A Former Cheerleader on the Piedmont Hills Cheerleading Uniform Ban in School

Back when I was in high school back in the late '70s, when we did gymnastics in P.E., one girl consistently wore her leotards at least one size too small for her, so of course they rode right up her butt, which resulted in her exposing her butt cheeks for the entire hour every day in gym class.  Because of this, she probably received a lot of unwanted attention from the guys in the class, some of which she may have even been unaware of, but she never let on like any of it bothered her, and she continued to wear her leotards in a wedgie every day, this at a time when "boy-cut" leos were still the norm.  Because of her wearing her leos too small, I don't think she even owned a pair that could cover her butt.

My daughter graduated from high school in Florida in 2005. She was a cheer-dancer all four years until the middle of her senior year. She became uncomfortable with wearing the uniform during school and decided to wear board-shorts under her uniform while in class. She said that it was impossible for her to pay attention in class while trying to constantly adjust her clothing so nothing would "show". The coach sidelined her for three games, citing her "lack of school spirit" for failing to wear the uniform correctly. She made the argument that the guys did not have to wear their uniforms, but it fell on deaf ears. She quit the team rather than conform to a sexist policy. I could not have been prouder.

The ostensible purpose of having cheerleaders is to incite spirit. The real reason is to provide sexual adornment to physical combat. The same sexual provocation in a classroom is disruptive and inappropriate. Let's keep sex on the sidelines where it belongs.

At the top of the article you said "Not for the reason you think", then proceeded to expound on exactly what I was thinking, minus what in my mind is the most salient point: who is responsible?

I'm not from the States but I have to assume that the school does not force cheerleaders to wear the uniform to school on game day, which leaves the girls themselves to decide to wear it for whatever perceived reason such as social status.So these girls expose themselves to being 'treated differently' not due to any external pressure, except peer pressure from other cheerleaders.

In the same article you say you always thought it was stupid to have to wear the skirt, but that you were excited to wear it in your early days, which begs the question why you enjoyed it in the first place. After you stopped liking it, who forced you to keep wearing the skirt? Really, you're trying to make it out like cheerleaders of all people are being discriminated against?

Come to my part of the world if you want to see how women are actually 'treated differently'- forced marriage, circumcision, ritual killings for all manner of excuses including just being born, because its more valuable to have a male baby. These so-called reasons are ludicrous, pretty much like yours.

You had one point though which carried the semblance of merit. You shouldn't have to pay for your outfit if the other male teams don't have to- unless you get to keep it. Did you get to keep your cheerleader uniform?

Please don't pity yourself or pass the buck for decisions you made solely of your own volition.

You published a book about parenting? Good Lord

At my high school, back in the late '70s and early '80s, girls could apparently wear skirts at any length that they wanted, so cheerleader skirts were okay. Shorts, however, were off-limits, and I am guessing that this was because if shorts were allowed, guys would want to wear them, too.

I cheered all through jr. high and high school in the late 80's-early 90s and in the south where cheerleading is a big deal and very competitive. However, dress codes and codes of conduct are a bigger deal and because our uniforms didn't meet the requirement for shorts and skirts, we could only wear our uniforms IF we had sweatpants underneath them. Then in high school, when certain guys started wearing extra loose sweatpants and pulling them down for pranks, sweatpants were banned and we could only wear special polo shirts or sweatshirts on game days with jeans like the football players did with jerseys. This was disappointing at first because the squad just 1 year before us were allowed to wear them and usually we didn't have time to change after school but it wouldn't have been fair if the dress code didn't apply to ALL students ALL the time during school hours. In the end, it did mean that we had cleaner uniforms!

Next, the things you wear over your panties are called bloomers and I have NEVER heard them called spankies. Bloomers is not a suggestive word at all. Also, they are not supposed to be worn tight, but many are choosing the wrong sizes out of ignorance or vanity.

As for the length getting shorter, well that is because it became a sport and I guess the author was in it when it was more of a club without stunts, jumps, and tumbling. They aren't "song" girls anymore (sorry USC). However, majorettes and gymnasts wear leotards or things equivalent to swimsuits so that is way more revealing than a cheer uniform! And don't even get me started on the swim/diving teams, wrestling, and girls volleyball! But there are reasons for these uniforms to be the way they are and it has more to do with mobility than anything else. Very few schools today try to get away with letting cheerleaders wear their uniforms to school, especially IF the dress code would determine them unacceptable in this day and age of lawsuits. TV (Glee) is NOT reality in most places and like I said, went out of style in the late 80s early 90s all throughout the south (both urban and rural areas)!

