Viewers ‘disgusted’ by 8-year-old children pole dancing on This Morning

Viewers ‘disgusted’ by 8-year-old children pole dancing on This Morning The question ‘Are pole dancing classes suitable for eight year olds?’ has sparked a debate online Viewers hit out at ITV’s This Morning after children were shown pole dancing in crop tops. The question posed by the show was “Are pole dancing lessons too sexual for children?”. On the show, eight-year-old Tilly-May and Timea and 11-year-old Mia danced in skimpy outfits. They were watched by their mothers and dance instructor Zoe Hardy. The #poledancedebate is still raging… here’s how it started: https://t.co/VTajgoLJwi — This Morning (@itvthismorning) February 16, 2016 The presenters referred to the dancing as “pole fitness” and asked whether it was appropriate. Tilly’s mother said: “Tilly was bullied at school for being fat and not interested in what the other girls did. It was advertised and I asked her if she wanted to give it a try. “She came to it and she’s never looked back. “It’s fitness, when you see what they physically do, there’s nothing provocative.” Psychologist Emma Kenny was also on the show, and she said: “I don’t doubt for one minute that the girls keep fit. And I also don’t doubt that the moves we’ve just seen are pole dancing rather than pole fitness. “I think we are in a culture that sexualises children…and whatever way you look at it, it’s inextricably linked to sexualisation”. She continued: “It undoubtedly includes sexual views” People on Twitter thought the TV show should not have shown the children pole dancing at all, and railed against the show: Not much support for kids pole dancing. There is something a bit seedy about it for me #thismorning — Steve (@TeaInMercia) February 16, 2016 Call me old fashioned but children should be running around playing children’s games not pole dancing #thismorning #poledancedebate — Jenni Allan-Cameron (@JennAllaCam) February 16, 2016 This Morning just broadcast 8 year old girls pole dancing in the studio. Stay classy you controversy seeking moral vacuums. — rob manuel (@robmanuel) February 16, 2016 Kids pole dancing on This Morning?? How can this even be CONSIDERED as appropriate? — PRIYA (@PriyaK97) February 16, 2016 How can the presenters even be sticking up for this disgracefulness! Children pole dancing is wrong end of #thismorning — Paa (@PaaWOWW) February 16, 2016 Im sorry but kids POLE DANCING on this morning and mothers saying it’s just like gymnastics??!! – stop sexualising children! #thismorning — Kate Lewis (@KatieKoo22) February 16, 2016 Why are there 8 year old girls pole dancing in their pants on itv this morning?? — LittlePrancer (@LittlePrancer) February 16, 2016 After defending their outfits, instructor Zoe said: “I want to say it’s not sexualising children, and they should go and try it themselves and see the strength and stamina they need. It’s pole fitness not dancing.” /terrorism/2016/02/viewers-disgusted-by-8-year-old-children-pole-dancing-on-this-morning-2457484.html