Oh and don't forget to be white! Like that wasn't implied. Disgusting UW decision on cheerleader qualifications https://t.co/5IXWvp3NbI
— cheryl (@ehcsztin) April 27, 2016
And here's what's wrong with America. University of Washington publishes do's/dont's list for cheerleader tryouts. pic.twitter.com/0nngE22pGL
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) April 28, 2016
The University of Washington made a bit of a misstep when they published a guide to cheerleader “do’s” and “don’ts” — solely focused on very specific physical qualifications. The infographic was shared on social media this week ahead of try-outs for the team, featuring a white, thin, young blonde woman dressed in a black sports bra and shorts. Some of the prescriptive “do’s” include “girl about town lipstick,” “physically fit, athletic physique,” “curled or straight hair” and a sports bra. Don’ts include “too much makeup,” “tops that cover the midriff” and “visible tattoos.” (The horror!) Needless to say, many people were not thrilled.
This is not intended to disrespect cheerleaders or their commitment to an athletic pursuit most of them take very seriously. I’ve seen cheerleading competitions, and while I find the overt hypersexualization of young women- Hell, children- to be disturbing, there’s little doubt but that those involved are passionate about what they do. For that, more power to them.
No, my problem is with an athletic pursuit predicated on the elevation of men and the belief that the highest calling of womanhood is to be found sexually desirable by men. The graphic shared by UW is distressing primarily because of its honesty. It reflects the standards that apply to most cheerleaders and an attitude that women are most attractive to men within narrow bounds- White, blond, slender, compliant. The fact that the rules listed apply most specifically to White women is also problematic. The “classic” definition of beauty as being first and foremost White is something that shouldn’t be endorsed and advanced by a public institution of higher learning.
The poster was created by the cheerleading squad. Following backlash, the school’s athletic department asked them to remove the image, as the UW athletic department explained in a statement to People magazine:
In response to a high volume of student questions about cheer and dance team tryouts, a member of the UW spirit leadership team created a graphic aimed at providing interested students information in preparation for the tryouts. The graphic was removed immediately, after a UW athletic department official saw it and determined that some of the details and descriptions provided were inconsistent with the values of the UW spirit program and department of athletics. Athletic department officials have reinforced the values of the programs to UW spirit leadership, and look forward to an equitable and diverse tryout process for interested students.
I suppose there are two ways of viewing cheerleading, each of them having their proponents. One is that it’s a legitimate athletic endeavor, a sport engaged in by those who enjoy the challenge presented by an activity which allows them to support major sports at their school. The second is that, as athletic as it may be, cheerleading is a relic, an archaic reminder that the place of women is to be subservient and supportive of men. (OK, I understand there are also male cheerleaders, but they’re a pronounced minority…and it doesn’t really negate the argument against cheerleading.)
We can- and should- continue to work toward a world in which equality of treatment and opportunity is the norm. That’s going to be tough to do when women act as their own worst enemy by perpetuating archaic, narrow definitions of physical beauty which exclude the majority of women.
Beauty is so much more than White, blonde, and slender. You’d think that women in the 21st century would have moved beyond willingly participating in their own objectification and defining their worth based on whether or not men find them sexually desirable.
The more things change….
