wh*rephobia in the pole industry

Upholding the stigma surrounding and judging sex workers should never be tolerated within the pole dancing industry. The roots of pole dancing have been widely debated and discussed online, and this is what I’ve taken away from my research on this fascinating topic. Pole originated outside of America, with influences from Chinese pole and mallakhamb, where practitioners were predominantly people of color. When this art form was brought to America, it was often showcased in traveling sideshows, where dancers would perform what was labeled as “erotic” dance on wooden poles in exchange for money. Does that sound familiar to you? Clearly, pole dance has changed immensely since its early beginnings, yet it would never have reached its current level of prominence without the contributions of the tent dancers who initially brought it to America. For this reason alone, the pole industry should never tolerate any form of whrephobia or bigotry, as such attitudes directly contradict its rich origin story. You cannot take up space in an industry that was built upon the hard work and creativity of people of color and sex workers while simultaneously looking down upon them. How many times have you heard a pole dancer say, “I’m a pole athlete, not a stripper”? Why do you think these pole dancers feel the strong need to separate themselves from sex workers and act as if they are somehow superior to them? Whrephobia is the answer, that’s why. It is disheartening to see dancers trying to erase the complex history of pole and ignore the reasons why it has become so popular in various communities. If you do not respect sex workers, then perhaps you should take off those heels and stop dancing in a “sensual” manner; I don’t care if that statement seems offensive, because it is equally offensive to witness polers imitate us only to turn around and cast judgment upon us. Let’s be real here: if pole dancing were strictly a “sport” without any sensual or paid aspect, it would simply not have gained the immense popularity that it enjoys today. You cannot convince me otherwise. It is essential to give praise and demonstrate respect for the beginnings of the tent dancers, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to this vibrant art form.

This will not be the last blog post about whrphobia in pole dance, as it continues to show it’s ugly face over and over again. I’ll be done talking about it when it’s no longer a thing. Do better, do not allow any form of bigotry within the pole dance industry. Til next time, have a great day!