Does cheerleading still have a negative stereotype?

[Anonymous]

My 10 year old daughter is begging me to put her in gymnastics because she wants to try out for cheerleading in middle school. I must admit I'm not too excited about this prospect. I remember there being a lot of negative stereotypes about the cheerleaders in my High School, although I never really new the girls that well, so I can't say whether the stereotypes were fair. Just wanted to get opinions from parents of kids who are in middle/high school. How is cheerleading regarded now a days? Do you have a sense of what the cheerleaders are like at your kid's school?

[Anonymous]

I think this is a tough one- our DD was interested in it (but is no longer going to a HS where it is offered) and my position to DH who was VERY against it, was, if she wants to do it and enjoys it, who am I to stop her?

At 10, she has a LOT of time before HS.

We subtly discouraged it by signing her up for other activities and I admit did not show here registration forms and solicitations sent in the mail for it. But we never said "No" b/c then I think it would have become a MISSION for her to do it.

That being said, my BF in HS was a cheerleader and she went on to become a Neonatal doctor. Another friend is a scientist.

If I were you, I think I would let her do gymnastics, but also expose her to other sports- LAX, field hockey, swimming, and see what she takes to. Cheerleading in some places has evolved into more of a dance squad type thing.

[Anonymous]

Most of the private schools don't have cheerleaders. Most of the girls seem to be more interested in team sports. Public schools may be different - my niece was a cheerleader in HS a few years ago and it was defintely more of a dance squad, competitive cheering thing. She and her friends kind of fit the old cheerleader stereotypes though. And they either went to community college or no college (this is from one of the good Fairfax county schools where college is a typical path).

[Anonymous]

Don't know how cheerleading is regarded now, but if your daughter wants to learn gymnastics, I would sign her up for classes - maybe she'll end up staying with gymnastics and forgoing cheerleading altogether.

[Anonymous]

I think we should be careful not to steer our kids away from activities because of stereotypes. Would you also steer your son away from lacrosse because of the rich-thug stereotype? My sister in law wouldn't give her son music lessons because she didn't want him to become a "band nerd" (her term). It seems to me we should help kids to break stereotypes -- not perpetuate them.

[Anonymous]

If by negative stereotype you mean are they the cute, popular girls who all the girls want to be and all the guys want to be with, then yes - it still applies.

[Anonymous]

I was a cheerleader. In our school the cheerleaders were the smart and nice girls, but not necessarily great looking girls. The poms were the slutty popular ones. Just sayin'. I think the stereotypes about cheerleaders probably vary by school.

That said, I definitely have discouraged my own daughter from cheerleading. I told her I'd rather she tryout for a sport than spend her time "cheering" someone else who tried out for the sport. If she wants to cheer, she can sit in the crowd. I also pointed out how the cheerleaders only seem to cheer for the boys teams not the girls, and how lame it was that there was basketball for only the boys and cheerleading for only the girls.

Yes, I know that "cheerleading" is a highly gymnastic "sport" these days, but I still take a dim view of it even though I participated in it. If it was only a sport with competitions, and not a sport which provides the half time entertainment for another team and yells positive messages from the sidelines, I might have a different view.

She's 9, but she gets it. She wants to be a Senator, not a cheerleader.

Of course, at 9, she's still grossed out by the boys because all they do is talk about boogers and poop. The idea that being a cheerleader might actually attract one of them to her still seems horrifying to her.

[Anonymous]

Good for your daughter, PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a cheerleader. In our school the cheerleaders were the smart and nice girls, but not necessarily great looking girls. The poms were the slutty popular ones. Just sayin'. I think the stereotypes about cheerleaders probably vary by school.

That said, I definitely have discouraged my own daughter from cheerleading. I told her I'd rather she tryout for a sport than spend her time "cheering" someone else who tried out for the sport. If she wants to cheer, she can sit in the crowd. I also pointed out how the cheerleaders only seem to cheer for the boys teams not the girls, and how lame it was that there was basketball for only the boys and cheerleading for only the girls.

Yes, I know that "cheerleading" is a highly gymnastic "sport" these days, but I still take a dim view of it even though I participated in it. If it was only a sport with competitions, and not a sport which provides the half time entertainment for another team and yells positive messages from the sidelines, I might have a different view.

She's 9, but she gets it. She wants to be a Senator, not a cheerleader.

Of course, at 9, she's still grossed out by the boys because all they do is talk about boogers and poop. The idea that being a cheerleader might actually attract one of them to her still seems horrifying to her.

Even privates have dance teams or groups that perform at festivals and sports. Cheerleading is more gymnastics. Many of the girls on DT and cheer are too small to play varsity sports in HS. Some do DT or cheer in an off season for another sport. DT/cheer are usually fall and/or winter.

[Anonymous]

Schools usually have either more traditional cheerleading which incorporates a lot of tumbling or gymnastics and a poms squad or "dance team" that is more dance oriented. Some schools have both.

In either case, cheerleading or dance squads have become much more "legit" with the involvement in tournaments and competitions related to cheering/dance. Once the football or basketball seasons ends, the squads usually kick it into high gear for "competition season" (like what you see on ESPN2).

If she is interested in gymnastics, it seems like she is willing to take cheering seriously (as opposed to taking an interest in it just for popularity or other stereotypes). You should totally be behind her--certainly for the gymnastics, at least.

I was on the dance sqaud (super intense) and then switched to regular cheerleading (much more laid back and fun) in high school and loved both. FWIW, I ended up going to a top university and am now a lawyer--no community college for me, like the girls pp mentioned!

[Anonymous]

Just because someone was pretty and a cheerleader in HS doesn't mean they are vapid. I was a cheerleader, also took the maximum number of AP courses, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa (junior year) and summa from one of the most elite colleges in the country. I liked cheerleading because it was fun! Part of that fun, I admit, was being chosen and considered pretty, sure, but c'mon, that doesn't mean one can't also be a nice person and intelligent. I really thought we had given up the idea that a girl can be pretty or smart but not both.

[Anonymous]

second most injuries after football.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:second most injuries after football.

This is true- think there was a huge WaPo article on this a few years ago- very sad.

That being said, football was my brother's passion, and though my parents were always concerned about the injuries, it truly created memories and a support system for him to get through HS and college- school was very hard for him, but his involvement in football is what pushed him through.

I think we should take our cues from our kids, let them express their interests, and not focus on what other kids are like, but helping them become their own person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you also steer your son away from lacrosse because of the rich-thug stereotype?

Absolutely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you also steer your son away from lacrosse because of the rich-thug stereotype?

Absolutely.

true that.

i also steer away my boys from video games. not sure if this is apples and oranges though...