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?

Sakura, the US version is not as you have described it. The idea that it was sexy is a very recent invention. US Competitive cheerleading is done in isolation, not as part of a football event. At the kind of cheerleading alongside football you are referring to, it was traditionally a mixed male and female activity (starting as men only prior to the 20th century) and it only became about sexy women in the mid 1970s for commercial reasons.

I thought the article was ridiculous as it seemed to show no understanding of what cheerleading as a sport involves, which is simply lazy journalism.

To answer your question, I would not want my DD to do gymnastics (other than the bare minimum at school) as an activity, because she is not a gymnast, she is a dancer. As such, cheerleading is useful to her because it uses gymnastic moves within the context of group dance routines and is a good additional form of dance to her other disciplines. Pure gymnastics is a very different skill.

Most little girls are thinking of High School Musical style then skantly clad Redskins - esp int he UK.

showing the sort of routine "cheerleaders" are expected to do now. The whole premise of this show is that Universities in America even offer scholarships in cheerleading - so it can't be considered that low grade.

Milly, I didn't describe the US version. I clicked on a youtube link and saw it with my own eyes.
I didn't ask about gymnastics, I too would love it if my daughter had a flair for dance, but I'D never put her in cheerleading for the same reasons I wouldn't put her in modelling

Sakura, cheerleading is not porn. You are putting up links of very specific commercial forms of cheerleading and not looking at clips of cheerleading as a sport.

It would be like me putting up clips of 'Hot Ice' at Blackpool pleasure beach Ice rink theatre and then claiming that ice skating is porn rather than a sport.

Cheerleading is a form of dance. It as often taught as Cheerleading & Freestyle dance. It is regulated by the British Gymnastics people I think? (might be wrong).

I see it as a type of dance, which is a subset of a type of sport.

DD does it after school in a club and really enjoys it. They have done demos in assembly at school and it is a really good way to engage the kids into fitness.

BUt the name itself has connotations that I personally am not happy with. It indicates that the "sport" does not exist in its own right.

dd1 takes aprt in cheerleading as an afterschool club at primary school. its a mix of dance and gymnastic. she has learnt a lot and is very active.they dont cheer for boys.

i think some boys do it as well.

That's because it originated from cheering at sports the first one being Johnny Campbell in 1898.

It's how it began whether or not people are/are not happy with it.

I think the biggest argument against Cheerleading is that George Bush Jr used to do it.

No way really?

TheCoalitionNeedsYou Mon 04-Oct-10 14:22:50
I think the biggest argument against Cheerleading is that George Bush Jr used to do it.

isnt that the arguememnt against crocs as well?

I don't think Crocs need GBJ in order to make an argument against them ;)

politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushcheerleader.htm

partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/061000wh-bush.html

thanks for that Columbus link, misdee - very impressive

I'm trying but failing to embrace this new modern cheerleading.

www.ukca.org.uk/

It does still seem quite decorative, what with the girls in full make up.

I think it is just very difficult to get away from the 'ass-shaking for the jocks' image. I can see that this modern cheerleading is not doing that however.

I think I would be concerned if my DD was doing cheerleading (in trakkies and an airtex at school) that she might start looking up on youtube, and admiring, the more traditional type of cheeleading.

Yes you see for me, full make up isn't normally a requirement of a sport. (Can't imagine Paula Radcliffe feeling the need to ensure her eyeshadow is blended correctly before a marathon.)

Although I suppose it is for something like ballet, which is an extraordinarily challenging dance and no-one who isn't truly athletic can manage it.

Iceskaters wear makeup. Gymnasts wear makeup.

I am quite relieved to read this thread. I assumed cheerleading was what it sounds like and used to be - ie cheering on male sports participants in miniskirts and cleavage. Am pleased to find it isn't. And yes, clearly Caitlin did zero research. The joys of being a highly-paid times columnist eh?

ballet dancers, other kinds of dancers, gymnasts, acrobats all wear makeup because what they do has a theatrical/interpretive element, which I actually think is good. I think the music adds an important element. Better than just sport IMO.

If the cheerleading in schools is just gymnastics and dance, why don't they call it "gymnastics and dance"?

Because it's cheerleading?

Football is running and kicking, you don't call it that.

I think football should change its name to running and kicking. It would get rid of its connotations of hooliganism, gang violence, racism and players with a reputation for rape.

They should change the name of it.