FFS. 1 in 4 schools offers "cheerleading" as a sport.

[HerBeatitude]

wtf is going on in schools?

This article says it all for me.

How can we make these schools stop it and encourage girls to take part in sport for their own achievement instead of to cheerlead for the boys?

DD1 10 and DD2 9 both do cheerleading at school, which doesn't bother me too much...but.....they also do bellydancing complete with jingly belts (which I had to buy at £4 each).

My 20yo DB was shocked and asked when do they start lap/pole dancing lessons lol

I don't really agree with it but I don't want them to be left out when all their other friends are doing it.

They want Rara skirts and such but I always send jogging bottoms and a long sleeved t-shirt!

I think it might have been because I preferred the cricket jumper to the skanky netball airtex. (Joke)

if wishes were horses, beggars would ride...

Yes, it would be lovely if all the girls were allowed to, and wanted to, play football or rugby or cricket or whichever team sports were available.

But all the girls don't. So anything which will get them off their arses, even if it is called cheerleading, is better than nothing

Would have been fecking mortified by a rara skirt.

And if it were called lapdancing Ponders?

Or pole dancing?

And you have to ask why girls don't want to play football.

Like I say, as soon as my DD saw Elizabeth from Pirates of the Caribbean playing football in Bend it like Beckham, she wanted to play football. She'd never wanted to before, since she was very young and first became aware of her gender duties.

Liketosleep - belly dancing was never just a female dance, it was only because of the tourist industry and Hollywood's portrayal in films that it took on its slightly sleazy image, also informed by a slight racism as well - all that fetishitistic harem-obsessed mystic oriental stuff (anyone remember the Fry's Turkish Delight ads from the seventies? Cringeworthy).

There are a few famous men belly dancers as well and men have always done it.

I've never heard of that.....can't imagine a man throwing Shakira moves!!

Many things have been sexualised where others don't see it the same way.

Look at these pole dancers where in India its a sport

DD intends to do cheerleading at Secondary school. I am quite happy for her to do so, and don't see why football would be preferable. Neither DD or DS have the slightest interest in football or yoga. Both DD and DS have done cheerleading at primary school. DD does 3 other forms of dance, but appreciates the way dance is integrated with gymnastics in cheerleading.

I don't know how cheerleading has developed in the UK, but in the US it is a sport and requires a lot of skill. The outfits worn by cheerleaders are no more revealing than the outfits worn by netball players or ballet dancers.

It is repulsive to compare it to pole or lap dancing. Cheerleading has nothing to do with the sex industry.

Of course you can use cheerleading skills as an adult. Many of the more difficult formations, lifts and throws are banned in under 18 cheerleading competitions. You have to be in an over 18 squad to do them.

Cheerleading involves large amounts of dance. What kind of person intends to never dance as an adult. I have never needed to be able to play football as an adult, but there have been many occasions on which I have danced at social gatherings. Many men cannot dance, presumably because they were not taught as children.

"And if it were called lapdancing Ponders?
Or pole dancing?"

But it isn't and I don't imagine either of those are done in groups outside on a football field either

'Cheerleading has nothing to do with the sex industry.'

well, except that there is a whole genre of porn devoted to it.

There are also whole genres of porn dedicated to female gymnasts, dancers, schoolgirls and nurses.

Generally, if an activity is associated with women, there will be porn about it.

Do you have the TV show "Hellcats" in the UK? Kind of like Glee but based on cheerleading rather than singing/theatricals - it's a very physical activity that, as everyone has said, is more like co-ordinated gymnastic displays than the old-fashioned type of cheerleading. Perhaps it just needs a new name...
Boys are an absolute necessity in it, by the looks of the show.

I think what is disturbing about this thread is people debating whether or not it should have the status of a sport.

Cheerleading is a coached, physical activity that due to its gymnastic nature has relatively high risks when compared to other athletic activities. As such, it is essential that it is treated as a sport for health and safety purposes. It is considered to be a sport by the Sports council and by gymnastic associations, and as such has trained coaches and regulations that are put in place to reduce risks.

The idea that it could be taught in some half-arsed way in schools, and that it should not really be considered a sport on the grounds that it is done by girls in skirts and is therefore somehow less of a sport than football (football=important because kicking things is apparently a useful adult skill) is bizarre. To remove its sports status would present injury risks to the children, mostly girls, involved.

you forgot teachers & maids, Milly

Cheerleading is far more of a sport than darts or snooker....

I think you're missing the point Milly.

The point isn't is it a sport - if it fits the definition posted earlier, then of course it is. The point is, is it actually being taught as a sport, or is it being taught in a way that is in place of a proper sport?

I would expect that in schools, it would be. (Though perhaps my expectations are too high...)

lol at this thread

I can't see a problem with it. Dd spent most of her infant PE being a tree in the hall (think it was like indoor PE, never quite got it). Can't see how cheerleading is worse than that.

I am lol at darts and snooker. Ds would LOVE to get away with those for PE. In fact, darts would fit right in with growing obesity levels and more inactive children.

Sad fact is that if your primary state school child has any inclination for any sport, you sign them up to an external club (for football, cricket, rugby whatever). Unfortunately, that's the reality these days.

PE is about teaching physical education, not sport. DS does a lot of dancing in PE lessons at school. Dancing is most definitely not a sport, although it is still heavily regulated by various governing bodies.

The important issue is whether or not cheerleading is being taught safely and according to appropriate regulations. It seems unlikely to me that a school would risk not following regulations.

at that youtube link to the Washington cheeleaders. With what I've seen recently- that and the clip of those Hooters' girls being forced to eat beans, are American women so downtrodden?

For me the problem is in the name, and in that link to the Washington women.
I'D like my daughter to do something for its intrinsic value, so any dance- ballet, traditional, hip hop... All those can be sexy, but the point is not the sexiness. Hip hop is often done in gender-neutral clothing, for example.

it's in the name, the connotations that the entire purpose of its existence is to buoy the male game and, let's be honest, to look good.
I'm glad the UK version isn't like that, from what people are saying here, but why not call it gym? Why "sell" it with a "cool" image? I loved that guardian article when she said growing up all she could think was "thank god we don't have cheerleading."

The children in UK are increasingly suffering from health issues due to not getting enough exercise/overeating/eating highly fattening food.

There is nothing wrong with cheerleading it is nothing like pole dancing and has no sexual correlation whatsoever. It is choreographed dance which also uses chants/songs.

I don't see how you can have a problem with it, it gives people other options and not everyone is going to like football or rugby etc.

I think most of the problems with it is in its name tbh.

Because of its appalling connotations.

It's not just the connotations.
Above, people said "yes well nurses and teachers are represented in porn"

BUt in the US cheerleading is porn. I had a look at another Washington "Football's First Ladies " link and they've all got breast implants. THis is real life. UK girls are probably going to aspire to be like the "real" cheerleaders in the U.S
Take a look at this

Children don't have the connatations. The only people who try and make it something more than it is are adults.

For goodness sake - it is just cheerleading. It is dance and gymnatics combined. Yes, sometimes they were short skirts and t shirts to do it - hmm, you mean like women usually do for netball, tennis, etc? They just happened to be coloured ones as they often where a group pattern or colour.

I do think people get themselves het up over very trival things, sorry.