The rise of women’s sport in Australia has undoubtedly been a win for feminism. The next logical step in equality is to balance the entertainment at women’s matches. That’s why the call for male cheerleaders at all AFLW games has been met with widespread approval.
As pointed out by Peter Fitzsimons, the concept of cheerleaders at male dominated sports is antiquated and deeply sexist. And offensive to women.
It does however beg the question why many, many women voluntarily participate in cheerleading.
It also does not explain why my 8 and 10 year old nieces at a Dragons match last year were only interested in meeting the Flames – the Dragons cheer squad.
But I can only vow to the wisdom of Peter Fitzsimons who in his article went on to mention that and now include that article content from this point
There has been an interesting contretemps with the former captain of the Canterbury Bulldogs cheerleader squad Darcie McDonald – now a journalist with Big League – ripping into Russell Crowe of Souths and other NRL clubs who have done away with cheerleaders.
“I find that absolutely hilarious,” she told Macquarie Sports Radio. “I grew up going to the footy. I probably went for the first time as a newborn. I remember one game I went to when I was about eight years old and I didn’t really understand footy at that age.
“I went purely for the cheerleaders. So I can guarantee you it does not make children uncomfortable. In fact in my Year 6 yearbook when I was asked what I want to be when I grow up, I wrote ‘cheerleader’. I will never be ashamed of being a cheerleader. It’s catapulted me into so many other opportunities. I am just baffled about how people are offended.”
But perhaps the point is this with male cheerleaders at sporting events, young men who don’t have a keen interest in sport may have the opportunity to pursue something they are interested in, and comfortable with, and no one can argue with that.
