Cheerleaders upset over new law

[Cobra]

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20070114-062406-4542r

BINGHAMTON, N.Y., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Cheerleaders at Whitney Point High School in upstate New York must cheer for the girls' teams as well as the boys' to comply with a new federal ruling.

The New York Times reported that half the cheerleading squad at Whitney Point dropped out upon learning that they would be cheering for girls.

"It feels funny when we do it," said Amanda Cummings, 15, the cheerleading co-captain.

The new ruling comes from federal education officials in light of Title XI, the law meant to guarantee gender equality in student sports.

Whitney Point is one of a group of schools in upstate New York complying, but not everyone is cheering. The Times reported that game schedules needed to be changed. Also, some schools have stopped sending cheerleaders to away games, preventing the girls from going on the road and meeting their rivals.

[lily]

The New York Times reported that half the cheerleading squad at Whitney Point dropped out upon learning that they would be cheering for girls.

"It feels funny when we do it," said Amanda Cummings, 15, the cheerleading co-captain.

That's rather odd.

[Cobra]

What, that she would feel that way. That's what I think but that's how people are.

[lily]

Yes, that they would feel that way.

Just thinK. A whole new generation of homophobes.

[Cobra]

Yep people are extremely homophobic especially in my high school, kinda makes me sad.

[slappy]

It could really come down to a number of factors:

1. These kids are suddenly being told they have to attend double the number of games. For some students, that would make the commitment too much to balance with studies, part time jobs, what have you.

2. Some cheerleaders probably only sign up to spend time around the boys' teams or at least the more popular boys' teams.

3. They've got some weird gender role baggage about being a cheerleader, maybe seeing themselves as sexual or romantic support for their "men". (Not literally, but perhaps symbolically.)

4. They're all afraid the rumours about the girl's field hockey team are true. ;)

[Drocket]

I don't quite ge what the problem is here. Back when I was in high school, my school's cheerleaders cheered for pretty much everything: football (boys), baseball (boys), basketball (boys and girls), soccer (girls), and so on. As far as I recall, nobody gave it a second thought. The football games always got priority, pretty much being the top sport around here, but whenever there was a free weekend, the cheerleading team would attend whatever sport happened to be in season.

[Flea_Bit_Monkey]

I like cheerleaders.

Womens sports are boring though.

[Professor]

"It feels funny when we do it," said Amanda Cummings, 15, the cheerleading co-captain.


Perhaps because of the overtly sexual routines? Thrusts and U dips don't seem so approprate when there's other girls around. Or perhaps they are worried about being upstaged by other women? Of course when there is a football game going on that isn't a competition, cheering vs the game. But volleyball or soccer vs cheerleaders?

I do think it's a gender thing more than anything else. Though as Slappy said for some people it may simply be a time issue.

[Flea_Bit_Monkey]

I do think it's a gender thing more than anything else. Though as Slappy said for some people it may simply be a time issue.


There is also the issue of job satisfaction. Womens sports don't have the prestige or popularity of mens sports, so naturally to some cheerleaders it will seem a complete waste of their skills to cheer at womens sports.

[Labrocca]

In my high-school years 84-88 the cheerleaders cheered for the girls volleyball team. I don't think we had any other girls teams at the time.


I think slappy might be right and if they are saying the cheerleaders have to do X more games per year to be gender compliant they may not want to do it. I don't blame them. Why not setup 2 squads..one for boys teams and one for girls teams. I bet a lot of boys would cheer for the girls. :) I know I used to show up on girls games and gymnastics just to watch the hotties perform. One of my favorite high school girlfriends was on the gymnastics team and oh how tight her little body was! Ugh...man she was hot.

[wonder cow]

This is so stupid.

(1) Girl's basketball < Boy's Basketball
(2) Cheerleaders are for the crowd, not the team. Once on the court, I stop noticing the cheerleaders.
(3) How many come to watch boy’s bball versus girls?

I think a Simpson quote is just the thing:

I’m sorry, Lisa, but giving everyone an equal part when they’re clearly not equal is called what again, class? ‘Communism’!”

[Professor]

There is also the issue of job satisfaction. Womens sports don't have the prestige or popularity of mens sports, so naturally to some cheerleaders it will seem a complete waste of their skills to cheer at womens sports.


Excellent point Flea. Though I would argue in highschool the women's sports do have some prestige as some boys like to go watch the hotties preform. See Labrocca's post for more info.