Pole Dancing, Empowerment and Embodiment

SAMANTHA HOLLAND is Research Fellow, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. Her research focuses on gender, ageing, and non-mainstream leisure and subcultures. Her publications include Alternative Femininities: Body, Age and Identity and Remote Relationships in a Small World (edited).

Introduction Towards a Feminist Ethnography From Circus& Sex … … to Fitness& Leisure What is a Pole Class? What Not to Wear Diversity& Empowerment? A Thing of Beauty' The Pole Community: Opening Closed Minds Case Study I: 'Empowering women with confidence' Case Study II: Power Moves& Everyday Bodies Conclusions: A Positive Active Identity? Appendix I: Questions for online questionnaire and statistics of responses Appendix II: Websites of Instructors Who Took Part + Schools Mentioned Bibliography Index