All-Star Hairgate 2015 - Mom Upset Daughter Is Off The Team Because She Wont Straighten Hair For Competitions

[Perkyninjamomma]

First, there was no "offer" to drop a level to utilize a different hair style. Next, there has been no change in ownership/coaching at WE. This whole situation is terrible and no 11 year old should have to deal with this. Her mother chose to go to the media with "her" story and I personally don't understand how it is newsworthy. I am comfortable with our decision and although it doesn't feel so good reading some of the comments about our decision, we have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from everyone who knows what we stand for. Is there more to the story? Absolutely. However, I feel that it is best to just let it go at this point. I only hope that people can use their better judgment and know this decision was more than just about hair.

Drops mic...
And boom. End of story.
(Susie mom doesn't need anymore attention. Therapy, maybe.)



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[getsum]

the only uniformity i care about is the actual uniform itself and the performance/athleticism. anything else... such as skin color, hair color, makeup, hair-do, hair type, ethnicity, body type... i just don't give a crap a about that.

i wonder why this obsession with hair doesn't spill over to the boys on co-ed teams. actually, im just glad that it doesn't.

 

[SL&AM]

the only uniformity i care about is the actual uniform itself and the performance/athleticism. anything else... such as skin color, hair color, makeup, hair-do, hair type, ethnicity, body type... i just don't give a crap a about that.

i wonder why this obsession with hair doesn't spill over to the boys on co-ed teams. actually, im just glad that it doesn't.

I'm actually surprising you're not in here throwing around party and confetti gifs and memes at the fact that of all the gyms to grab an ABC headline in a less than favorable way; it wasn't your most favorite team ;p

 

[Pebbles49]

the only uniformity i care about is the actual uniform itself and the performance/athleticism. anything else... such as skin color, hair color, makeup, hair-do, hair type, ethnicity, body type... i just don't give a crap a about that.

i wonder why this obsession with hair doesn't spill over to the boys on co-ed teams. actually, im just glad that it doesn't.

I definitely agree with your statement 1,000,000%... I wish I can BOLD your statement because this is exactly how I am feeling and the direction cheer should be going...

 

[gofriars610]

Member of the pale club right here! I just learned lately how to pull it off with my undertone and the right hair color...

any tips? pretty sure my skin tone in that picture is called "corpse"
---
I have a friend who is a nun, in the old-school, habit-wearing variety. I felt SO bad I couldn't immediately pick her out when I saw her...but when everyone is wearing the same thing and a veil covers all of your hair...

 

[KPep]

any tips? pretty sure my skin tone in that picture is called "corpse"
---
I have a friend who is a nun, in the old-school, habit-wearing variety. I felt SO bad I couldn't immediately pick her out when I saw her...but when everyone is wearing the same thing and a veil covers all of your hair...

Well, the best trick to find your undertone is to look at the colors of your veins on your wrist. If they're blue or even purple-ish, you have a cool undertone. If they are green, you have a warm undertone. If you can't really tell, you are probably neutral.

From there, a quick look on the internet for hair, makeup and clothing colors help a lot. I always look like a corpse on pictures... except lately. Someone even said I probably went to a taning salon because I looked darker.

 

[Tator tots]

This was just on the national news. I'm sorry, but I find this unbelievable. As I would've preferred straight hair throughout the cheer years, it was always high and curly. Curling my hair with steaming heat, spraying a can of hairspray, spending an hour and 1/2 to two hours curling every week too. And IT WAS MANDATORY

I have no sympathy for this family. They are making this something that it is not and its embarrassing and deceitful.

 

[purplecheer]

Exactly. For all hair types. I don't understand why everyone doesn't wear one.
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Wear the pillowcase?

This was just on the national news. I'm sorry, but I find this unbelievable.

National news?!

 

[purplecheer]

Drum core style marching band requires absolute uniformity down to shined shoes and belt buckles. Most college bands these days are the same. The dance line and color guard wear exactly the same makeup and hair. Everyone has the same everything. Most dance lines and a lot of color guards have uniform inspection and weigh ins. If you don't make weight or look acceptable in the uniform, you don't go on the field. Same with college cheer. You fit the look or you don't make the team.

