All-Star Outsider's View Of Cheer

[catlady]

I think instead of trying to change how we act and dress to prevent those few creeps from targeting us, why not create protection from those creeps? I just don't want girls to get the idea that the way they dress is "asking for" the negative attention, because they're really not. Its those few people who view it badly. +

What you wear SHOULD NOT determine if someone CHOOSES to view you negatively. It's a society issue, really. I think people choose to believe that the way people dress shows what kind of person they are, when in reality it doesn't.
When i say "target" i mean in the way someone takes pictures of, follows, or any other inappropriate actions that really shouldn't be happening at a competition.

No, women do not ask to be hurt nor do they ask to be posted on social media without their knowledge but, I don't buy the line that we don't ask for "attention", we just don't want the negative attention. If I could rewind to my younger years and walk through a mall in a cheer uniform with a crop top and a short little skirt that barely covers the southern border or put a warm up on, I would have chosen the uniform. And, I would have had no doubt as to why because, me and my friends would have strutted that little skirt and enjoyed the fact we were turning heads as we sashayed confidently by.

We can't be naïve, that uniform is considered "professional" only in the porn industry. And, whether it is a society issue, or not, it doesn't matter, we can't change their attitude if we don't change ours. Wearing the warm up won't stop it all but, it will stop a lot of it. The pictures I've seen out there are not of girls competing, although I'm sure there are some. The pictures I have seen are very candied and close up.

 

[Fierce_Elite]

*I'm viewing this topic as "a creepy person is in the venue" kind of subject, fyi*

I disagree with this a bit, i don't think gyms are purposefully trying to set a bad image. I think (for the most part) uniforms are very professional. I think instead of trying to change how we act and dress to prevent those few creeps from targeting us, why not create protection from those creeps? I just don't want girls to get the idea that the way they dress is "asking for" the negative attention, because they're really not. Its those few people who view it badly. Yes there are some uniforms that are more revealing than needed for the sport, such as random cutouts, but cheer uniform companies seem to be trying to find the right balance between athletic and fashion. Its a hard mix, really, to create a uniform that sets a good example of what the sport is about, and to be different and show a fashion statement.
I mean, fully clothed from head to toe or wearing a uniform, if some creepy person chooses to target you, you're going to be targeted, regardless of what you're wearing, and i know that someone is going to reply to this with "but a crop top is more targeted"... probably. But if every single girl in that venue wore their warmups all the time and just changed for the performance, wouldn't those creeps just go watch the performance? Wouldn't they still target someone walking around in a uniform? What you wear SHOULD NOT determine if someone CHOOSES to view you negatively. It's a society issue, really. I think people choose to believe that the way people dress shows what kind of person they are, when in reality it doesn't.

When i say "target" i mean in the way someone takes pictures of, follows, or any other inappropriate actions that really shouldn't be happening at a competition.

I get what you're saying. However, I have seen countless of uniforms that are deemed to be too sexual. As said before, There was even a gym that was in a news article about their uniforms being "too sexy." I know its not the athletics fault, but the coaches should be more considerate about what they have them wear. No matter the age. I also saw cheerleaders wear their uniforms in the mall. While there is nothing wrong with that, they should at least be covered up. But they didn't have any type of jacket on or anything just bare uniform and it was cold outside. So yes I do believe that they are asking for a attention. NOT NEGATIVE ATTENTION, But some type of attention, yes. You're done competing, you're at the mall, why not have on warm ups? You still stand out because of all the sparkles and makeup. I just think that would be more appropriate.

This is kind of off topic, but if any of you have ever been to Kings Dominion, than you would know they will expect you to be fully clothed when leaving the water park area. You can't walk around the entire park in a swim suit. So why not think of it like that? I wouldn't even feel comfortable in a two piece uniform showing my bare stomach inside a non-competition area. But maybe that's just me.

Again, if hair and makeup is your excuse, than obviously this is something they want to do.

If you have a jacket, you can just sip it up and you won't have to worry about messing up your hair and makeup. Even if you have a t-shirt, you can put it on before you do hair and makeup.

I don't believe any of us are asking for negative attention but again, some type of attention, yes.

 

[Fierce_Elite]

Double post sorry: But this is another reason why people don't think we're a sport. Or should be considered a sport. We choose to wear out uniforms as a fashion statement when we're done competing. A lot of cheerleaders complain about hair and makeup. We are seriously the only sport that I know that will wear their bare uniforms in a mall, store, or whatever, and still complain about hair and makeup when the entire comp is over.

Every one else, even dancers, wear a warm up over their uniforms. Dancers don't even go out in public in their dance uniform actually. Not that I know of at least. If gymnast can cover up when they're not competing, if dancers can cover up when they're not competing, than so can cheerleaders. Hair and make up is no longer an excuse for me cause you put on your T-shirt before you do hair and makeup and you can zip up a jacket without even worrying about hair and makeup. If you have a sweater and not a fleece, than again, BEFORE HAIR AND MAKEUP.

 

[amy1k]

Double post sorry: But this is another reason why people don't think we're a sport. Or should be considered a sport. We choose to wear out uniforms as a fashion statement when we're done competing. A lot of cheerleaders complain about hair and makeup. We are seriously the only sport that I know that will wear their bare uniforms in a mall, store, or whatever, and still complain about hair and makeup when the entire comp is over.

Every one else, even dancers, wear a warm up over their uniforms. Dancers don't even go out in public in their dance uniform actually. Not that I know of at least. If gymnast can cover up when they're not competing, if dancers can cover up when they're not competing, than so can cheerleaders. Hair and make up is no longer an excuse for me cause you put on your T-shirt before you do hair and makeup and you can zip up a jacket without even worrying about hair and makeup. If you have a sweater and not a fleece, than again, BEFORE HAIR AND MAKEUP.

Eh...this is not true at all. I've brought football and baseball players in uniform out to dinner or the grocery stores after games more times than I can count. And they care plenty about their hair.

 

[Fierce_Elite]

Eh...this is not true at all. I've brought football and baseball players in uniform out to dinner or the grocery stores after games more times than I can count.

But that's football players and basketball players. They are fully clothed.

 

[amy1k]

But that's football players and basketball players. They are fully clothed.

I was commenting on your statement that cheerleaders are the only athletes to wear their uniforms out. *shrug*

 

[Fierce_Elite]

I was commenting on your statement that cheerleaders are the only athletes to wear their uniforms out. *shrug*

I said the only sport that I know of.

 

[FierceIsTheName]

See my standpoint is due to being raised by a feminist sister. I STRONGLY believe the way women and their bodys are viewed and treated wrongly due to men's views. Women's bodies are viewed inappropriately for literally no reason. I've seen COUNTLESS male cheerleaders walk around shirtless at competitions, but we can't show our stomachs? Our thighs? My shoulders? If you have a problem with my belly button, my shoulders, my legs, or anything for that matter, thats YOUR problem. You can't expect a mass amount of people to change just because of one or two people that CHOOSE to cause a problem. Instead of making women feel shamed for wearing what they want, why not call out the people causing the problems?
This is a video about victim blaming. Its more about sexual crimes and other problems, but it applies in many ways.