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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not let daughter do cheerleading?

464 replies

undercoverfunster · 13/02/2020 13:41

Am I BU? She's 8, school have a cheerleading club once a week. ( they don't actually cheer a team, just learn routines) Some of the 'cool' girls do it, so now she wants to. I think it's pointless, sexist and outdated. And the 'cool' girls are also the not-very-nice ones in her year, who make fun of her for being in the football team.

She''s a VERY active kid, plays football and tennis competitively, swims, runs, plays basketball. All of which she loves so doesn't need the exercise.

She has tried various 'girls' activities over the years ( to try to keep in with the 'cool' girls) but gets bored of them quickly ( dance, gymnastics, musical theatre, ballet, netball).

I just think cheerleading is shite! And sends the wrong message to girls - don't cheer for the team be IN the bloody team.
And I sure a heck don't want her quitting something useful to try it for 2 months and get bored...

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Randomactofkindness · 14/02/2020 19:05

You are very ill informed about cheerleading and YABU - it is an amazing team sport for girls and boys and is all about team spirit, strength and talent. Look into it before you dismiss it.

Alsohuman · 14/02/2020 19:07

It isn't a sport. Sexist and demeaning to girls

It is a sport. A very demanding one. It’s empowering if anything, if it was sexist and demeaning, my very feminist stepdaughter definitely wouldn’t have done it.

Rachel1874 · 14/02/2020 19:32

Just let her do it... there are worse things in the world than a little girl who wants to learn routines and dance with her friends.

DreamTheMoors · 14/02/2020 19:34

@Nowayorhighway

Still fuming over the Revolution are we?

jwpetal · 14/02/2020 19:41

I was a cheerleader and it is a sport. I did competitive cheer. Think jumps, tricks and pyramids. It requires gymnastics, balance, coordination, cardio and list goes on.

You don’t mention what this class will be, but you can ask. I have seen cheer that is overly sexualised. You can check on this. Set the boundaries, but also research.

angell84 · 14/02/2020 20:04

@jwpetal it doesn't make sense tjat competitive cheer is a sport.

Cheer - who are you cheering for . You win by being the most cheeriest?

Tript · 14/02/2020 20:09

Just because cheerleaders still experience disgusting sexism doesn't mean the sport is sexist. It's not the fault of the athletes if leery old men are perving n instead of admiring their skill.

paws they have positions on the team just like any other sport. And just like any other sport, this is usually predicated on your build, skill set, stamina etc.

winkywonky · 14/02/2020 20:21

Support your child! Nothing worse that listen to people drone on about sexist behaviours at age 8! Where do they get these ideas from, parents like you. If my son wants to be a cheerleader, I will support him and let him make his own mistakes in life. They have to learn somewhere.

glennamy · 14/02/2020 20:27

I hope her Dad is not so narrow minded... It is what she wants to do not YOU!

Deadheadstickeronacadillac · 14/02/2020 20:33

Omg, have any of you bad mouthing it actually watched cheerleading? Is it hell about cheering for a team of boys! They compete for themselves and are bloody amazing.
My school has 5 squads who compete nationally, we are an all girls school so who gives a toss what the boys think.
The coach is an incredible teacher who manages the girls in such a way to truly get the best out of them. The trust and teamwork skills they learn will stand them in great stead as they grow older.
I am defo an old school teacher who rates academia above all else, but blimey our cheerleaders are sensational.

angell84 · 14/02/2020 20:42

@Deadheadstickeronacadillac that is how it is done in your school. You do know that is not how cheer is done everywhere.

Many cheerleaders do cheer on boys teams.

NitNat78 · 14/02/2020 20:54

Let her do it and no doubt she will get bored of it and stop anyway from what you've said. If you don't let her it might become a bigger deal

Grannyjo1957 · 14/02/2020 21:41

I don't think you're being unreasonable, however I don't think it would do harm to let her have a go at it. Chearleading is shite, I agree. I'd have been mortified if any of my children had wanted to do it.

WorkHardPlayHard1 · 14/02/2020 22:06

Concentrate on the footy if thats where her skills lie! Steer her clear of anyone bitchy, life's too short for standing on the sidelines when she could be scoring goals with her team and getting the glory 😜

Original poster
undercoverfunster · 14/02/2020 22:50

’I hope her Dad is not so narrow minded... It is what she wants to do not YOU!‘
She has two mams, which is why the ‘sexist’ and gender stereotyping accusations are so flipping hilarious...

OP posts:
Herbalteahippie · 14/02/2020 23:15

YABU let her try it for herself it could be a good life lesson

Crafty11 · 14/02/2020 23:33

Have you seen all star cheerleading? It's a sport. I used to be in an adult team. It's athletic

Janedoe82 · 14/02/2020 23:53

Haven’t read all the posts but you sound a bit smug. To be honest I wouldn’t bother with the cheerleading- at age eight she is already too old if she hasn’t got the gymnastics foundations. I say that as a mother of gymnasts.

Notanotheruser111 · 15/02/2020 00:14

Even the Netflix cheer show says in the first episode . After college there is no sport. That cheer teams for professional football teams do more dance then cheer as a sport. So the paid or professional version is still the sexy dance type. They should call it something else break from cheerleading completely because they are amazing athletes

And BTW if pole dancing is all about strength and core why do all the classes near me require you to wear ridiculously high heels.

M3lon · 15/02/2020 01:13

oh yeah...of course cheerleading is an athletic sport....that's why so many athletic boys take it up...SO good for the coordination and flexibility...uhuh.

When there are as many boys as girls getting into cheerleading...that is when my DD will no longer have to climb over my dead body to do it.

PineappleCocktail · 15/02/2020 01:15

You've got to let her have the choice to have a go at whatever she fancies. Otherwise what are you teaching her about feminism?

Floofboopsnootandbork · 15/02/2020 01:34

You win by being the most cheeriest?

Maybe actually look up competitive cheerleading, what goes into it, and what it actually takes to win before you say stupid shit like this Hmm

Mummyrowland · 15/02/2020 02:15

@angell84

My daughters kit was shorts and a full length top. The coach banned makeup and tans for them except lips and a bit a
Of glitter.

My uniform was leggings and a t shirt. It's not all small tops and small shorts!

Mummyrowland · 15/02/2020 02:17

@angell84
You win by being the most technical the most precise and the most advanced on the difficulty level. You have to be spot on or you get deductions, it's all a bit like gymnastics or ice skating or dancing re how to win

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 15/02/2020 02:24

I’m aware that it’s not just girls looking pretty shaking about pom-poms

But the idea is so dated regardless of how competitive and technical it is and has become