FAQs: Sex Work Imitation in Pole Studios

5 Sept

From www.sextember.com.au by Ally Cat - view original post here

❓Q1: What is "sex work imitation" in the context of pole?

💡A: It’s when people who aren’t sex workers adopt the aesthetics, language, or persona of strippers without acknowledging or understanding the lived experiences behind them.Think: shouting “make it rain!” after some sexy choreo, calling yourself a "hoe" for fun, or dressing in stereotypical “stripper” gear without any context or respect for the culture it comes from.

❓Q2: Isn’t pole supposed to be sexy and fun? What’s the problem?

🔥A: It can be both! The issue isn't the sexy vibes—it’s when people borrow stripper culture without recognising the labor, stigma, and struggle behind it.Having fun is great; pretending to be a stripper for aesthetic points (while distancing yourself from actual strippers) is where it gets messy.

❓Q3: How can I tell if I’m appreciating or appropriating?

🧐A: Ask yourself:

👉 Am I giving credit to strippers for the style I’m learning?

👉 Am I using language or personas that don’t belong to my lived experience?

👉 Am I respectful of the reality behind the artform—or just enjoying the fantasy?

✨Appreciation involves respect, context, and credit. Appropriation skips the homework and takes the spotlight.

❓Q4: Do I have to be a stripper to dance in heels, wear tiny outfits or do sexy floorwork?

👠A: Nope! Pole is for everyone. The key is doing it with awareness.Acknowledge where those styles came from, honour the people who created them, and avoid playing pretend with someone else’s reality.

❓Q5: What about using stripper lingo like “hoe,” “make it rain,” or “hoe-life”?

🗣️A: Language holds weight. These terms come from within the sex work community and are often reclaimed as power and resistance.When folks outside that world use them casually, it can feel like mockery, not solidarity.

🧠 Rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t say it around a stripper friend, maybe skip it.

❓Q6: I didn’t mean any harm—what should I do now?

💖A: That’s okay! We all start somewhere.Take the time to learn, listen to sex workers, and adjust where needed.

🌱 Growth is sexy.

❓Q7: How can I be an ally in the studio?

🤝A:

✅ Give credit to strippers when teaching or performing

✅ Support sex worker-led projects and voices

✅ Speak up when you hear stigmatising comments

✅ Encourage your studio to talk openly about pole’s roots

Allyship is a verb—keep it active!

❓Q8: Should studios talk openly about the connection between pole and sex work?

📣A: 1000%. Transparency, education, and context help build a culture of respect.Studios that honour the origin of pole while creating inclusive spaces? They’re the ones setting the gold standard. 💫