to not let daughter do cheerleading?

[undercoverfunster]

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 I think it's pointless, sexist and outdated.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...

DD and DS both did cheer at primary school. They were both more interested in the dance element of it than the gymnastics side.

DD still does dance in a group at university.

I don’t really see the traditional boys’ hobbies and sports as better than the girls’ ones. It’s a bit of an old fashioned attitude.

@hernamewasrio

🤷‍♀️ Call it what you like. If you think gymnasts and dancers and the like wear uniforms...

At my DD's school, cheerleading is like dangerous gymnastics. No-one cheers for any team. It's just a name. It's a fun, athletic, team sport. No-one wears ra-ra skirts or carries pompoms. Why stop her having fun?

@Aridane, not relying on TV memories here. I witnessed female cheerleaders live at all of the sports events I mentioned, most frequently at hockey competitions in Europe. It's imported from America like the stupid organ music, and it's definitely intended as boob-shaking entertainment.🤷‍♀️

laurie I am reserving judgment on rythmic gymnastics because I believe there is a significant lobby to have it made a mens sport at the olympics too.

The thing I hate about gymnastics is the fact that when men do the floor they don't have to do it to music, while the women do.

Looks bloody stupid when you have someone like Simone Biles delivering all that power and athleticism and there's random tinkly music going in the background....

Still baffled by the fact it’s called cheerleading but they are not cheering on any teams so it’s not actually cheerleading is it?

TBH I feel sorry for the men not to have the "random tinkly music" and sparkly costumes in gymnastics floor routine. Why shouldn't the default in life be sequins, sparkle and pizzazz? No wonder we have Drag Race. What a dull old life a lot of men confine themselves to in an effort to be traditionally masculine.

Looks bloody stupid when you have someone like Simone Biles delivering all that power and athleticism and there's random tinkly music going in the background

I couldn’t disagree more strongly.

I find the women’s sport much more rounded and engaging because artistry is part of it as well as power.

Of course the modern era in general isn’t a great example of that but if you want to check out gymnasts who were great artists as well as great athletes YouTube floor performances of people like Podkopayeva and omelianchik.

You sound like another who only values attributes that patriarchal society has taught you to value.

I'm baffled by so called football, where players routinely head the ball or throw it in from the side.

Rugby. Not a rug to be seen.

Cricket - no chirping insects at all.

TBH I feel sorry for the men not to have the "random tinkly music"

Exactly. Men’s floor is such a dull discipline compared to women’s.

Of course there are aspects of cheerleading that are sexist, exploitative of women and reinforcing gender stereotypes (aspects, not all of), but at the end of the day it's her decision. Recognizing and rejecting sexism is something that she needs to do for herself. No one ever internalized moral values because their parents forced them to. And if there is an element of self-esteem and wanting to fit in with the other girls in there, you risk actually alienating her. While, as an adult, you know that people should feel secure in themselves to make their own choices, she is a young child and she needs to discover these things for herself.

@mstswift it evolved from traditional sideline cheerleading where cheerleaders showed their college spirit. As it progressed it became more athletic and technical evolving into what we now know as competitive cheer.

My daughter has developed leadership and team skills, tolerance and strength - I couldn't be more proud of what she achieves on the mat. Pure dedication to her training and she can do more push ups and sit ups than her male classmates. She's happy and confident and that has all been nurtured by her cheerleading squad and coaches.

Good for her. Personally relieved dd has chosen hockey and has developed those skills too - sorry still suspicious of “cheer” watched too many 80s films I guess

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18247069.ready-ok-colburn-cheerleaders-bring-home-trophy-atlanta/

Haven't read all the comments as they seemed to really lose the point. But just thought I'd take this chance to promote cheer as a positive thing and show what can be achieved. This is the team my daughter and I competed with for years before we moved away. They went to a competition in America last week, played the American's at their own game and WON. It's a massive achievement 😁🙌🏼🎀