As for the paying for uniforms you don't get to keep-- AMEN! Cheerleaders are forced to spend way more than any group except for maybe dance/drill team at a really superb program and as a cheerleader that had to pay for my own stuff out of my own pocket my senior year (since I had a part time job in the summers) I know how unfair and unreasonable it is.

I also was a cheerleader for 4 years at Venice High School in Venice, Illinois. I don't understand the logic of wearing uniforms to class. This just doesn't make any sense at all. Yes, there uniforms are too short and only should wear to the games. School is not a place for them. Also we actually cheered with the crowd. That is the purpose of cheerleading. I think they have gotten away from that and instead they do more acrobats than cheering. Infact, I've noticed most of the girls don't even understand the game they are cheering for. This whole issue is completely out of hand. Of course being older I see all these issues out of control.

I fail to understand how @moondeath, @clint317 and @RaTyGyVy are commenting on the thesis of this piece. The conversation is really veering into a negative place and I'd like to bring it back.

And @ RaTyGyVy it's been proven women are genetically programmed to cheat in someway in your life you've done it too even if regretted by flirting or by something worse it's hardwired into your system if we took a census you do also realize the amount of guys and the amount of women who say they have been cheated on will be the exact same almost give or take a few and a study took place on a large number scale among the most popular porn websites paid and free streaming and there were by most on a few of the websites more female registered users then males.... it's part of being human we're all perverts but the longer people like you exist and it might take another generation or two for people like you to die to realize "Why is this a bad thing...?" and just let it go I mean gays used to be fine a long ass time ago then this generation hit and suddenly they were outcasts again then to partially accepted... it seems every other couple generations of humans we seem to devolve we will continue to not advance as a race as long as there are ignorant people such as you in this world who rely on morals and what you think is right but let me ask you this human society who the fuck gave you the right to say these things are right and why are they it seems like the center of our problems is the same country I live in now the United States of Assholes which slowly influences the rest of the world you know in other countries things like this are morally accepted and things that are illegal aren't there and the crime rates are so extremely low compared to us it might make you spit up your breakfast in the morning and regret living here I know I do and I really plan on moving soon.

Ok. This piece is about schools. If you, the author, have a problem with something there then please go the route afforded to you by that institution. Otherwise, it seems to me you're just trying to make your opinion public to try and get others to think like you all over. You're probably hoping they outlaw bikini's at the public pool too. It's certainly your business if you want your kids to be ashamed of there bodies and to only think about the body as a sex object. But please stop trying to point out to open minded kids and parents that God will punish you if you're too "revealing". The reason boys have sexual thoughts around short skirts is because you keep reminding them that it's naughty, sexual, and taboo. No wonder they get aroused, because you keep it exciting. Stop making a big deal out of a natural thing and keep your dirty thoughts to yourself. You see wrong and bad because you have wrong and bad thoughts yourself. It's not everybody else, it's just you.

Only a guy can understand the nasty thoughts that go through a guy's mind when girls/women wear revealing or skimpy outfits. It's not a guy's fault what goes through his mind when he encounters such sights, which is why the porn industry is booming, but it is the guy's fault if his actions or comments are inappropriate or immoral. Unfortunately, the natural sex drive in humans often overcomes common sense, and the more a girl exposes her 'assets', the more chance of guys being more aggressive. Guys are 'dogs' by nature. The good ones control themselves better, and show respect towards girls and women. It's the other ones we are trying to protect our daughters from. Not all daughters want to be protected though. It really all comes down to parenting on both sides. Oh yeah BigComeDown, even if you are gay and wear the super small clothing, guys don't know it, and still will stare and have the same 'fantasy' thoughts go through thei

I love how this conversation is becoming prominent. I loathe that some people are taking it so very personally and are attacking the opinions posted here.

And as far as personally goes, when I was a "jock" in school, we always dressed up (think 'church clothes') on game days - boy and girl athletes. Except the cheerleaders, who wore their uniform. Many of the cheerleaders were also basketball players, or track stars...It always seemed a bit silly to me, separating them out from the rest of us. And yes, the cheerleaders paid for their uniforms - they chose which one they purchased, unlike the athletic teams, who were stuck with whatever the coaches chose (white shorts for girls basketball - seriously?). I would l have loved the opportunity to choose what we wore on the court...and would have used all the money I had from my weekend jobs to do so.

