when they hear pole aerobics what they really hear is stripping

jennyjenny started this discussion · 11/14/2011

I tell my friends that I am taking pole aerobics. I explain to them and my family that its a mix of gymnastics, aerobics, some dance and helps tone you up and helps one lose weight. Except for a few folks most still see it as stripping,.. they dont see it as a workout or even an art form or sport. ( which people that work in strip clubs are still exerting lots of energy and work out the entire shift) . so they think its "dirty" and perverted of me to do this. I try to get them to come to a work out and watch but they dont seem to care all they see is theres a pole,.. ur in short shorts,.. and ? so ugh has anyone else ran into this problem

28 replies

Brumby · 11/14/2011
Yes, I have come across this sentiment. Don't be discouraged. You can try to share with other, or teach them, but some will never come around. Personally, I find some peoples reactions humorous and I think "Oh well, I can't please everyone but... I wonder how much living they are doing under that rock?"
PersianXcursian · 11/15/2011
I get that a lot too. my friend jokingly calls me a stripper sometimes. at first my parents were totally against it but I think they are slowly coming around. What is important to them is that it makes me happy and I'm not actually stripping or performing in front of groups of drunk vulgar men. The problem is there is still the stripper stigma attached to it although it is so different. what I usually do is pick a badass pole superstar's video to show to them. I try to pick videos that aren't too sexy and that usually turns them around.
ORGANIC ANGEL · 11/15/2011
Oh let em think you're naughty! Haha, don't worry what others think. When they see how super toned you get and they ask again, than you can show them. Send them a link if they are so concerned, or bring em to a class! I think people should worry less of what others think!
Runemist34 · 11/15/2011
Haa, I get this sometimes and laugh! People always go "YOU are into POLE?" As if I'm some kind of innocent who's never even heard the word "sex!" Honestly, though, I just laugh it off. Who cares? It's in my house, on my own time, and I feel good doing it! It's fun! And that's what I tell people- it's FUN. If people want to judge me for it, then that's their business!
Danielle Tillie · 11/15/2011
I've been very lucky in that my family and friends have been so understanding. When I run into someone who doesn't get it, I become very matter of fact and try to educate. If they don't accept that, I make it very clear that I will not be associating with them. It's not worth it to surround myself with close-minded individuals. :)
Lyme Lyte · 11/15/2011
^^^^^LIKE^^^^^^^^
chemgoddess1 · 11/15/2011
It is generally the people who have issues with their own sexuality and sensuality that make the biggest stinks.
Ali Hellion · 11/15/2011
Heheh, a dancer's body is one to be envious of 😎 I've heard the "what's the point in having a pole if you're not going to strip?" line, before when I tried explaining the deference between pole dancing, stripping and strippers mixing pole dance in with their work. It's frustrating to not be able to get some people to understand that it is a form of fitness after explaining it carefully to them but there's only so much that can be explained. You can probably show them why exactly it's best to wear short shorts and a sports bra by wearing jean pants and a longsleeve shirt and tell them why you're slipping/having a hard time with some pole moves then skip merrily into another room to change into your shorts and little top and tell them that the skin sticks to the pole better, hence why it's recommended to wear it while you exercise and that there's no stripping involved in what you're doing, so... you're NOT stripping, are ya? lol Being a hard head is common with human beings though so don't feel bad at all if some don't understand even after you explain in depth. The important thing is that you do what you enjoy and also know there's thousands of others out there, many on here who do understand the differences and know that pole dance is a fitness. 🌸
pipsqueakz · 11/16/2011
Ignoramus's who cares what they think I don't bother wasting my time explaining. let then think what they want if they are that narrow minded I'm not interested in what they think anyway. They're seriously usually just jealous. I am 47 so when I took up pole dancing at 46 most of my friends either thought I'd gone mad or was having a midlife crisis! Love to see them do a shoulder mount lol!
pipsqueakz · 11/16/2011
Ignoramus's who cares what they think I don't bother wasting my time explaining. let then think what they want if they are that narrow minded I'm not interested in what they think anyway. They're seriously usually just jealous. I am 47 so when I took up pole dancing at 46 most of my friends either thought I'd gone mad or was having a midlife crisis! Love to see them do a shoulder mount lol!
