Could cheerleading help to challenge gender stereotypes?

"It seems imperative to consider how the sport can be shaped in socially progressive ways,” said Dr Pressland. “Cheerleading is very much viewed as an activity for girls, a safe activity where they can remain girls and women. We were really interested in what happens when boys and girls take part it in it together, for boys in terms of their masculinity and how the gender relationships work within the team.

“We think this would be a fantastic, inclusive, activity for young people to work together at and a place where gender norms could be challenged and played with, particularly as sport becomes very segregated when young people get to a certain age, for example when their bodies are developing.

“Girls tend to drop out of sport between the ages of 14 and 16, but if you normalise girls and boys taking part together then as they become aware of their bodies changing, it's not going to be as big a deal. It is also about building teamwork and having respect among players, being social rather than having this aura of sexuality between the genders.”

Dr Pressland added: “With many sports the focus often ends up being on who is the fastest or strongest. Cheerleading is a very physical, and potentially dangerous, activity where skill is just as important as strength. We found that because of the specific safety issues, people rallied round and were very protective of each other, which you don't find in other sports.”

Hi all,

Would love to hear your thoughts on this report out today about gender stereotypes.

Two of our academics believe that cheerleading has the potential to challenge traditional ideas about gender and to be an inclusive activity for both boys and girls.

Here's what they had to say:



What do you think?

Hi all,

Would love to hear your thoughts on this report out today about gender stereotypes.

Two of our academics believe that cheerleading has the potential to challenge traditional ideas about gender and to be an inclusive activity for both boys and girls.

Here's what they had to say:



What do you think?

There's no way in Hell a boy will want to do cheerleading (unless he is effeminate). Terrible idea...

I don't have a son but if I did there's no way I'd let him prance around like a big fairy doing cheer-leading. I already have a daughter that can do that.

Funny but there appears to be no end of academics straining to piss all over boys natural choices and masculinity.😃

I just got back from New Zealand where co-ed sport is much bigger than in the UK. I thought I was going to get involved in rugby but ended up playing (this is the first time I've admitted this publicly...) netball! In the UK this is traditionally seen as a 'sport for girls' but in NZ they have a much healthier approach: it's an opportunity for guys and girls to play together and generally stay fit & active. I'll be honest - I didn't enjoy the game (too stop-start for my liking) - but the social aspect was awesome and I liked the way it challenged my own and others' perceptions on ggirls and sport

I just got back from New Zealand where co-ed sport is much bigger than in the UK. I thought I was going to get involved in rugby but ended up playing (this is the first time I've admitted this publicly...) netball! In the UK this is traditionally seen as a 'sport for girls' but in NZ they have a much healthier approach: it's an opportunity for guys and girls to play together and generally stay fit & active. I'll be honest - I didn't enjoy the game (too stop-start for my liking) - but the social aspect was awesome and I liked the way it challenged my own and others' perceptions on gender in sport.

So you played netball, but did girls play rugby against guys? (Not tag )
I can see how lads could play netball (ish) or cheerleading but I don't see how girls could play against teenage lads in most other sports full on without restrictions to handicap the lads. They'll be making soldiers walk a mile in high heels next.....Oh... hang on....they've done that.😆

School, College and University are now almost all femininely inclined. Girls and women are excelling whilst boys are falling.http://www.theguardian.com/education/datablog/2013/jan/29/how-many-men-and-women-are-studying-at-my-universityYou can search "Feminisation of schools" to learn more

It appears neither the academics nor posters above have any knowledge of cheer, else they'd know that, particularly at high levels, it already is a co-ed sport. (and certainly not full of batons or pompoms - how clueless!)
Simply , a guy who can toss around a girl above his head with such precision is already way above the league of most other guys (especially those in this thread for instance).

Ratio of straight males to females in cheerleading?