# Pole dancing--inherently sexual? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2017, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531 "2017-01-19T07:18:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/1 "2017-01-19T07:18:31Z")
I came across an interesting (or disturbing, depending on your point of view) article, about a mother who was filmed apparently teaching her daughter, a toddler, how to pole dance. > [@](#): > > The 18-second video begins with the young mother, whose location is unknown, dancing below as her daughter is captured on camera at the top of the pole. > > The little girl is seen moving her body from side-to-side as she confidently stays at the top of the pole before sliding down slowly. Out of an abundance of caution, I will adhere to the 2-click rule. [Mother angers Facebook with video of daughter pole dancing | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4127448/Mother-angers-Internet-video-daughter-pole-dancing.html) The video is pretty poor quality; if you don’t want to watch it, you really won’t be missing too much. There are a lot of people who are defending the mother, saying that pole dancing is primarily exercise, and any sexual connotation depends on the circumstances. For what it’s worth, there are a surprising number of videos on YouTube that show girls who are young teenagers or younger doing pole dancing. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/2 "2017-01-19T07:23:54Z")
IMHO it is indeed inherently sexual. The original pole dancers were ladies in clubs entertaining the (primarily) male audience, simulating actions to arouse the clientele. For younger women (and kids) to engage in such activities now is beyond ridiculous. You want your kids to get fit? Take them to gymnastics or swimming classes fer’ god’s sakes. Don’t get them rubbing their pelvises up and down a metal pole…:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/3 "2017-01-19T08:17:04Z")
To some people, _dancing_ is inherently diabolical. Me, I’m not sure dancing with a pole is any more sexual than a lot of jazz dancing. There’s some pretty seriously athletic pole-dancing, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/4 "2017-01-19T08:23:21Z")
Pole dancing has gone mainstream and when done in homes and exercise gyms is no more sexual than any other kind of dancing. It is a real workout (or so I’m told), and it looks like it. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/5 "2017-01-19T08:38:22Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > Pole dancing has gone mainstream and when done in homes and exercise gyms is no more sexual than any other kind of dancing. It is a real workout (or so I’m told), and it looks like it. A former colleague of mine espoused that view when she signed up for pole dancing classes. I had my doubts when she admitted that the routine she was doing for her final “qualification” was to be done wearing 6 inch heels. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/6 "2017-01-19T09:44:27Z")
I don’t really think anything is _inherently_ sexual other than sex itself. Pole dancing is certainly historically and culturally sexual though and it is incredibly naive to have a video of a decidedly non sexual child dancing in a way that makes many people think of sex and not expect viewers to feel uncomfortable about it. Good way to get a video to go viral though, yay social media! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/7 "2017-01-19T11:21:23Z")
Is not dancing itself a mating behaviour? You demonstrate by your grace, elegance, fitness, etc that you are a fit mate. Pity the poor clod with two left feet who can’t remember the steps. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/8 "2017-01-19T12:14:14Z")
I’m going to say it’s inherently sexual, despite what the empowered mummy brigade say. There’s no reason something can’t be inherently sexual _and_ also great exercise/fitness, though - but I also think it’s disingenuous to do something with such a traditionally strong sexual connotation and complain when people draw said connotation, much as IMHO it’s disingenuous for an attractive woman to wear a really low-cut, breast-enhancing top to a bar and then get mad when people notice. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/9 "2017-01-19T12:27:47Z")
Basic rule of surviving the internet. Ignore the Daily Mail. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/10 "2017-01-19T13:30:49Z")
You know what the pole represents, right? And how many straight males pole dance? Of course it’s inherently sexual. Just like foot rubs. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/11 "2017-01-19T13:46:55Z")
It is sexual. But in a parallel world it might not be. After all, look at rope dancing. It’s basically a more advanced form of pole dancing with out the sexual stigma. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/12 "2017-01-19T14:04:28Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > It is sexual. But in a parallel world it might not be. No. In that world, parallel bars are inherently sexual. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/13 "2017-01-19T14:10:25Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > Pole dancing has gone mainstream and when done in homes and exercise gyms is no more sexual than any other kind of dancing. It is a real workout (or so I’m told), and it looks like it. I agree with this. It can be a beautiful display of athleticism and grace or it can be (and usually is) a beeotch grinding her crotch against it. The latter is what makes it \*seem \*inherently sexual but I don’t think it necessarily is. A few years ago I spent an evening going to to different strip clubs with my boyfriend, hoping to see some good pole dancing but I all I saw was a some pole . . . swinging / grinding and a whole lot of twerking (gag). ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/14 "2017-01-19T14:39:36Z")
Yes. And also a little trashy. Give it another 10 years floating along the main stream and I’ll probably see it differently. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/15 "2017-01-19T14:44:15Z")
I agree with the general opinion and I actually never even understood why _adult_ women want to play unpaid stripper for fun, but that’s their own choice, at least. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/16 "2017-01-19T15:09:23Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > I agree with the general opinion and I actually never even understood why _adult_ women want to play unpaid stripper for fun, but that’s their own choice, at least. I wouldn’t want to “play stripper”, i.e. let anyone but my unfortunate cat see me doing it, but I would love to be in good enough shape to do it. A local dance studio offers classes but I haven’t worked up the nerve to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/17 "2017-01-19T15:15:38Z")
I guess [Prancercise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-50GjySwew) never caught on. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/18 "2017-01-19T15:51:21Z")
No, it’s not. The International Pole Sports Federation is trying to get it into the Olympics. If you look at their [videos and images](http://www.polesports.org/competitions/gallery/), what they’re doing is no more sexual than gymnastics or figure skating. It can be sexual - but whether or not it is depends on the dancing and the environment. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/19 "2017-01-19T16:09:49Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > And how many straight males pole dance? Around here they do, but it’s done in the context of a circus camp where participants learn various acrobatics of the sort you’d see at a circus and put on performances. I guess changing the name makes it OK. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531/20 "2017-01-19T16:14:08Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > The International Pole Sports Federation is trying to get it into the Olympics. Next up on Wide World of Sports, international competitive strip tease. Look out for that Russian judge. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pole-dancing-inherently-sexual/777531.md?page=2)