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Abstract

This dissertation explores gender differences in pole dancing, particularly with how men and women discuss their experiences. This also includes aspects of pole dancing such as empowerment, sexualisation and social media. Pole dancing is still relatively new in the fitness industry; thus a vast number of studies focus on pole dance in the sex industry. Also, much existing literature has focused on whether pole dance is empowering or objectifying and how women have coped with the oversexualisation of the sport. However, male pole dancers’ experiences are often excluded from these studies. This dissertation aims to fill in this gap in literature by looking at both male and female pole dancers.
Four male and four female participants between the ages of 18 and 44 were recruited through convenience sampling. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and the data was thematically analysed. The findings showed that there were gender differences in pole dancers’ experiences of sexualisation with women more likely being subjected to unsolicited, sexual messages and images. The results also found that male participants often felt excluded from the pole community due to limited access to pole studios and pole accessories. Another finding was that social media did not have much of a significant role in helping pole dancers feel empowered.

Course: Sociology - BSc (Hons) - C0315

Date Deposited: 2022-06-06

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13917.html