HollySatine · 11/16/2011
Usually showing them a video of a professional pole dancer clears things up. I like to show this one because it's very non-sexy (even though she is wearing tiny shorts and platforms) but still extremely beautiful and impressive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUOmIQ269-E I haven't had too much of a problem with my family and my friends just think it's cool. There have been a few people that have been hard to convince, but honestly, that means one of two things: 1. They think it's slutty, in which case, f*ck them - I'm not a whore, so it doesn't matter, and they don't deserve my respect either; if they think this about me it doesn't change who I am or the amazing things pole gives me. The closed-mindedness only reflects badly on them. 2. They think it's sexy that I "strip" in my free time. Whatever - if this is what they really want to believe, then I'm flattered that's the image they'd prefer to have! Either way, I'm not going to fight with people who refuse to listen and I'm not going to let anyone make me feel low just because I don't fit their conventions. It takes too much energy, and no matter what the situation, I still feel a little superior because I can do things they'll never be able to. After a more than a year of pole dancing and discovering what my body can do, there's nothing anybody can say to take that away from me. Sorry, pole wins.
BACE16 · 11/16/2011
I metal climb. I dance on a vertical ballet bar. I swing around a stainless steel cylinder. I had my mom believing for months I was going to an European ethnic dance class when she asked what dance class I went to and I said it was "pole-ish." You'd be surprised how little people really think about what you say and just move on. If they don't care they aren't going to ask follow up questions. If they do ask more questions and your not sure how they'll react, you can feed them details about the art, strength, and workout without talking about the device. Let them come to it themselves with little details that it's a pole and when they call it a stripper pole, you get to act all shocked like you had no idea it was also used for stripping (works especially well if you have a good girl image). Makes them feel like an asshat for dirting up your hobby, instead of you feeling bad for being accused of being dirty.
jennyjenny · 11/16/2011
Thanks yall !! :) I showed the the youtube video of my instructor at the southern regional competition in ga (i think lol ) which is non slutty and really good, then jenne butterfly, and also oona klieva (she is AWESOME!!! If youve never watched her do it now ) and some are like "cool,.. but look at how they have their legs spread eagle for the world ,. thats slutty jenny. " or one of my all time favorites NOT : " cool,. yep it does take a lot of strength, grace, endurance and dedication but its still stripping.. its the same thing as working in a strip club."
NinaPoles · 11/16/2011
Any time someone comes with one of those "That's a stripper pole", "Pole dance is just stripping" or whatever comments, I just like to throw a little "And how do you know so much about what goes on in strip clubs?" right back. Usually shuts them up;)
jennyjenny · 11/16/2011
lol thats a good one !! :)
Danielle Tillie · 11/17/2011
"Spread eagle" is a common pose in many dance forms. It is a show of flexibility. Tell them to keep their dirty minds to themselves if they can't handle such awesomeness. To call Oona or Jenyne slutty.... for shame! *ruffles feathers*
HollySatine · 11/17/2011
Somebody actually thought I was a stripper just last night because I mentioned pole... A guy I know trains and teaches at a martial arts institute, and he knows I pole and said I could probably benefit from some of their classes. Last night I decided to go to his gym for a class schedule. I was interested in one of their conditioning classes and was asking the guy working at the front desk about it, and he sounded really discouraging - along the lines of, well if you can't do a push-up or a pull-up then this class really isn't for you, it's really intense, it's for fighters, blah blah blah and I sort of felt like I had to defend myself. So I basically said, yeah I do those all the time actually, I've been taking pole classes for over a year now and half the class is conditioning. And he said, "Wait, you mean there are classes for that kind of thing?" So I basically said, yeah, there are classes, no, I'm not a stripper if that's what you're implying. And then we laughed about it for a minute. What made me feel better about the whole situation was that my friend talked to the guy after I left, and he said this guy actually felt like total crap for making assumptions. The best part? My pole studio is actually only a couple hundred feet away from the MMA gym, and this guy was totally clueless.
Eilens · 11/17/2011
