Do you need a consent policy for your pole-based business?

Pole businesses straddle lots of different environments and situations, inviting lots of different people from different backgrounds to participate in different ways.

Having a consent policy can help clarify roles and expectations of all those involved. Particularly in situations where physical touch may be present.

What is a consent policy?

A consent policy (in the context of this post) is a defined set of expectations for how people will interact in a shared space (such as in a studio or at an event) together to feel safe and maintain their bodily autonomy. It may be used primarily in cases where physical touch is a possibility or specified part of the interaction.   

A consent policy in a technology or privacy context may refer to how you agree for a business to use your data or private information.

And in a healthcare context, it may refer to making decisions about your care.

This can be applied to employees or contractors working within your business.

And it applies to people attending your event or interacting in your space(es).

In some cases, this may even reflect laws applicable to your jurisdiction and define what can or cannot happen in your club such as the level of acceptable touch during a private dance or the ability have a private dance.

Why would you need a consent policy?

A consent policy clarifies expectations on the safety of a space and an individual’s ability to have continuous agency while participating in the space alone and/or with other people.

People come to pole and pole spaces with different understandings of behaviors and different cultural expectations.

Being clear about expectations in your space (particularly physical) is a great way to make sure everyone is on the same page and to mitigate potential issues from happening.

What should be in the consent policy?

The consent policy should be as long or as short as is relevant for your situation, and it should define clearly what consent is and how to get consent in the context of your business.

For instance, consent in a studio context may be about touch for spotting a move.

IPIA members can view a Sample Consent Policy that can be used as a template when creating their own.

Share the consent policy and enforce it.

Whatever you choose to include in your consent policy, make sure it is shared with all those that need to abide by it.

This might be in a policies section of your website, in a booklet for your event, or in your studio documentation when signing up for classes.

You may consider it being part of an employee handbook and having an official sign off process stating that people have reviewed and agreed to abide by the policy. This may be particularly relevant for teachers who should request consent when touching a student/participant in spotting situation.

Be clear about the levels of enforcement such as what happens when someone (employee/contractor/staff member AND/OR customer/student/participant) does not follow the consent policy and be prepared to enforce it.

What is the difference between a code of conduct and a consent policy?

We’ve talked about codes of conduct at this link. You’ll notice that much of the wording is the same for this post.

Consent policies may be more appropriate (and perhaps more detailed) than codes of conduct in cases where physical touch is possible or event required such as during events or studio instruction of activities like partner dancing situations, doubles pole workshops, spotting students/participants, troupe/group performance practices, and other similar situations.

All pole instructors should be clear about consent when working with students who may need to be touched to assist with instruction.

Consent policies, particularly enforcement and reporting, may also be more relevant in club contexts than a code of conduct. And it is relevant in the case of performers for what may be expected as part of their performance (especially in relation to other performers and/or participants).

 

Consent policies can help clarify expectations. If you choose to have one in your pole dance related business, make sure to be clear, to share it, and be prepared to enforce it.