High Kicks and Low Wages: The price of being a NFL Cheerleader.

[AthenaAwakened]

When the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots sprint onto the field at University of Phoenix Stadium this Sunday, they’ll be framed by the glitter and pageantry of NFL cheerleaders. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine an NFL broadcast without shots of cheerleaders kicking out energetic dance routines, a key part of the presentation for millions of fans. But the dirty little not-so-secret reality for cheerleaders in the National Football League is that they’re paid less than almost anyone connected to the game -- often less than minimum wage -- according to many people familiar with professional football operations.

The seamy underside of NFL cheerleading came to light a year ago with a wage lawsuit brought against the Oakland Raiders by a cheerleader known as Lacy T, who claimed she was paid less than $5 an hour as a Raiderette. That lawsuit, a class action settled for $1.25 million in September, touched off a nationwide debate about fair pay, gender disparity and labor abuses on the peripheries of professional football fields, where tireless young women dance for 10-plus hours a day.

More cheerleader lawsuits followed, against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Buffalo Bills, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and others. Soon what appeared to be an isolated labor grievance was looking more like a systemic problem. In a $10 billion industry where the minimum salary for a rookie player is upwards of $390,000, cheerleaders were making a pittance. Contracts for some teams paid only $125 a game while stipulating a litany of conditions regarding conduct. The women were required to attend rehearsals, practices and charitable events for no additional pay. They had to pay to clean their own uniforms. And those who showed the slightest weight gain were summarily benched, again with no pay.

http://www.ibtimes.com/super-bowl-2...isingly-low-fuels-ongoing-wage-debate-1800684

 

[bilby]

Wait, what?

Cheerleading is done for pay now?

I always assumed it was purely voluntary, done by people who support the team and want to become a part of the action.

 

[Medicine Man]

When the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots sprint onto the field at University of Phoenix Stadium this Sunday, they’ll be framed by the glitter and pageantry of NFL cheerleaders. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine an NFL broadcast without shots of cheerleaders kicking out energetic dance routines, a key part of the presentation for millions of fans.

If the "key"-part, of an NFL broadcast, is the cheerleaders...for some individual...I can't believe they're much of an NFL-fan. A Jr. High student, maybe, but not some hard-core NFL fan. That's primarily why The Steelers have never employed any cheerleaders. They're not (what's considered) an integral part o' the game, for those fans. Besides, women who choose to be "cheerleaders" are simply individuals who are desperate for attention....but, don't have the time for the whole pageant-trip.....

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[Ford]

I know exactly one former NFL cheerleader, so take this with a large chunk of salt...


Like some things associated with professional sports, the starting pay sucks, but the potential earnings are not bad at all. My friend's daughter landed a spot on our local team's squad, quickly rose to captain, and became the public face of the team's cheerleaders. She was plastered on billboards, the team's website, and print media. She landed a gig on a local TV station and is now making more money than her dad (and me).

Sweet, wonderful girl. The daughter of two of the nicest people I've ever met.

 

[Harry Bosch]

I know exactly one former NFL cheerleader, so take this with a large chunk of salt... Like some things associated with professional sports, the starting pay sucks, but the potential earnings are not bad at all. My friend's daughter landed a spot on our local team's squad, quickly rose to captain, and became the public face of the team's cheerleaders. She was plastered on billboards, the team's website, and print media. She landed a gig on a local TV station and is now making more money than her dad (and me). Sweet, wonderful girl. The daughter of two of the nicest people I've ever met.

Could I have her phone number please? Just kidding!

 

[Medicine Man]

I know exactly one former NFL cheerleader, so take this with a large chunk of salt...


Like some things associated with professional sports, the starting pay sucks, but the potential earnings are not bad at all. My friend's daughter landed a spot on our local team's squad, quickly rose to captain, and became the public face of the team's cheerleaders. She was plastered on billboards, the team's website, and print media. She landed a gig on a local TV station and is now making more money than her dad (and me).

Lemme guess.....sales-and-marketing??

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[TV and credit cards]

Considering this is a career that likely has a short lifespan for most, I'd think the pay would be better or they would at least be reimbursed for all their time and money spent.

The .5%; leave nothing unsqueezed.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

Cheerleaders do more than rah rah rah

They are PR reps for the team
They do charity work for the team
They train and practice and risk injury for the benefit of the team

They are also subject to a set of rules that would define them as employees in any other profession but they are carried as independent contractors thus the lower than minimum wage compensation. IN OTHER WORDS, they are being cheated of just compensation demanded by law.