I don't really care much about what strangers say when I mention pole because their opinion doesn't really matter , but it makes me so sad when the ones I am very close to don't understand why I do it. I have been poling for about 5 months now and I am absolutely obsessed but between my boyfriend and my father the classes are now not as fun or as relaxing as they used to be... now I almost get stressed when I practice because they are so vocal about how they think it is JUST like working at a stripclub. it is ridiculous but I refuse to give it up because they are both completely crazy.
Eilens · 11/17/2011
I don't really care much about what strangers say when I mention pole because their opinion doesn't really matter , but it makes me so sad when the ones I am very close to don't understand why I do it. I have been poling for about 5 months now and I am absolutely obsessed but between my boyfriend and my father the classes are now not as fun or as relaxing as they used to be... now I almost get stressed when I practice because they are so vocal about how they think it is JUST like working at a stripclub. it is ridiculous but I refuse to give it up because they are both completely crazy.
Danielle Tillie · 11/17/2011
Oh girl I am so sorry! You can't replace your dad but if I were you I would've told that boyfriend off! He's supposed to be supportive, right? Well, major fail on his part. I'm glad you won't give it up. You shouldn't have to, especially not because of a boyfriend with a lowsy attitude!
LopsiJulie · 11/17/2011
A few things to add: 1) When people get confused, I say it's like Chinese pole, but made out of chrome. It's more like circus tricks. 2) "Nothing I do on the pole would be considered seductive in a bedroom." (Bendy Kate) 3) I'm sure someone has said it on a thread before: stripping requires you to remove clothes. This doesn't require (many) skills. Pole dancing is an art form where you express yourself. You don't remove clothes. Therefore one has NOTHING to do with the other. 4) Remember when you were a kid on the playground playing on those horizontal bars and all other contraptions? Yeah, well that's how I feel again! (People may struggle when you bring children in because their sick twisted minds are focused on stripping and stip clubs). If this fails, then flex some muscles.. LOL! Besides, the truth is, people will see your body tone up and then start to show a bit more respect anyways. If you have a pole, invite some friends over. They all want to try it deep down inside! xxx
LopsiJulie · 11/17/2011
@Bambielove - tell your boyfriend he should be supportive because he's also going to benefit by a new and sexier you! Your body gets more tone, you get more confident, etc. I agree with Englann86... EPIC fail on boyfriend's part!
PaulettePoles · 11/18/2011
I totally sympathize w you @bambielove! My hubby doesnt get it either. I also refuse to give it up. Drives me crazy- if I hear him pull up, I stop and take my pole down. Somehow he thinks our daugters will tink that stripping is OK and if things get tight will strip! All becasue I pole..
mikkixx · 11/20/2011
In Sydney, most people my age (mid-20s), when they find out I pole dance, say something like, "Oh yeah! That's cool, also does it, it requires a lot of strength right?" There are sometimes jokes about my "new career" and stuff, but I haven't gotten any serious criticism, except for at the beginning from my sister - and she's enrolling for classes next term :D It's relatively mainstream here now I think, kind of like zumba or bellydancing or yoga. I'm also lucky to be around open-minded people. My online friends from the UK and US are generally waaayyy more suspicious of it. There are probably girls from Sydney who have had negative reactions but most girls I know are very open about their pole dancing hobby to their coworkers, parents etc. It helps that Bobbi's is such a huge studio, so everyone knows someone who pole dances already and aren't shocked, and pole dancing gets quite a lot of mainstream public exposure (morning shows, newspapers etc). I think this is why Australians tend to be less fussed about getting pole dancing into the Olympics/"pole fitness not dance" for widespread acceptance - Aussie pole dancers have possibly the "raunchiest" style, but they also seem to run into the least problems with being stigmatised. It's hard to think of something as "slutty" when you know a bunch of otherwise quite normal people who do it.
willowbreath · 11/21/2011
Wow...I guess I'm pretty lucky with the family and boyfriend. I showed the mom and sis a few vids of Jenyne and Felix and they were awestruck. The boyfriend thinks it is awesome that I've mounted a pole in the house and he doesn't associate me with strippers at all...I'm not sure if it is because he used to date so many of them (LOL) or if it's because he paid attention when I showed him the Felix and Jenyne vids (probably both). Either way, they are all supportive of me being me. Now that I've been away from it for many months, I have my pole up again and am starting from scratch. Urgh... 😉

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