Pole Fitness Society Banned by Swansea University.

Kate O started this discussion · 10/15/2013

http://www.poledancecommunity.com/magazine/546-pole-fitness-society-banned For anyone who hasn't seen this yet. Made me so angry! I played a big part in setting up and running the pole society at my own uni so I can imagine exactly how those girls must be feeling, having all their hard work just thrown away. Good on PDC for writing such a coherent response addressing all their ridiculous points. "Pole fitness and pole dancing are a direct spin off from lap dancing. Can we separate ‘pole fitness’ from ‘pole dancing’? We believe that you cannot, because whatever you name it... you are still participating in the social context of what the pole represents." By that logic (not that I am saying they should) they could also ban the gaming society, because if they play CoD or GTA they're "participating in the social context of what the games represent" - murder, violence, prostitution, to name but a few. How utterly ridiculous.

14 replies

chemgoddess1 · 10/15/2013
Wait...you have university backed Pole Societies? At several universities? Sorry....this alone has set me in awe.
JHvet1 · 10/15/2013
I'm not sure if I found that more infuriating or just depressing. It sounds like it was written 30-40 years ago. I accept that there will always be individuals with old-fashioned or closed minded views. But individual ignorance can be addressed by education of said people. What I find shocking, appalling and ultimately depressing, is that a whole committee of people, ( and presumably mainly young socially proactive dynamic people on the basis that they have chosen to be involved with a students union), could all unanimously support such an outdated and prejudiced opinion of pole fitness. It reads as if an octogenarian bigot had written it who holds a very low opinion of females in general.
kasanya · 10/15/2013
I love this section: "Although ‘pole fitness’ is sold as an empowering activity, we believe that women have been deceived into thinking this is a way of taking charge of their sexuality and their own decisions. Moreover we believe that it is just a further debasement of our culture and another sign of a creeping backlash against women’s true empowerment and a show of misogyny." Apparently it is not misogynistic at all to imply that women are too stupid to realize they're being "deceived" into "feeling empowered". Quite frankly, if I feel like something empowers me to "take charge of my sexuality and decisions", then it really does empower me. It is how I perceive it that matters -- not some outsider's perspective. Although these outsiders appear to be doing their damndest to objectify and dis-empower any woman foolish enough to engage in a heinous activity like pole fitness. This part is also nice: "Female students have gender equality legislation behind them in allowing them a student experience free from inequality, sexual oppression and objectification." So... That gender equality legislation makes it ok for an authority to limit women's freedom of choice in fitness and recreation activities? What's next? Banning the social dance club? Because, you know, tango and Latin dance forms involve dancing sensually on and around a man rather than an inanimate object...
Kate O · 10/15/2013
Chem, yes... I don't really understand what you're trying to say there, and whether it's positive or negative. JHvet1 and kasanya I agree entirely, it's utter stupidity. PDC have asked for people to email them comments regarding the article and I think they might publish them somewhere, so if you'd like to contribute I encourage you to send these comments to them, or comment on their Facebook post about it. It's like something out of the dark ages :(
chemgoddess1 · 10/15/2013
To me it is a huge thing (positive) that your universities even have this. I cannot think of a single one in the US that has such a society, specifically pole, on any campus. If anyone can prove me wrong I would love to hear about it. This is what has me in awe.
JHvet1 · 10/16/2013
Most (if not all) student union societies are run by students, so their presence is becoming more normal in line with the rapidly rising popularity of pole fitness. Generally this popularity seems to be gaining pole fitness respect an acceptance, however there are obviously exceptions. Maybe it is unrealistic to presume that all universities are ready to embrace something unfamiliar, but their reasoning remains appalling. They show astounding levels of ignorance for an academic institution. I will write something on PDC site but I need to get past the ranting stage.
Runemist34 · 10/16/2013
Wow, I have to say, I'm fairly displeased to hear that a University (purported to be a place of higher learning) would have such an uninformed and sexist view of Pole Fitness. However, I found the response from the PDC to be excellent, and I'm hoping that this issue gets resolved quickly!
Runemist34 · 10/16/2013
I'd also like to point out that I've never heard of any kind of pole dancing club or society being in a University in Canada, either. I wish! That would be cool. I'd really just like to have somewhere in town to share my dancing, though ;) haha
Kate O · 10/16/2013
Chem, really? That really surprises me, if anything I thought there would be more of these things in the US than in the UK, as generally speaking pole is a bigger thing over there. Although I guess maybe societies in general aren't as big of a thing? Universities here usually have tons. I don't know, to be honest I don't really know very much about universities in America :) I'm glad you are all in agreement with me though, the people who made this decision are clearly morons.
ShonaLancs · 10/16/2013
I am in shock... I didn't realise that as a woman I am also a sheep who follows and makes no decision of my own , of course I have been hoodwinked for the last 2 years of my life. Thank you for telling me Swansea SU committee!!! Bleeeeeeeeep!
Cherished · 10/16/2013
Wow the points made against pole were so ridiculous it's practically laughable and I thought Goal's article was bad 🙁
Koidragon · 10/16/2013
Hey Runemist - The studio I go to also runs classes out at two of the universities here in Vancouver BC, and I know back in Australia there were a lot of pole societies at the unis...
Demi913 · 10/17/2013
It is ridiculous how prejudice people can be out of pure ignorance. They SHOULD NOT discuss things they know nothing about.
Demi913 · 10/17/2013
I do it because I enjoy how I feel when I master a move, see myself getting stronger, more flexible, fitter! Not because I have been manipulated into it by the community or my teacher. How dare they.