Do Pole Dancing and Attachment Parenting Mix?

By Rebecca Gruber

Updated on 1/6/2015 at 1:41 PM

Facebook | Ms. Wrights Way
Facebook | Ms. Wrights Way

There is a time and a place for everything, but some parents aren't so sure that pole dancing and toddlers should be in the same place at the same time. A heated discussion about the topic came about after Ashley Wright, also known as Facebook user Ms. Wrights Way posted a video of her 2-year-old daughter watching her pole dance. Wright, an outspoken breastfeeding and attachment-parenting advocate, captioned her post "What dancing while attachment parenting looks like! How great it is to have both my passions with me into the New Year..."

But passions were ignited when the video went viral (it currently has more than 400,000 views), and the comments section lit up. These were among the 929 comments left for the mom:

  • "How about teaching your daughter to read or count or spell, instill qualities in her that will make her bright and successful? Instead of instilling skills in her that will only benefit her if she needs to degrade herself for money."
  • "Ummm nothing wrong with pole dancing but not when you should be spending time with your child..do it when the child is in bed...that is NOT the time to be doing it."
  • "I can't support this at all. Dancing is one thing. But sliding down a pole in your panties in front of a baby is how you raise a future stripper not a future Queen. Let's raise less Nicki Minaj's and more Assata Shakur's!!!"

There were some comments in support of Ms. Wright too:

  • "I didn't think 'Stripper' I saw a beautiful woman enjoying the art of dance while showing how loving she is to her beautiful baby girl. Never pushing her off or neglected her. What da problem iz (in my Martin Lawrance voice)."
  • "I don't see anything wrong with dancing except that she should do it in less revealing clothes around her child. But I'm glad she shows her child to love her body and not be ashamed of who she is."

The video was initially taken down by Facebook (presumably for copyright issues with the song), but it was later reinstated. Following the backlash, Wright responded:

"It is no surprise that many are put-off, and even more confused, by this shared display of divine femininity, sensual acceptance, power and open, unapologetic love for self and for my child. Unfortunately, many did not receive nor have bared witness to this form of love and therefore only see what is they can connect with; shame . . . I do not expect everyone to understand me nor my 'parenting style' for progression is few for most."

Tell us: do you find the act inappropriate?