Netflix's "Cheer" Unveils the Dark Side of US Cheerleading Culture
- Written by Sarah Stendel
- Approx. Reading Time: 3 minutes
Broad-set shoulders - "Indicative of the widespread trend, American cheerleaders flaunt broad shoulders"
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' signature look - think 'hot pants', midriff-baring blouses, fringed vests with stars, and cowboy boots - has been the talk of TikTok and other platforms since Netflix's docuseries last year. With the iconic "Thunderstruck" choreo repeated thousands of times, their fame has soared. The new season, now streaming on Netflix, shatters the glossy image of the first, revealing a toxic underbelly.
With Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell attempting to project a more positive image this time, their instances of cruel judgement and hidden toxicity are harder to ignore. "You're too much in your head!" or "You're thinking too much!" are just examples of the hurtful comments hurled at the dancers. While overthinking might impact their performance, suppressing their thoughts could lead to detrimental effects on their mental health, as shown by dancer Chandi's burnout.
The young women are discouraged from expressing their ideas, a fact highlighted by the backlash after season one, when the NFL's multibillion-dollar business was revealed to pay the cheerleaders a meager wage, forcing them to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
However, after the dancers' hesitant rebellion, they secure a 400% pay raise - a hollow victory in the face of a toxic culture that hardly acknowledges their struggle.
Empty Sisterhood and Blatant Double Standards
The cheerleaders are constantly reminded of the lifelong sisterhood, but the top seems to be lacking in solidarity. When dancer Amanda speaks up for better pay, Judy belittles her, stating, “But your jobs are what make you so impressive!” Such small, reactionary, and unfeminist moves make the cheerleaders' lives even tougher.
Another example is the dancers' uniform - while they excel on the field, off it, they are deprived of suitable clothing, as seen in Reece's exhausting nightly hand-washing of her white panties using a toothbrush.
The backlash from season one seems to have left the Cowboys and the NFL team unscathed. Shrouded in ambiguity are incidents like the alleged leak of the women's strike plans and the specifics of Chandi's suspension, reinstatement, and replacement's departure.
Director Greg Whiteley delves more into these issues in season two, including a particularly uncomfortable scene focusing on the brutal evaluation of candidate, Dayton's body, underlining the intense pressure to conform to body standards, as evidenced by Victoria's struggle with an eating disorder and depression due to the same reasons.
Contrasting this somber tone is Victoria's newfound freedom in New York, liberated from her past and the DCC's expectations.
"Cheer" season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
- Netflix
- What?! Has the glossy image of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders been shattered, revealing a darker side to their culture?
- While the cheerleaders' iconic look has taken over social media, the new season of Netflix's "Cheer" reveals the toxic underbelly hidden beneath.
- Behind the scenes of their fame, dancers are subjected to harsh, hurtful comments and a culture that suppresses their thoughts, leading to detrimental effects on their mental health.
- The cheerleaders' ideas are often discouraged, as shown during the backlash over their meager wages and multiple jobs, despite their NFL multibillion-dollar business.
- Even though the cheerleaders are reminded of their lifelong sisterhood, the top fails to show solidarity, leading to small, reactionary moves that make life even tougher for the women.
- One example is the lack of suitable clothing for the dancers off the field, as shown in Reece's exhausting nightly hand-washing of her white panties.
- The NFL team's response to the backlash from season one appears unscathed, with ambiguity surrounding incidents like the leak of the women's strike plans and details of Chandi's suspension, reinstatement, and replacement's departure.
- The new season dives deeper into these issues, including an uncomfortable scene focusing on the brutal evaluation of Dayton's body, highlighting the intense pressure to conform to body standards.
- In contrast, Victoria's newfound freedom in New York provides a somber tone, liberated from the DCC's expectations.
- Books, movies, and TV shows that explore similar topics of entertainment, pop culture, and sports, such as sci-fi and fantasy or American football, can offer further insight into the complexities of these industries.
- However, the cheerleaders' rebellion leads to a 400% pay raise, but it remains a hollow victory in a toxic culture that does not fully acknowledge their struggle.
- Online platforms like social media and streaming services like Netflix have allowed entertainment content to reach a wider audience, including the story of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the dark side of their culture.
- Celebrities and sports figures, such as athletes in football, soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, or even mixed-martial arts, have been involved in similar scandals, raising questions about the ethics and fair treatment of those in the entertainment and sports industries.
- The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA Basketball, WNBA, and even racing leagues like American football, grand Prix, horse racing, and weather forecasting analyze the performance, strategies, and choices of their athletes, much like sports betting enthusiasts do when analyzing games.
- The winding road of the cheerleaders' journey touches upon themes like entertainment, sports, pop culture, and, most importantly, mental health, reminding us of its importance in our daily lives, just like the weather forecasting in tennis matches or auto-racing events.
- As we venture into the world of entertainment and sports, let's not forget to acknowledge the darker aspects that lie beneath the glossy veneer and adapt to create a healthier culture for everyone involved.
