Cheerleaders have nothing to cheer about

Cheerleaders – those familiar figures who flank the edges of a sports’ field, frequently commanding the gaze of the audience, and in some cases, the players themselves. They’re supposed to be symbolic of feminine charm, beauty and enchantment, but not many realize that cheerleading is one of the most stressful sports in the world.

A cheerleader’s job is much harder than one might believe – not only does it require intense sportsmanship, and for the cheerleader to always be on top of their game; but it also demands that the cheerleader always looks her best too. For example, the Baltimore Ravens’ rulebook demands that “all fair-skinned cheerleaders must have a warm skin color tone for every game day”, through “tanning and/or spray tanning”.

If the claims of BBC’s report are right, cheerleading may be one of the hardest jobs in the world. A bit of unseen skin flab, a tiny pimple, an insignificant change in skin tone, a waxing job gone bad… are enough to send a cheerleader packing. Cheerleading doesn’t sound all that cheerful anymore, does it?

In America’s National Football League, more commonly known as NFL, three lawsuits have been filed against football clubs on charges of being underpaid, horrible work conditions or, even, unwanted sexual contact. BBC reports that it’s very likely all of these cases hold water, considering the state of cheerleading in the American football picture.

Women are even subjected to “jiggle tests”, where they are assessed on their appearance in the official outfit. If deemed “out-of shape” (their definition of the phrase probably being very different from the rest of the world’s), they are issued warnings and eventually fired if there isn’t any “improvement”.

A cheerleader’s job also pays pittance, being paid only $100 for every game – while all their work at practices, promotional events, and voluntary work goes ignored by their employers.

The worst part is the sexual abuse cheerleaders face everyday – from heckling and groping to more serious assaults. “Let’s be honest,” Gabrielle Montemege, a former Buffalo Jill cheerleader has been quoted saying. “You’re an NFL cheerleader and you’re standing in front of 10,000 drunk guys all the time.”

Their job is representative of male chauvinism and gender hegemony in one of its most basic forms: a group of beautiful girls who have suffocating ideals pressed upon them, made to cheer on men as they display their “masculinity”.

While these cheerleaders put in hard work, their demands usually go unheard and brushed under the rug. A job which demands being top of on your game all day, every day – cheerleaders deserve much more credit than they get.