I'm becoming a Black sex scholar adjacent in my older age

disclaimer note: This post was originally posted in the pole dancing subreddit on Sunday, but it was removed due to an infraction of the rules . After speaking with the mods, I am reposting it in accordance with the rules, in hopes to connect with others who may feel or are embarking on similar topics/discussions. If you originally commented — I'd love to reconnect. If you're doing research or are curiously interested I'd love to connect too.

Climbing the upper age ladder of my 30's, I've become more curious about deeper topics that pole dancing touches— the humanities (i.e. sexuality, society and culture). With other pole dancers in their 30's + I've been having so many conversations around life after retiring sex-work, life as a movement instructor, evolving as a person, social media fatigue, personhood, womanist issues, sexuality/gender, motherhood, trying to survive and just LIFE shit that affects the pole dance. I've also been reading Audre Lorde, Jennifer C. Nash, L.H. Stallings and other authors and articles surrounding pornography, the erotic, feminist thought and movement. Sometimes I feel sort of alone for taking it this deep, but it's really who I am.

I have though found some people who think similar and am gathering my friends who are strippers, bodyworkers, pole dance teachers, "regular" folk and also academic scholars to talk about them in a symposium excavating the concept of "practice". Some of the exhibition points:

— Spiritualities & Geographies of Practice :: What does space and spirit imply towards crafting one's habitual nature?

— Life and Death At The Altar of Practice ::: Film and altar exploration to expand one's vision for repeated activity

— Framing & Documentation Of Practice :::: Tinkering with unexpected characteristics of recording oneself