This is just one more reason I think a whole student population uniform policy is the best way to go. No athletic uniforms worn in the halls. Regardless of athletic activity, or sex, it puts everyone on the same playing field (pun intended).

Your piece raises some provocative issues. My child's school recently implemented a stricter dress code policy. I wrote a parody (which I posted on BlogHer) about it but am still confused about how I feel about the issue, because I hear valid arguments on all sides---from parents, administration, and students. It's a complicated issue because it raises a lot of questions around some important issues like personal choice, propriety, education, etc. Still trying to wrap my brain around it . . .

I'm trying to think back on life in middle and high schools and while I can't remember every sports team that wore their uniforms on game day, I know that it wasn't applied unilaterally.

I recall the field hockey, lacrosse and cheerleading girls wore theirs - which interestingly all consisted of a skirt (and I never understood why that was the case outside of tradition and "sexiness".) I don't remember about the soccer teams (girl or boy, which both wore shorts) The boy lacrosse didnt', the hockey team (which was boy only :( ) didn't. I don't think baseball (boy) or softball (girl) did. Volleyball (girl only :( ) didn't. Football players definitely wore their jerseys.

It would never have been able to be applied across the board unless it was not wearing the uniforms. The gymnastic team didn't have a letterman jacket or warmup suit I don't think. Wearing a leotard to school pretty much defied the dress code. And who knows if the track and field and cross country team had anything beyond their bloomers (for girls) and 70s style short shorts (for boys) to wear. I couldn't imagine the wrestlers (which had at least one girl, but I don't know what she wore) walking around school in their singlet.

I agree with you. I was not a cheerleader in high school but the girls wore short skirts all the time. And they had the bad reputation. Not sure if any of them lived up to it or not it was just the thing. A little unfair. I have a daughter that has been a cheerleader for the last four years at her private school, 2 middle school and 2 high school so far. The cheer coach ordered them polo shirts that they all wear their shirts on game days as well as their uniform school skirt. The other sports teams wear their game jerseys. Our girls are very respectable and I think the other schools could do the same thing. Cheer is a very expensive sport. I have other children involved in other sports and this tops them all but she loves it and they are parading the girls around at all. Things need to change. Like my husband says boys don't need any encouragement. They can be dressed in ski clothes and it wouldn't matter.

Thanks:)

From an female athlete who had cheer friends, but was not a cheerleader myself: All sports wore something to school. Usually not our uniform. Girls' soccer wore our warm ups, sometimes our jerseys. Football wore their jersey's on Friday (gameday), wrestlers wore their warm ups too (really who wants to see a wrestler in a singlet?).

Anyway, our cheerleaders wore their uniforms when it was warm enough, otherwise they wore their warm up jackets.

I agree that they shouldn't pay for their uniform, unless all sports are paying. This could be a Title IX violation.

However, in general I think dress codes are silly YET necessary. Especially in high school, kids don't need more distraction (both genders). Non-cheerleaders don't want to see the cheerleaders butt hanging out in the middle of math class. Since parents don't take control over what their children wear - then someone has to. A student should understand that what you wear out to a party with your friends on a friday night isn't the same thing that you would wear for a day at school.

I'm amazed at some of the ignorant comments on this post. This isn't about direct attacks on cheerleaders or the sport of cheerleading. This is about discussing a school's dress code choice and having a thoughtful, meaningful discussion about it. It's a news topic, not a public stoning.

I am glad I did not have to wear school uniforms and my child attends a private school that does not require uniforms. It's a shame to take away that individuality in my opinion.

Short skirts of any kind, cheerleader or otherwise, at school are a distraction from the business at hand...education at the taxpayers' expense. Whether they are called spankies, cheer shorts or whatever, to about 1/2 of the population, they are still panties, even if they are covering other panties. I remember sitting next to a majorette on the high school bus (majorette "skirts" were shorter than cheerleader's skirts) when she took her skirt completely off and was just sitting there in her tights. It kind of made my putter flutter.

Dress codes are imposed to keep a minimum standard of dress so that there is not distraction from the learning process. High school should not just be a big socialization party at taxpayers' expense. I am against anything that distracts our children from learning whether it be improper dress, excessive exemptions from class to work on the homecoming float or whatever. Mandatory school uniforms for all students has always been a good idea to avoid the distraction of improper dress and fashion competetion.

Hmmmm .. I was a cheerleader in High School and loved to wear my uniform on game day. We also wore the "spankies" under the skirts and most of the times (especially during cold months) wore panty hose as well. I don't see anything wrong with it. It seems that your view is making it something taboo when it isn't.