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I Am a Feminist and a Pole Dancer. Got a Problem With That?

I don't believe a feminist world view requires me to unsubscribe from that which is feminine. I love pole dance for the same reason I love pinup art and vintage clothing: an ability to express playful, exaggerated femininity. I can make shapes and perform movements that accentuate that which I see as feminine about myself. I consider the base architecture of a spin to be a glorious celebration of curves.
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I am a feminist (a feisty one) and a pole dancer (a sassy one). I don't feel there's a conflict. I am not a feminist scholar. Feminism and pole dance have many interpretations and mean different things to different people. My perspective on pole dance is recreational as a student and instructor. I don't represent or disparage the exotic industry. That being said, pole dance is not exclusive to the domain of the gentleman's club. Outside of its current role as a fitness activity, it has deep, historical roots from other cultures (see here). My definition of feminism is simple, Marie Shear's quote "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."

Mariko Zamani Photography

I didn't start dancing as a feminist statement. I didn't evaluate it from a feminist perspective. It's a form of fitness for me, like spin class. The pole is my apparatus. Likewise, when I approach a treadmill, I do not first pause to inquire if Gloria Steinem would approve. I just run. I do it because it makes me feel good and it improves my health. It also makes me strong.

Pole dance can be sensual and some might argue it encourages objectification. I frequently receive feedback around functional strength. "Wow, you must be really strong". This is especially true as it gains legitimacy in mainstream fitness culture. It can be an antidote for self-objectification, a barrier just as subversive and limiting as objectification by the outside world. Through pole dance, I re-framed how I saw my own body in ability and athleticism instead something decorative to be looked at. I want to keep my body safe because it can do amazing things. Beyond an athletic display, pole dance is a form of artistic expression.

Art is an expression of self. Feminism is an affirmation of self. Feminism empowers me to share who I am, pole dance is the artistic medium I use to do so. Costuming, music, the tricks and poses I select, these are all paints in the palette to compose my self-portrait, with the pole as my canvas. As an artist, I choose the elements that I display. I control the pieces of myself that the audience sees. Exposure is a sticking point in the discussion over whether pole dance can be considered to be valid from a feminist perspective.

Depending on what is being attempted, exposed skin can be crucial. It is the grip required to perform movements safely. Bare flesh ensures I don't slide unexpectedly, or allows me to control the velocity of my descent. It allows for contact points, which are necessary (imagine the frustration of trying to remove the lid off of a very large jar wearing mittens, or how quickly you slide on a bare floor in socks).

Mariko Zamani Photography

I expose skin for safety reasons but that doesn't mean I'm otherwise ashamed. Excessive modesty of my "flaws" would prevent me from doing something I enjoy. I don't have thigh gap and that's okay. Strong thighs are what I hang upside down from, so no gap = no falling on my head. Out of necessity, I adopted the attitude that parts of me are squishy, parts of me are toned and I am not going to stop dancing because my body might not meet someone else's standard of beauty. I'm not shrinking from this opportunity so that I can hide my body or evidence of my femininity.

I don't believe a feminist world view requires me to unsubscribe from that which is feminine. I love pole dance for the same reason I love pinup art and vintage clothing: an ability to express playful, exaggerated femininity. I can make shapes and perform movements that accentuate that which I see as feminine about myself. I consider the base architecture of a spin to be a glorious celebration of curves. I get to do it in a way that is strong and powerful, and I consider that to be an artistic and athletic feminist expression.

I am proud to be a feminist. I am proud to be a pole dancer.

For me, feminism and pole dance affirm life and help me grow.

This piece originally appeared on Sparkly Shoes and Sweat Drops, and was later featured on RoleReboot, BlogHer and Women You Should Know.

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