Feminist Claptrap

James · #1 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 07:53 PM

It's stories like the one below that make my blood boil! Apparently:

"Pole dancing is perpetuating a culture of prostitution. It's not actually prostitution because they're in a class but it's the codes of prostitution and practice that they are engaged in."

and

"Often when pornography is normalised it comes in the form of art," she says. "The same has happened with burlesque. We are now in what I call the 'pornographication' of culture."

Good old feminists - I don't even think they know what they're fighting for any more!

[web:3f3389226e]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4939752.stm[/web:3f3389226e]

Beatrice Flowers · #2 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 10:48 PM

Grrrrr sometimes i really feel like slapping certain people!
Some of those comments people wrote were so ignorant!

RedSarah · #3 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 08:25 AM

that sheila
has probably never seen a proper burlesque show
otherwise she'd know.

i hate people who make out they know it all

surely feminism is what you make it ?
performing empowers me - fills me with confidence and joy.
i do not think of myself as a sex object but as a talented artist.
who does she think she is !

i have posted a reply into that page, we all should.

raging
red
x x x x

Lord Dashwood · #4 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 08:50 AM

Some of those comments are very frustrating, but it's also good to see quite a lot of intelligent remarks in there too from both sexes. It's just a shame that there are so many misconceptions about pole dancing classes (and indeed about burlesque) and as can be seen from the comments, only by people who have never been to a class or been involved in some way. As with all prejudices, education is the only way forward! It would be interesting to try and convince some of the more vocal opponents of these classes to actually come to one and try to prove their point. Hopefully they would soon see how misinformed their ideas are.

Miss Diamond Blush · #5 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 11:59 AM

a friend sent me this same link. i can not believe how narrow minded some people are. :x

if that article is right about pole dancing and burlesque there is no hope for me, i'll be finding a street corner very soon!

Abbey · #6 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 12:32 PM

It really is amazing to me that people can hold some of those opinions. I would post a reply on the bbc site if only I know where to start! Good points raised about salsa and belly dancing though.

I'm going to have to have a good think about all this before I post my comment.

Foxy · #7 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 12:44 PM

I saw this article too and was going to start a thread as it also annoyed me. I totally agree with James' frustration.

I attend pole dancing classes. Who is exploiting me? what men am I appleasing?

I concider myself a feminist because I belive in equal pay for equal work and equal opportunities for all. I don't often call myself a feminist as I do not want to assocated with these repressive and opposing ideas that seem to be leading to all women being dressed in burkas as not to alow ourselves to be exploited.

if you go back to the bbc news website in the Scotland section (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4944154.stm) you can follow the new legislation ideas that are being considered for stripclubs. Gypsy has mentioned this before and left a link in the 'union style meeting thread'

You may think that this doesn't effect us as burlesque performers. but the people at the Adult Entertainment Working Group want to implement a 1 metre minimum distance for ALL adult performers. They have been looking at the burlesque community as well. If this legislation goes through you may not be able to add any crowd particapation to your act, you may not be able to sit on an audience members knee while singing in any Scottish club. Our performance may be in the context of theatre, but if it is to an adult audience it is adult entertainment.

I don't think it is feminist claptrap as it is not a feminist ideal to repress women. I think it is close-minded-right-wing-repressive-reactionary-fascist Claptrap that has been stupidly called feminist by the clap-trappers themselves.

that's the Foxy two pence of the day

Lord Dashwood · #8 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 02:32 PM

I too regard myself as a feminist (I see no problem with men also being feminists) and I entirely agree with Foxy's post. The derogatory comments on the BBC thread seem to imply that women are being forced into dancing as a way of pleasing men, but the experience of the women themselves does not reflect this at all. Regardless of any historical context of dancing which may or may not have exploitative elements, women are attending these classes and moreover setting up these classes for other women to enjoy. I see this as being perfectly in line with modern feminism as I see it which should not worry about unhelpful notions of women always being manipulated by men and should encourage and enable women to enjoy whatever pursuits and activities they want to. As far as I can see that is exactlly what these classes and indeed this website do.

Sorry to put my tuppence-worth in twice, but it REALLY annoys me! There are enough real problems in society without trying to make ones where there aren't any.

DecadentDoll · #9 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 02:38 PM

:WALLBASH:
:WALLBASH:
:WALLBASH:

.one day they'll get it. Maybe. Then in Belfast it'll take an extra hundred years for them to understand!

Lotty O. Lovely · #10 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 03:39 PM

This kind of report really saddens me, most of all because the journalist herself seemed to enjoy the experience, to quote;

"For me, it was the lure of doing something acrobatic and a bit different that drew me in to the classes. And when I joined I found a group of like-minded girls."

It was only the narrow minded views of her so called 'feminist' friends that made her question the whole experience (peer pressure), to sum up, if thats all it takes to make her question something she seemed to enjoy then she is quite weak minded- not a very feminist trait at all!

xxxxx