This year, there have already been three lawsuits filed against professional football clubs in the National Football League (NFL) arguing that the scantily-clad, well-trained dancers who work the sidelines aren't compensated fairly for their work, at best, and are subject to degrading work conditions and unwanted sexual contact at worst.
Cheerleaders from the Oakland Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills have all filed lawsuits claiming the teams don't pay them a fair wage.
The lawsuits have shone a light on the hazards of what's traditionally been seen as a fun, glamorous job for female football enthusiasts.
PERK: A national stage. For many women who grew up taking dance lessons, it's a chance to both continue to learn and to show their skills in front of a national TV audience.
PROBLEM: Every inch is scrutinised. According to the Bills lawsuit, women are subjected to "jiggle tests," where they are judged on their physical appearance in their outfit and told which problem areas need work. Too many warnings for an out-of-shape body could lead to sitting out a game.
ANALYSIS:
Jiggle tests? Well, I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise. I mean, everyone has seen the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. It's no secret that they don't just look like that because they do. They work for it. They put in the countless hours of training and working out to look the way they do. That's part of being a cheerleader. That's the whole institution. While it is sickening to think of the 10 year old girl with her radiant spirit and spunk being discouraged from trying out for cheerleading because she still has a tummy, that's the name of the game. Not to crush little girls' dreams, but to have a bunch of scantily clad, tan blondes cheering insert team name here to a victory against rivals insert opponent team here. The problem is the salary. To feel like their hard work goes unnoticed is certainly not fair, especially considering all the negativity they take.
I think that the law suits were rightfully filed. This reminds me of stories from the Dallas cowboys cheerleaders.
ReplyDeleteByron Otis- Hmm. I've always found Cheerleaders kind of scary. The sort of jollity that they're forced to perform for hours on end borders the line between peppy and performance art.
ReplyDeleteas a dancer, i don't really feel sympathetic to these girls (sorry) they CHOSE to audition as a dancer and acknowledged the consequences before even making the team- they know it pays very poorly, and you have to be in peak physical condition. I know that sexual harrassment is very degrading to women, but that is something entirely different than minimum wage. Dancers know that our salaries are going to be slim.
ReplyDeleteTyra Harris, 5th period
DeleteI agree with you 100%! It's no secret that NFL cheerleader have to be in tiptop shape during the football season. This should come as no surprise to them. They've all signed contracts and are well aware of the expectation to keep their bodies fit. If they don't want to do it, they should get another job. Simple.
Cheerleading is such a creepy and degrading profession. I am not surpises it pays poorly as well. I agree with Byron.
ReplyDelete