What We Wish "Cheer” Would’ve Done
Like everyone else, we are obsessed with Netflix’s new series “Cheer” and not just because we were featured in several of the episodes. As we wrote in an earlier post, “Cheer” challenges many stereotypes about cheerleading, such as “only rich girls cheer” and “cheerleading should not be considered a sport.” However, as academics who have studied cheerleading in American culture for over a decade, we have to point out some shortcomings of the series - sorry.
“Cheer” perpetuates the stereotype that only gay guys cheer.
We love the fact that Coach Monica goes to bat for her gay guy cheerleaders. She even tells her pastor that she will not budge on her views of her gay cheerleaders. She is fierce in standing up for who they are and for letting them live their lives authentically with no judgment. But, lots of guys who cheer are not gay and lots of girls who cheer are not straight. Have to be careful about stereotyping in all its forms.
“Cheer” highlights but doesn’t explore the complexity of race and cheerleading.
Cheerleading has always suffered from the belief that it’s a “white girl” thing, so it’s great to see African American guys featured so prominently in this series. But where are the African American girls? Take a look at most high school, collegiate, and competitive squads. Not a lot of female diversity there. That is not to say there are not hundreds of African American girls who love cheerleading and have found a home in it, but they have a rough time penetrating many of the traditionally white squads, like the University of Alabama and Washington State University (where we teach). Check out Sharita Richardson, founder of blackgirlscheer.com, talk about cheerleading’s checkered past with race on the podcast “Every Little Thing.”
“Cheer” validates a primary reason why skeptics challenge its status as a sport: big hair, big makeup, and big bows.
On competition day, Lexi, Morgan, Gabi, and the other women cheerleaders look a bit like little girls playing dress up with teased, sprayed hair, lots of makeup, and gigantic bows. They are such great athletes, literally performing death-defying pyramids, tosses, jumps, and tumbling, so it is hard to understand the need for all the hair and makeup. If that type of “look” gives your team a competitive edge at the national championship, then it’s easy to understand why naysayers decry its legitimacy as a sport. Aesthetics shouldn’t count - these critics note, and if it does, then it’s not a sport. (It’s the same argument people use to say figure skating isn’t a sport even though skaters are unbelievably athletic). It’s important to point out that different competitions have different expectations about appearance, and many cheerleaders competing for national championships have sworn off the big bows and showgirl-ish makeup, preferring instead a more natural look. Sure wish the Navarro team would have done the same but maybe it’s because NCA/NDA championships still expect to see the big hair, big makeup, and bows.