Wednesday 2 December, 2009Sex industry boss compares dancing pole to fire pole

CHILDREN enrolled in pole dancing classes were in no greater moral danger than if they were learning how to slide down a firemen's pole, it was claimed yesterday.

The comment, from Eros Association CEO Fiona Patten, came a day after The Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed children as young as seven were being enrolled in "pole fitness" classes, ostensibly for health reasons.

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While the minors were unable to participate without parental consent, child welfare experts said the lessons were inappropriate.

And Premier Morris Iemma urged children wanting to keep fit to stick with swimming lessons or little athletics.

Many Daily Telegraph readers agreed, claiming parents who allowed their children to take part risked sexualising them, making them easy prey for paedophiles.

But one 11-year-old, identified only as Angela, said she benefited from classes at a studio in Sydney's southwest.

"It's really fun and you get to learn a lot of different moves. People think it's pole dancing but it's not. It's great exercise," she said.

Ms Patten said yesterday the issue was "morally neutral".

"I can't see how using a pole to increase strength and fitness is going to make children more likely to enter the sex industry or to come across it," she said.

"It seems to me that it's only when adults try to sexualise that behaviour that you're coming into danger.

"What if we called it a fireman's pole? It's a pole, and yes, the sex industry has used it for dancing, but we've used other harmless products as well for adults' entertainment."

Body dysmorphia expert Dr Roberta Honigman disagreed.

It's just that the child is involved in something she may well not understand the implications of because of her age and lack of maturity," she said.