"Pole dance teaches femininity, but it can be incredibly masculine": A gender analysis of the pole dance phenomenon

In sport, as in society, men and women face different expectations related to their gender roles. This also applies to pole dance, which is a sport dominated by women and is generally perceived as feminine. In recent years, however, it has become more and more popular among men. As a result, ingrained stereotypes about the presence of men in pole dance, and about the sport itself, are possible to change. Nevertheless, what is the relationship between gender and the self-presentation of dancers, and to what extent are they themselves involved in reinforcing, reproducing, and breaking down gender stereotypes within this community? This bachelor thesis observes doing gender in pole dance and aims to answer these questions. The work draws on the the theory of West and Zimmerman, who describe an impact of gender expectations on individual behavior and thus the process of doing gender. For a detailed understanding of this phenomenon, data were collected through qualitative semi- structured interviews. Those were realized with six male communication partners and four female partners, who actively participate in pole dance and have several years of experience performing. For evaluation of these interviews, the methods of thematic analysis were used. Results show the following. First, the..