Now this may not bother you, (afterall they are just cheerleaders, right?) but whenever people are cheated and willfully treated as less than, it bothers the hell out of me.

 

[Medicine Man]

Cheerleaders do more than rah rah rah

They are PR reps for the team
They do charity work for the team
They train and practice and risk injury for the benefit of the team

They are also subject to a set of rules that would define them as employees in any other profession but they are carried as independent contractors thus the lower than minimum wage compensation. IN OTHER WORDS, they are being cheated of just compensation demanded by law.

Now this may not bother you, (afterall they are just cheerleaders, right?) but whenever people are cheated and willfully treated as less than, it bothers the hell out of me.

Have you considered formalizing a Cheerleaders Union??

That way, you'd both get the publicity you crave.​

 

[thebeave]

We should just get rid of cheerleaders altogether. Maybe I'm missing something, but isn't it wrong to objectify women in the first place?

 

[AthenaAwakened]

Cheerleaders do more than rah rah rah

They are PR reps for the team
They do charity work for the team
They train and practice and risk injury for the benefit of the team

They are also subject to a set of rules that would define them as employees in any other profession but they are carried as independent contractors thus the lower than minimum wage compensation. IN OTHER WORDS, they are being cheated of just compensation demanded by law.

Now this may not bother you, (afterall they are just cheerleaders, right?) but whenever people are cheated and willfully treated as less than, it bothers the hell out of me.

Have you considered formalizing a Cheerleaders Union??

That way, you'd both get the publicity you crave.​

Effort to unionize cheerleaders could be coming

 

[dismal]

When we get to NFL cheerleaders I can't help feel we're running low on grievances to monger.

I have an instant solution to those who don't think they paid enough to be an NFL cheerleader: don't be an NFL cheerleader. There are thousands of other girls willing to do it if you don't want to.

 

[Derec]

It's a supply and demand thing. Many more women are able to do cheerleading moves and look good enough than there are slots on the cheerleading squads of the 36 NFL teams.
Perhaps if they want more money they should play for the lingerie league.

 

[dx713]

Question: what avenue do women who want to get a high profile athletic carreer have, compared to men, in the US? (or elsewhere, but we're talking football and cheeleading here, so a mostly US phenomenon)
Is there a feminine football league?

Is cheerleading objectification, or a way for athletic women to get part of the big sport events?

When will team sports follow tennis and align feminine prizes with masculine ones?

 

[dismal]

Question: what avenue do women who want to get a high profile athletic carreer have, compared to men, in the US? (or elsewhere, but we're talking football and cheeleading here, so a mostly US phenomenon)
Is there a feminine football league?

Is cheerleading objectification, or a way for athletic women to get part of the big sport events?

When will team sports follow tennis and align feminine prizes with masculine ones?

Women are allowed to play in the NFL or any of the other big money sports leagues.

Where leagues have been created that ban men from playing (like the WNBA) the pay tends to be a lot less than the leagues that take the best players regardless of gender but this is generally not a function of breaches in the fabric of social justice, but of TV ratings and attendance.

 

[Derec]

Question: what avenue do women who want to get a high profile athletic carreer have, compared to men, in the US?

What dismal said. In addition, if they want financial success there are sports like tennis where viewership is comparable to that of men's game. But tennis is a global game without a US-centric league so competition is much stiffer for both men and women. In addition, it's an individual sport so you really need far fewer people further lengthening the odds of a "high profile athletic career".

 

[AthenaAwakened]

It's a supply and demand thing. Many more women are able to do cheerleading moves and look good enough than there are slots on the cheerleading squads of the 36 NFL teams.
Perhaps if they want more money they should play for the lingerie league.

no, it is an illegal wage thing.

There are many more men who can run with a football than there are spots in the NFL, yet starting pay for the lowest, slowest rookie is $390,000 a year.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

you can actually go to college on a cheerleading scholarship.

 

[Derec]

no, it is an illegal wage thing.

Why is it illegal? Those women agreed to those wages of their own free will.

There are many more men who can run with a football than there are spots in the NFL, yet starting pay for the lowest, slowest rookie is $390,000 a year.

Because even the worst NFL player is in the top 0.01% of all people who can play football. Not necessarily so with the cheerleaders as being in the top is not really needed as cheerleading is a sideshow in NFL games. The quality of the cheerleading squad doesn't determine the success of a team but the quality of the players does.

 

[NobleSavage]

I knew on NFL cheerleader who was in school. I talked to two that participated in some Chamber of Commerce function and one time I was at a small bar and there were 20+ of them just hanging out with each other. My impression was that they’re not doing it for the money. Most of them would probably pay money to do it for the attention they receive.