Free pole dancing lessons at your local library

[sisterbrute]

This: www.midlothian.gov.uk/news/article/777/grab_a_book_and_a_free_pole_dancing_lesson
Having lurked on a recent 'pole dancing for fitness' thread and been thoroughly convinced by the arguments against it, I find this use of a library quite shocking - what were they thinking?

Eww

I work in a huge library, I can't imagine us hosting anything like that. The last thing we had was a meditation taster session!

I don't know what I'd do if we did though, as I wouldn't feel comfortable with it.

Yuk. More evidence of the normalising of porn culture within mainstream culture.

abcnews.go.com/US/hallelujah-christians-pole-dance-jesus-texas/story?id=13194891

Next stop, St Paul's

www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/women_decisions2009.pdf
page 30 shows Unison policy against pole dancing etc
most library workers are Unison members
phone the union?

I do pole dancing for fitness and started in 2011, you do it in shorts tshirts and bare feet. It's not a sexual thing at all,the classes I went go were very popular with women of all ages and sizes. I've never been so lithe and toned, two hours a week alone makes a massive improvement, and it's much more fun than the gym, I have a pole in my spare room now to practice at home, it's great cost me just under 200.

I will add there was a man in my classes (well a young lad) and he was amazing! It's not just a sleazy thing, its very good exercise. Check out Rebecca butcher she's fantastic and came and taught lessons at my old dance studio.

Newsflash: pole dancing is just another form of dancing. It's not sexual unless it's meant to be.

I can see where you are all coming from though, when one thinks pole dancing the first thing that comes into their head is a naked woman dancing around it while men watch and then transfer that connection to non-sexual pole dancings classes which are just for fun and exercise.

@JuliaScurr, that document is specifically about lap dancing clubs. Not exactly the same as what the library is offering.

Yep I did pole fitness and loved it! Its not american style pole dance which tends to be a lot a bit more promiscuous, its just fun dance, that helps with your strength and flexibility.

They put it in libraries apparently to encourage people to get back into reading

That's vile. So are children no longer welcome in libraries?

Grab a book and a free pole dancing lesson

They aren't even calling it "Pole fitness" or whatever. Just pole dancing.

This would put me right off going to the local library. Especially as I normally go with DS.

I'm sure it exercises all sorts of muscles and requires lots of fitness, but I've never heard of it being performed (as opposed to taught) outside of a sexual context.

PS you are wrong there, it is often performed in an artistic not slutty way and there is competitions around the world for it. As I said RB is more an athlete than a 'poledancer' she wins competitions and what she does is just like gymnastics on a pole

It is performed to show off the most hard to do moves and not in a sexual way, pole dancers in clubs don't do this kind of stuff anyway it would kill them in heels all night, they just wriggle round it and grind it and all that nonsense

Oh okay, now I see. So maybe if the library had specified it was the 'non-sexual, not so promiscuous' kind of pole dancing - there wouldn't be an issue...

and also, you know, you can do it in an 'artistic not slutty' way. Bring your kids.

Meanwhile in Mongolia, young male wrestlers oil themselves up, with plenty applied to the groin area, often by another young man, in order to increase the difficulty of their fine masculine sport. But of course, they are men, so it's perfectly fine and not sexual in any way.

A young male cyclist somewhere out there, is shaving his [ahem]genitalia[ahem] to reduce the friction on his thighs. But of course, he is a man, so it's perfectly fine and not sexual in any way.

Somewhere out there a male Japanese Free-Fighter is donning his skin tight briefs and thigh high protective boots and shaving off his chest and back hair, but he's a man, so it is a sign of his dedication to his age old sport.

And somehwere out there is a woman.... Oh no she gave up, because apparently she's a disgusting slut and should be ashamed of herself.

Can we stop using slut please. This is the feminist board and slut is a patriarchal term to demean women.

The matriarchy use the term slut often enough as well.

If the patriarchy isn't telling women what they can or cannot do with their bodies, then the matriarchy does instead.

What does the word patriarchy mean to you, gigabot?

there isn't a matriarchy. Anywhere. In the entire world. But I'll leave you to your delusions. If you could just stop using the word slut while having them, that would be great.

"Can we stop using slut please. This is the feminist board and slut is a patriarchal term to demean women."

If it's a "patriarchal term to demean women." then why is the "slut walk" called the "slut walk"???

I agree with Gigabot as well, it's kindof like if a woman wants to be a stripper or something the feminists all want to save her from herself.

Yep I know what you think Charlizee.

Slut walk is an attempt to reclaim the word because it is demeaning to women. It seems it hasn't succeeded.

Patriarchy is a system of male leadership.

Matriarchy is a system of female leadership.

There is no "one" group of rulers/leaders, there are many. There are also many sub-groups.

If there were these all powerful leaders, controlling from the shadows, then we would never ever see political reform or social change.