This book explores the phenomenon of pole dancing as an increasingly popular fitness and leisure activity for women. It moves beyond previous debates surrounding the empowering or degrading nature of pole dancing classes, and instead explores the complexities of these concepts and highlights that women participating in this practice cannot be seen as one dimensional. Femininity, Feminism and Recreational Pole Dancing explores the construction, negotiation and presentation of a gendered and classed identity and self through participation in pole dancing, the meaning of pole dancing as a fitness practice for women, and the concepts of community and friendship as developed through classes. Using empirical research, the book uncovers the stories and experiences of the women who participate in these classes, and examines what the mainstreaming of this type of sexualised dance means for the women who practice it. Pole dancing is shown to be a practice in which female identities are negotiated, performed and enacted and this book positions pole dancing as an activity which both reinforces but also presents some challenge to ideas of feminism and femininity for the women that participate. Women's participation in pole dancing is described in a discourse of choice and control, yet this book argues that the decision to participate is somewhat constructed by the advertising of these classes as enabling women to create a particular desirable self, which is perpetuated throughout our culture as the ‘ideal’. Exploring the ways in which women attempt to manage impressions and present themselves as ‘respectable’, the book examines how women wish to dis-identify with both women who work as strippers and women who are feminist, seeing both identities as contradictory to the feminine image that they pursue. The book explores the capacity of these classes to offer women some feelings of agency but challenges the idea that participating in pole dancing can offer collective empowerment. The book ultimately argues that women’s participation can be viewed both in terms of their active engagement and enjoyment of these classes and in terms of the structures and pressures which continue to shape their lives. This timely publication explores the complexity of the pole dancing phenomenon and highlights a range of questions surrounding this activity as a leisure form. It will be a valuable contribution to those interested in women’s and gender studies, cultural studies, feminism, sociology and leisure studies.

This book explores the phenomenon of pole dancing as an increasingly popular fitness and leisure activity for women. It moves beyond previous debates surrounding the empowering or degrading nature of pole dancing classes, and instead explores the complexities of these concepts and highlights that women participating in this practice cannot be seen as one dimensional. Femininity, Feminism and Recreational Pole Dancing explores the construction, negotiation and presentation of a gendered and classed identity and self through participation in pole dancing, the meaning of pole dancing as a fitness practice for women, and the concepts of community and friendship as developed through classes. Using empirical research, the book uncovers the stories and experiences of the women who participate in these classes, and examines what the mainstreaming of this type of sexualised dance means for the women who practice it. Pole dancing is shown to be a practice in which female identities are negotiated, performed and enacted and this book positions pole dancing as an activity which both reinforces but also presents some challenge to ideas of feminism and femininity for the women that participate. Women's participation in pole dancing is described in a discourse of choice and control, yet this book argues that the decision to participate is somewhat constructed by the advertising of these classes as enabling women to create a particular desirable self, which is perpetuated throughout our culture as the ‘ideal’. Exploring the ways in which women attempt to manage impressions and present themselves as ‘respectable’, the book examines how women wish to dis-identify with both women who work as strippers and women who are feminist, seeing both identities as contradictory to the feminine image that they pursue. The book explores the capacity of these classes to offer women some feelings of agency but challenges the idea that participating in pole dancing can offer collective empowerment. The book ultimately argues that women’s participation can be viewed both in terms of their active engagement and enjoyment of these classes and in terms of the structures and pressures which continue to shape their lives. This timely publication explores the complexity of the pole dancing phenomenon and highlights a range of questions surrounding this activity as a leisure form. It will be a valuable contribution to those interested in women’s and gender studies, cultural studies, feminism, sociology and leisure studies.

Pole dance/fitness is an international form of dance fitness that has become increasingly popular since the early 2000s. This thesis is an ethnographic case study focusing on a specific community of people who participate in pole dance/fitness as a recreational activity in Tampa, Florida. This ethnography highlights the motivations of participants who take pole dance/fitness classes and applies theories of feminist anthropology and embodiment theory. Throughout my research I found that, with the support of their pole family, women continuously (re)created their sense of self as they worked towards their ideal self by embodying the pole community’s values. These values included diminishing an emphasis on physical appearance as a marker of a women’s worth and promoting self-love. Despite the stigma attached to pole dance/fitness, those who participate in it continue to do so because of the mental and physical benefits it offers them. The pole community provides a safe space and encourages participants to explore freedom of sexual and gender expression. In this thesis I analyze the demographics, practices, and beliefs of polers. I provide a holistic understanding of one small pole dance/fitness community in Tampa, but my findings are applicable to understanding the wider pole dance/fitness community.

This book provides an international, multi-disciplinary empirical account of pole classes and how they fit into wider discourses about bodies and gender, and age and fitness. In particular, the book explores how women initiate agency and espouse liberation and empowerment through something as seemingly problematic as pole classes.

This research analyses the stigma that is experienced by women who practice recreational pole dancing. Recreational pole dancing is a relatively new fitness trend that is based on professional pole dancing (“stripping”) that is preformed in strip clubs in exchange for goods. Although recreational pole dancing promotes exercise, strength and stamina, and is not practiced in strip clubs, it is still highly associated with strippers which are stigmatized as dirty, bad and indecent. Therefore, women who decide to practice recreational pole dancing expose themselves to negative reactions and stigmatization through the association to strippers. Nonetheless, many women choose to continue pole dancing recreationally. even after experiencing disqualification and stigmatization. This study utilizes the theoretical framework of stigma and examines how recreational pole dancers experience and manage their stigmatization. By doing so I hope to gain a better understanding on whether a discourse of resistance to patriarchal values and norms can be generated through practices that seem to perpetuate patriarchal power over women’s sexuality.

Pole dancing has become the biggest craze at health clubs, gyms, and dance studiosit s the sexy style that every woman wants to learn. And why not? It combines seductive poses with simple and enjoyable steps, spins, and lifts. Like any good dance form, it offers both fun and fitness, plus a wonderful opportunity to express your personality. Here s a fabulous way to get into the pole-dancing groove and master those slinky, confidence-building movessuch as the Teasy Does It, the Hand Spin, and the always irresistible Strut in private. This sizzling guide features 50 of the best basic moves, from hip swivels, knee drops, and thigh wraps to booty shakes and splits. Attractive photographs open every chapter, and each choreographic morsel is illustrated with line drawings (more than 200 in all) as well as easy-to-follow instructions that will soon entice anyone to move boldly to the music "

Focusing on Italy, this book discusses how women negotiate sexuality and social status in a Western sexscape constituted by multifaceted articulations of women’s sexuality, commodities and modernity. Drawing from ethnographic research, this book brings together the narratives of Italian and migrant women pole dancing for leisure, women pole and lap dancing for work, as well as women selling sex. By tracing commonalities in women’s processes of subjectivation and othering across the non/sex working women divide, the book foregrounds the intersecting structures of oppression under which women negotiate selfhood.