Men Try To Prove Pole Dancing Isn't Just For Women … Or Strippers
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The latest evidence that pole dancing is a legitimate sport, not just an activity that keeps strippers occupied while they’re being oogled: Some dudes are taking to the pole too.
This month, men competed in the annual World Pole Dancing finals for the first time. 39 women tried for singles and doubles titles at the championships in Budapest, compared to only seven men. Female pole dancers are already having a hard time convincing people that the sport isn’t about ripping off articles of clothing to some Poison song, but performing an artistic routine that requires strength and gymnastic skills. The handful of male competitors say they’re facing an even bigger hurdle. “Poler” Matty Shields of Australia tells the Wall Street Journal, “When I tell people what I do, there is shock, ‘No! pole dancing is for women.” He adds that pole dancing, “can be masculine, too.”