A qualitative study of body image among competitive women pole dancers

An emerging literature suggests that recreational pole dancing promotes body confidence via a sense of belonging, body diversity, and free sexual expression. However, it's unclear whether these positive experiences extend to competitive pole contexts. Research among athletes suggests that competitive environments often promote rigid expectations of athletic bodies, body comparisons, and self-objectification. These body insecurities can persist beyond competition. The current study aims to address this gap by exploring how competitive pole dancing contributes to women's perceptions of their bodies in and out of competitive environments. Participants (N = 20 women) were recruited via emails and flyers disseminated across pole studios and event organizers in Australia to participate in semi-structured interviews. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we constructed three themes: (i) Body functionality is paramount; (ii) Community provides nurturance and tensions for belonging; (iii) Empowerment through autonomy. Although competitive environments provided opportunities for comparison and insecurities, prioritizing the ability to view and appreciate one's body primarily through a functional manner allowed women to achieve positive perceptions of their bodies in and out of competition. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the factors uniquely contributing to body image in a novel sample of pole dancers, offering strategies for training regimens and interventions that may benefit women's body image in competitive and social contexts.