Forum Miss Bimbo, fashion community / Poledancing: Degrading or Empowering - Is Pole Dancing Empowering or Degrading to Women?

hopefully pole dancing is the epitamy of life for those who choose to do it. some people put themselves through school with funky jobs.
although i could personally never do it, and would kill my daughters if they even thought about it, it kinda rocks when someone is confident enough to something like that.

I think of pole dancing as an art. It goes along the lines of drag shows and break dancing, if you can do it, rock it.

Pole dancing as a profession is not empowering, its a job!!!!
But i do think that its degrading to women as a whole...some of you are saying that the dancers earn a lot, you must be living in la la land!
I've been to strip clubs (most pole dancers also strip, it pays more after all) and while there is the no touch rule and it can be a fun night out, what about after the girl leaves the premises? When she comes across her client at the supermartek? Dentist?
Pole dancing like stripping is heavily connected to the sex industry, and someone mentioned earlier how its highly regulated in the UK surely you have not been reading the same newspapers i have!
Yes dancers, sex wokers are people too, but ask yourself when you have your own children is this the career you want them to aspire to?
Anything that depends on your looks or sexuality to make a living will ultimately be demeaning to you on some level or another...
What happens to the dancer when she hits 30, 40 and beyond???
Dancing to put yourself through school fair enough...
How can parading naked or semi-naked be empowering?????
Its an ego boost, but at the end of the day it leaves you with  nothing...( yeah you earned a few bobs but at what cost emotionally and physically?)
Women need to stop lying to themselves, unless you work in a place run by a female you are just being exploited (as always) by the male of the species....
Read the book: Female Chauvinist Pig by Ariel Levy, she talks about this...
Unfortunately the backlash against feminism is coming from women and confusing many of us it seems...

Kresley wrote:

Pole dancing as a profession is not empowering, its a job!!!!
But i do think that its degrading to women as a whole...some of you are saying that the dancers earn a lot, you must be living in la la land!
I've been to strip clubs (most pole dancers also strip, it pays more after all) and while there is the no touch rule and it can be a fun night out, what about after the girl leaves the premises? When she comes across her client at the supermartek? Dentist?
Pole dancing like stripping is heavily connected to the sex industry, and someone mentioned earlier how its highly regulated in the UK surely you have not been reading the same newspapers i have!
Yes dancers, sex wokers are people too, but ask yourself when you have your own children is this the career you want them to aspire to?
Anything that depends on your looks or sexuality to make a living will ultimately be demeaning to you on some level or another...
What happens to the dancer when she hits 30, 40 and beyond???
Dancing to put yourself through school fair enough...
How can parading naked or semi-naked be empowering?????
Its an ego boost, but at the end of the day it leaves you with  nothing...( yeah you earned a few bobs but at what cost emotionally and physically?)
Women need to stop lying to themselves, unless you work in a place run by a female you are just being exploited (as always) by the male of the species....
Read the book: Female Chauvinist Pig by Ariel Levy, she talks about this...
Unfortunately the backlash against feminism is coming from women and confusing many of us it seems...

All I'll say to this is that, from the sounds of it you have never danced, and, sorry, if you've never danced you really can't call it degrading. And to address your comment on the money, I make $3-400 average a night...thats great money not lala land money as you so eloquently stated. Dancers that are dancing at 3-40 they are doing it because that is what they chose to do. Not to mention most cities have clubs specifically for the older women, and they still make  tons of money every night.  And another thing, a strip club ran by a woman is one of the worst places to go. They are all hole in the wall kind of places, with no class, the clientèle is horrible, and the girls don't make money. 
Oh and one other thing and for this statement I apologize to anyone I may offend...but you all have to stop listening to this feminist crap. Yes women are treated differentially then men. Personally, it's a good thing. Yes I am thankful everyday that it is not like it used to be where it was commonplace for a man to hit his "woman" and where the womans place was in the kitchen. Nor do I ever wish it to go back to that. But think on this: If women were truly treated equally....then men would have full right to beat the living @ out of us like they do their friends. That means you wouldn't be treated like a "lady", what I mean by that, forget having doors opened for you, having help by your man carrying things upstairs, things like that. Chivalry is almost dead and it is because of feminists. Yes I can and do open doors for myself and carry my groceries upstairs, but it is still nice when a man steps in and offers to do it for me. And you wonder why your men just sit on the couch and do nothing all day. It's because you are soo hyped up on you little "feminist trips" that you won't let them help you. Oh and one more thing, a REAL MAN help you out and thats what makes you equals.
Ok I'm done, and again sorry if I offended anyone.

