitness

[hairyqueenofscots]

in my work i work with very highly qualified academics, i am support staff. they have all recently started these classes and burlesque. I have recently got very interested in the feminism on MN. I am saddened these woman are doing this ,they have everything going for them! Am i wrong? be gentle i am a learner :)

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Yeah it was me who said 'reclaim' - wrong word - 'appropriate' is more accurate. I don't think it can be appropriated as just a form of exercise because of its sexual connotations.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

There are no sexual connotations when I do it....I go to a proper studio and have a proper controlled session.When I first started poling my upper body strength was pitiful....now I can do loads of pull ups and press ups and have a nice defined upper body.

Sadly pole will never lose its seedy reputation which is a real shame as it is such a lovely sport. The pole community is brilliant and I have made some fantastic friends through it but some people will never recognise that but would rather just make assumptions based on ignorance and blinkered views.

Those who doubt it.....go and do just one session and see then whether you don't see it as a legitimate exercise.

[Nigglenaggle]

Well if people enjoy doing it for fitness thats fine, and if people enjoy doing it to make men look at them thats fine too (among consenting adults etc etc). If people feel it will call down their God the great ape Twinky to bless them with bananas its fine - no-one needs to be whinging about what people choose to do with their free time, providing it hurts no-one.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

well said niggle :)

[BuddyTheChristmasElf]

the pole dancing classes I've been to are more like chinese pole acrobatics, more traditionally done by men (think circ du soleil)

it is the best exercise class I've been to. never felt stronger

[BuddyTheChristmasElf]

sleezy?

[HalloweenNameChange]

they did put on a show one night some of the guys from work went and was all the nudge nudge wink wink crap that annoyed me

urgh at this however OP

[hairyqueenofscots]

if the name was just changed it would separate it completely then it would be just this amazing exercise regime, i actually want to have a go now thanks to you lot :) have crap upper body strength though

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Yay! choicychoicychoicechoice!

I can see the attraction of pole - when I watched the video I linked to back on page 1, I was really impressed with the woman's strength and agility but ... actions have consequences, not just for the individual but for wider society. In this case, the consequence is that the sexual version of pole dancing is normalised and it becomes that much harder to argue against a practice that objectifies women and helps cast us all as the sex class.

Don't expect you care about that though, it's all just empowerfulizing choice to you, I imagine.

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Post was to Nigglenaggle, not OP, BTW

[BuddyTheChristmasElf]

a lot of classes ARE already called polefit or pole-fitness rather than pole-dancing

it's just gymnastics!, that really is all it is! its fantasic, I could never ever do push ups or pull ups before trying it and it really doesn't take long to build up strength

(there may be some classes with a more poleDANCE aspect to it but I haven't been to those)

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Buddy I went along to one once where they did a sexy little prance round the pole to warm up. I point blank refused to join in :)

[Nigglenaggle]

Not looking to argue plenty but have you never objectified a man (or fellow woman if thats your bag)? Never looked and thought 'phwoar'? Never watched a half-clad man in a movie or music video?.... Surely its normal to find the opposite/same/some sex attractive? And want them to find you the same? Or some of them.... Naturally people shouldnt be forced to pole dance for the merriment of others, but if they want to, hey, let them seize the day. Some probably regret it later, but I actually wish I'd made more of a sex object of myself while I was young and beautiful - now I have stretch marks, saggy boobs and wrinkles, I probably need to face the fact that it will never happen lol.

[AnyFucker]

I really am reading this shit on the FWR topic.

Now I remember why I hardly come here any more, and why all the old regulars fucked off too.

< heads off, closing door behind me >

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

It's an industry though niggle. A massive industry that trades in women's bodies as commodities. It's not the same as just fancying someone. Men pay to stare at women who get naked for men they don't fancy. I don't believe we'll ever be truly equal while this is acceptable.

Thanks for the

[AbigailAdams]

Jeez. This is shit. This is the feminist section, people. Not Shake our booty for the lads section. Choice schmoice. If it is such a free choice, why aren't men flocking to it in droves for the fitness, agility and overall sense of empowerment? Why aren't they sliding up and down poles in an activity primarily used to objectify the participants? Because they don't need empowering (they already have the power), they have plenty of other outlets for fitness and agility and they do the objectification not become the objects. Plus, of course they don't actually want to wear heels, that little delight is exclusively saved for women (for men's pleasure, obviously. No gain without pain and all).

But of course feminism is all about choice. Not context to choice. At. All. Ever.

[BuddyTheChristmasElf]

men ARE! read the posts! search for chinese pole acrobatics on youtube and it's mostly MEN doing the moves you learn at pole class.

I prefer women only pole classes though because you need bare legs etc to grip the pole, but one of the classes near me does have men and a male teacher

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Lots of men do pole fitness.

[AbigailAdams]

No they don't. Few token men. And those men that do it seem to be higher in status. They even get to to change the name to acrobatics. Hmm. Wonder why that is.

Still doesn't negate the fact it is mainly marketed to women (certainly in this country) and the roots.

[hairyqueenofscots]

SGM iv been waiting for you ;) what do you mean by choice feminism, as i said im new to all this, really interested but some of the more intellectual stuff leaves me behind! will learn though.

[BuddyTheChristmasElf]

what wrong message is this sending to society?

[AbigailAdams]

You also don't tend to find men pole dancing in clubs either.

[BuddyTheChristmasElf]

sorry, converted:

lots of group exercise classes are marketed mainly to women, like aerobics, bodybalance, yoga etc

[AbigailAdams]

Yep but they don't have their roots in titillation.