Pole dancing was once a seductive activity mostly reserved for strip clubs and rowdy buck’s nights, but these days most of us wouldn’t even bat an eyelid if our friend said they couldn’t come out for brunch because they were off to pole dancing class.
Ever since the health and fitness benefits of pole dancing were brought into the spotlight, it has become quite an acceptable, intriguing and fun form of exercise.
But would you let your seven-year-old daughter join in the fun?
According to the Daily Mail, several hundred youngsters are estimated to attend classes in pole dancing across Britain and the numbers are growing. “Research reveals there isn’t a town in Britain that doesn’t hold adult pole dancing classes. And, as its popularity has burgeoned, dozens of classes have sprung up specifically targeted at children.”
While some sexual connotations have been erased from the activity, the history of pole dancing and what it represents still raises concern for some parents.
Psychologist Emma Kenny says, “To encourage young girls to use their bodies in a sexual manner is not, in my opinion, moral. Children are being pushed into adulthood long before they need to, and this is one of the most extreme examples yet.”
Despite The International Pole Sports Federation best attempts to become a more ‘respectable’ sport by announcing new regulations to discourage ‘overly erotic moves’, as long as the strip club version still exists, that’s going to be the first thing people associate it with.
Have you ever attended a pole dancing class? Do you think it’s OK for children to participate?