i think it really depends on the situation, if someone has 1 in their own home i think its empowerin but i dont like the thought of dancing in a bar etc for money or what not id find it kinda degrading but thats just my opinion

feminism is about not treading on other people's liberties. feminism would stop you from being able to be acting "feminine" or for a man to treat you that way, but it would give people that do not wish to be treated according to their genitalia if they dont wish to be. most feminists wouldnt want to force you to stop dancing, only they would want to stop any pressures on women to see themselves objectively so that both the men and women clearly know what they are doing and the effects of what they are doing, and that noone was being abused. women are commonly abused in trades like these because they are seen as being purely there for their entertainment and pleasure and no other reason. if this was not the case then we would not complain.

I believe pole dancing is empowering! If you do this as a means to make money for whatever reason, there is a right (empowering) way and a wrong (degrading) way. As long as the woman keeps her head straight, its just a hustle like anyother job and you can really make alot of money. I think that the women who get caught up in it and do "extra" stuff on the side are the ones that make it degrading.

If you have a problem with your boyfriend/husband going to strip clubs all of the time- dont force him not to go, that will only hurt your relationship. Comprimise, you can either go with him, which isnt that bad because most likely all of the girls attention will be on you not your man. They know that flirting with you will make him happy and also you will be happy that they are not all over him. If you dont like that idea, buy a pole and be his personal pole dancer. He will definately love that and you get a great, fun workout!!! If neither work, than he's either addicted to strip clubs or he's a player and you should ditch him!!!

I personally do both with my husband and we have a very healthy open relationship because he knows he doesnt have to hide things from me. I really dont feel like it encourages him to cheat because he knows that if he ever wanted to try anything that he could talk to me about it without me getting angry or upset. We rarely go to strip clubs because I have the pole at home that he loves to watch me on but occasionally we get a little frisky and go to one then come home all hot and bothered and have a very good night!!! Oh and after 2 kids, the pole is the best way to take off all of that baby weight fast!!!

I have been a pole dancer helped pay some of the bills at uni and save a bit. I also did it for fun. I think its empowering. i had an awesome instructor though. She didn't make us wear skimpy outfits or high heels. then when i did it as a career its not as sleazy as some may think. Depending on what type of establishment you went too. Where i worked i was offered a modelling contract, which i declined. Modelling isn't my thing. I'm really shy so doing something like pole dancing was the biggest confidence booster.

I think it is empowering. She's choosing to make the decision to show her body, which says to me that she's comfortable in her body so has a good level of self-esteem. She chooses what she wears (this of course I'm sure is based on a general guide line of what the business she is employed through deems a min/max amount of clothing.) She even chooses her style of dance. Men/Women come to HER, she creates a fantasy of excitement for the audience and is paid for the services she provides.
The bottom line is that it is all about the dancer, every move, every decision, everything. That sheer power in itself is empowering as well as exhilarating.

I think it depends on why she's doing it

Pole dancing is awesome!
I've felt so much healthier and more beautiful since I discovered the fun fitness workout.
I like to dance, but I do not favor stripping as a career. Stripping is degrading when for the sole purpose of abusing who you are on the inside and hiding under a stage name for the corrupted minds of society's scum.
However, as a dance and exercise, it is fun and mind you, quite hard.It can be empowering, but so can just about any hobby. Having something you enjoy doing and are good at is empowering, and when it's an exercise which tones your body all over, it's a total confidence booster.
Even so, I think stripping as a career is a sad fate of many women who could otherwise be respected.
I'm a strong believer of doing what makes you happy, though... Also, anyone working in the field is rather talented, or at least I think so.
I chose other, because I wasn't sure if you were refering to stripping, or to pole dance alone.

barbieprincess069 wrote:

I'm a lap, pole and podium dancer, its empowering =]
xo.

awesome good on you. i miss it