WHAT THE WORLD THINKS OF POLE DANCING

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Recently, Vice Magazine produced a survey on the subject of pole dancing to investigate the general opinion and attitude towards the subject. Five separate contributors passed the survey onto their different, variable social media communities where we received 91 responses in total. This was done so on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Despite this consideration all advocates were under the age of twenty-five, consequentially results convey opinions dominated by younger generations as their online communities are largely controlled by peers of similar age and perhaps interests. However, that is not to discount the severe anonymity that was desired for this survey, as Vice’s intention was to ultimately better understand the opinions of the community as a whole, rather than deconstructing individual results purely by matter of gender, age and lifestyle.

The survey was conducted in an attempt to understand if the subject of pole dancing has transformed in general contemporary opinion. Pole dancing has become an increasingly standardized exercise particularly seen over the last fifteen years, with hundreds of studios spread across the country. In attempting to divulge where certain opinions stem from, we incorporated questions that dissect the amount of exposure people have experienced of pole dancing, with the very first question asking respondents whether or not they had ever partook in the dance form.

Unexpectedly, the results communicated that the majority had not participated in the subject. However, what may appear surprising is how low that majority is. Over a third of individuals admitted to engaging in pole dancing in one way or another, and yet, as was made apparent by the results of the latter questions, a giant stigma of promiscuity and dissipation is still apparent.

This leads onto question two, where the answers allowed for a little more subjectivity. In this question, surveyors were asked to provide a short answer response, centered on what they generally associate with pole dancing. While these answers were all unique, the general consensus was that it was either considered a promiscuous, provocative form of dance for women that objectify their existence, held in places such as gentleman’s clubs and strip clubs (one even linked it to prostitution, even though there is no immediate correlation between the two acts). Other responses considered it as a newly popularized form of exercise that empowers women to become fit and strong, with a core emphasis lies on athleticism. Fascinatingly enough, 80% incorporated both attitudes into their responses- establishing that, despite 36% of respondents suggesting they had participated in pole dancing before, most of them still believe it to be pigeonholed by it’s former reputation. One respondent went on to write that, ‘typically the first thing that comes to mind would be strippers, but as of lately, I would associate it with fitness with the popularity of pole dancing classes rising,’ and another similar respondent wrote, ‘newly popularised exercise option, but also the graphic sexual past linked to it.’

Where those answers became sort of confused, contradictory and lost in their explanation, question three provided a more definitive opinion. Almost 85% of participants concurred that pole dancing should not just be limited to females alone, despite that in past and present day society, the dance form is still very female orientated.

The question on whether or not pole dancing is a ‘sport’ was less absolute, as in order to fully evaluate the results of the graph above, the question of whether or not surveyors accept the movement of dance as a sport, would need to be addressed. The fact that 37% of respondents said it is not a sport does not necessarily suggest they do not see it as a progressive mode of fitness, but more that they don’t necessarily consider dance a ‘sport’- which is a contentious argument on its own- a story for another time.

Question five and six both shed light on the developing nature and attitude towards pole dancing. Most respondents proposed in the question, ‘would you say pole dancing is more accepted today than say 20+ years ago?’ that it is profoundly more acceptable and normalized in modern culture, as it has become an efficient ‘fitness regime, releasing some of the stigma behind it’ (anonymous surveyor).

In the question, ‘Have you ever witnessed pole dancing before?’ only 12% explained that they had not witnessed pole dancing, ultimately concluding that despite whatever the opinion, positive or negative, the expansion and discussion of pole dancing is becoming increasingly unavoidable. As well as this, when asked who and what age were the people they did know who had engaged in pole dancing, a surprising 7% claimed they knew both male and female pole dancers current and past. Only a total of nine surveyors explained that they did not know anybody that had or still do actively pole dance. Whether it is witnessed on television or film, social media, at a one off aerobics class with your best friend, a competition, hens party, or yes, a strip club, the art of pole dancing is engraining itself in contemporary culture. It will only see an expanding awareness across Australia and the World, as more and more males and females come to accept it and understand it as a form of contemporary, recreational exercise. Perhaps, even as a sport.

Intriguingly, the responses to the final question, ‘Would you like to see pole dancing become an Olympic sport?’ were by far the most diverse in opinion - many people took the time to answer question nine with a more distinctive, personal standpoint. Some people used this time to explain their strong controversial opinions, one describing it as an, obscenity and a violation of human growth, ‘due to the ease of access to the Internet, children can view this material. It sets a bad example for the younger generation by exposing them to activities of a sexual nature at a young age.’ These responses were very few as just over 40% of the results displayed participants declaring that they would in fact like to see pole dancing in the Olympic Games. A lot of the remaining answers showed either unsure opinions or answered ‘no’ on the grounds that despite considering pole dancing as a legitimate art form, it should not be considered a sport, with one individual proposing it become ‘an extension of gymnastics’. Others suggested that by including pole dancing in the Olympics, the world would be taking a step back toward gender equality (implying that of course, the sport would only be played by women, which is an interesting point to be discussed on its own). One anonymous surveyor suggested, ‘it would just be another sport where women are judged on their appearance, make up and costume. There is already too much of that going on’. Another respondent took a more light-hearted root saying yes to pole dancing at the Olympics, ‘Because if I have to watch something flop around I'd rather it be a pair of boobies than another gymnasts broken leg. This is not a joke.’ I don’t know, maybe the fact that that isn’t a joke is part of the problem.