Want to be a Cheerleader: Don't Be "Thick"

Anonymous

Want to be a Cheerleader: Don't Be "Thick"

I was watching a recent episode on CMT of "Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team," which is a reality show about the 8 week process, plus auditions, of young women trying out for and hopefully making the prestigious team. DCC as it's called, is one of the most well known football cheerleading squads in the US. As such, their standards are extremely high and expectations for rookie and veteran candidates alike are strict and unyielding.

Want to be a Cheerleader: Don't Be "Thick"

On this particular episode, a veteran of the team was told in front of the squad during a rehearsal by one of the choreographers: "I'm not calling you fat, because you're not, but you do look thick" dancing around. Later on, in a closed door session with the directors of the team, again, it was mentioned that she looked very thick in the tiny unforgiving uniforms, to which one of the dance coaches said, "I'll be the first to admit, I'm fat, and I've got some weight to lose too, and I'm working on it, but I also don't have to be in that uniform."

Want to be a Cheerleader: Don't Be "Thick"

I actually do believe there are just some jobs where ones weight/look and the maintenance of said look, should be a requirement. I would require, for example, a sumo wrestler to have a certain amount of girth as dictated by the sport, a quarterback to be more tall and lean, a ballet dancer to be more lithe in respect to her partner who must continuously lift her up over his head and that partner to have enough muscle to do such lifts safely, and if a uniform is skimpy and leaves nothing to the imagination, I'd probably also require the person in that uniform to be able to fit into it and maintain the toned look because as mentioned over and over again on the show, they are going to be on jumbo tron screens broadcast around the world, and those screens are not kind to anyone.

Want to be a Cheerleader: Don't Be "Thick"

Everyone can't do everything. Certain body types are better at some things than others whether you're big/small, tall/short, muscular/thin. I don't find a problem, when a job is largely appearance based, or where it's been proven that certain body types tend to work best in certain jobs like in sports, that they be a requirement for the job. It's one thing if you are just blindsided and don't know that the jobs require a certain look, but for many of these jobs, the players, models, actors, dancers, and cheerleaders alike are told by those companies, that there is an expectation that they maintain a certain look or level of athleticism. It is literally part of your job description on contract, and if you can't do that, they are made aware that they will be let go or are free to work elsewhere without such requirements.

Want to be a Cheerleader: Don't Be "Thick"

I mean, nothing is forcing them to be there to begin with or in this case, even audition for these jobs, but these people choose to do so, so I don't see how we the public or the people gunning for those positions, can feel slighted by it. Every job you will ever work, has it's set of rules, and it should only become a problem if a job is not appearance based or based on physical skills, and/or applicants were not told up front of such requirements with solid backings as to the reasons why the jobs are looks based. The veteran cheerleader in this case took it all in stride, agreeing that she would workout in her free time to get back into shape, but there have been those on the team in previous seasons who haven't, and they were just as soon let go because of it.

Want to be a Cheerleader: Don't Be "Thick"
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