Welcome to YAS Work

If you've found this page, most likely you accessed this link from the pole dance studio that you attend. This page is for you, specifically.  Finding this link in your pole dance studio means your favorite place to dance and move stands with sex workers and believes they are the creators of pole dancing.

On this page we have information on what whorephobia is, how it affects sex workers and how it affects you.  You will find a video about the history of pole dancing, YAS Podcast episodes to listen to, specifcally about pole dancers and sex workers and the tension that exists between them and why, and ways to support YAS Work, a non-profit dedicated to educating the public about sex workers.  Keep scrolling to see all the things.

Please consider donating to YAS Work to help keep this platform functioning.  With access to grant funding being limited, we rely on the community's support to fuel our mission. 

Understanding Whorephobia in Pole Dance Spaces

Pole dancing has its roots in strip clubs and sex work, particularly shaped by Black and brown women and femmes. Despite this rich heritage, many modern pole studios and practitioners attempt to distance themselves from these origins. This distancing often manifests through rebranding efforts, such as promoting "pole fitness" or emphasizing acrobatic elements, while downplaying or erasing the sensual and erotic aspects intrinsic to the practice. Such actions can be seen as forms of whorephobia, as they implicitly devalue the contributions of sex workers and perpetuate stigma against them.

The Impact on New Students

Newcomers to pole dancing frequently encounter external judgments from family and friends who associate the activity with sex work. In response, some students may feel compelled to assert that they are "not strippers," a defense mechanism that, while understandable, inadvertently reinforces whorephobic attitudes. This reaction not only distances them from the sex work community but also perpetuates the very stigma that marginalizes sex workers. Online discussions reflect this internal conflict. 

"People love pole dancing but have internalized misogyny. They believe women who do certain types of things have poor character or are immoral. But when they want to do those things they have to employ cognitive dissonance. Ie 'I'm doing pole fitness, not stripper pole like those girls'".

The Importance of Acknowledging Pole Dancing's Roots

Recognizing and respecting the origins of pole dancing is crucial for fostering an inclusive and supportive community. Efforts to sanitize or desexualize the art form not only erase its history but also contribute to the ongoing marginalization of sex workers. As highlighted in discussions about the cultural appropriation of sex work, denying the inherent sexuality of pole dancing can be classist and undermine the labor of those who pioneered the practice .

This project is a work in progress, as we are continuously learning about our history.  All the information here was compiled by AM Davies, with a message from AM at the end.  Click the image above to view the video or click here.