Gymnastics requires hair to be restrained and off the shoulders. You must wear a Leo. You lose points for shorts over it.


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Make weight? It's not the DCC. I find that unacceptable. Also what is color guard?

 

[ChicCheerMom]

I'm black, and have VERY thick, curly hair. Trust me when I say that she could have definitely styled the hair without straightening or damaging it.

My daughter is natural and wears crochet braids to achieve whatever look our gym wants. If anyone watched the CA Charlotte showcase last night, there is a girl on Sr 1 who has short natural hair. She wore the same hairstyle with a cute headband bow all last season. There was also a girl last night with the cutest blond bob who was a flyer. She looked great. I really hope this wasn't about her daughter's hair and there was other factors coming into play.

 

[GreatWhite92]

Make weight? It's not the DCC. I find that unacceptable. Also what is color guard?

My sister had to weigh in for college game days as a majorette at an sec university. If she was 5 pounds over her tryout wait she would sit out that game. Eta: they would also sit you out if you were 5 pounds under.


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[cheer25mom]

Make weight? It's not the DCC. I find that unacceptable. Also what is color guard?

Most college dance lines have weigh in before each game. Anyone not within the weight range for their height doesn't dance. Color guard is the flag line. Some are as hardcore as dance teams, so more lax l.


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[ErinS]

Wear the pillowcase?
National news?!

No. Clearly you wear the satin scarf and bonnet and sleep with your head on the satin pillow case.




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[MomMomMamaMom]

First, there was no "offer" to drop a level to utilize a different hair style. Next, there has been no change in ownership/coaching at WE. This whole situation is terrible and no 11 year old should have to deal with this. Her mother chose to go to the media with "her" story and I personally don't understand how it is newsworthy. I am comfortable with our decision and although it doesn't feel so good reading some of the comments about our decision, we have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from everyone who knows what we stand for. Is there more to the story? Absolutely. However, I feel that it is best to just let it go at this point. I only hope that people can use their better judgment and know this decision was more than just about hair.

I think this is a great example of a well written and classy response by a gym representative. I am impressed!

Aaaaaand now I'm thinking of pita bread. PITA bread... newest addition to the Fierceboard picnic?

@gofriars610 What's streetfunk? It sounds interesting.

And IDK if anyone else has picked up on this, but ItsOnlyCheer could be the mom. Makes sense, you know?

Commenrs by someone named Marie appear more like the mother to me.

It's very clear that there's more going on here, and I think it's somewhat ridiculous that hair discrimination in cheer is even a thing, with everything else that is wrong in the world.

I have a hard time taking the story seriously because it equates her actual hair with "giving her power" and implies that her straightening her hair would somehow compromise her talent, so the article itself doesn't even seem to handle the topic seriously.

I can see how it might be valuable to take a look at the image that is being sought after in cheer. Is it biased? Does it match the demographic if who participates? Does it reflect the athleticism and seriousness of the sport? That could have been an interesting conversation I suppose.

That being said, Cheer is one of the least individualized activities I can think of. I believe in individual expression and choices, but was also comfortable with my own CP being told she could not color her hair how she wanted during comp season. it was an easy conversation to have with her.. ' If that's important to you, we can find somewhere else to go, or you can find something else you want to do." I never would have imagined going to the gym and asking for an exception.

I guess it might have been a tougher conversation if it came up this late in the season ( after the amount of $ spent and time invested) but I can't imagine that after as many years of cheer as that family said they had, they didn't know that they would have to comply with a hairstyle.

 

[mamabear]

Cosmo online has picked up the story too.

We usually have to leave dinners and the pool early on the night before comps, to get CP into curlformers. The next morning we are up about 2 hours before the rest to complete the look. This was with a Mini calltime. It NEVER ONCE occured to me to complain or ask that my unicorn be exempt.

I am really salty about this story going national. I don't like selfish people.