Manly cheerleader during the NRL, Round 8, Melbourne Storm v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles match at Brookvale Oval in Sydney, Friday May 1, 2009. Storm won 22-8. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox)
For all the talk of sporting codes needing to ‘change their culture’ in the wake of numerous sex scandals, there is one easy change they can make, something blatantly obvious, one of the final remnants of the sexist sporting age. The cheerleaders, grid girls, whatever you want to call them have to go.
It’s just embarrassing and antiquated.
Motorsport is probably the biggest offender in this regard and one of the most odd, if not concerning things I see at the numerous motorsport events I attend throughout Australia is grown men lining up with their kids to get autographs from the grid girls, be they the scantily clad Four X Angels or the like.
It’s a phenomenon I’ve been unable to get my head around.
The Angels perform throughout V8 weekends and they leave little to the imagination.
The 2008 V8 Supercar media guide boasts that the audience of the sport consists of 38% females.
Is that really surprising when the off track entertainment caters for blokey blokes?
It’s driving families and women away from the sport.
Motorsport can hardly claim to be a bastion of enlightened thinking when it comes to equality amongst the sexes.
When IndyCar race winner Danica Patrick was linked with a possible test in Formula 1, the sports commercial ringleader Bernie Ecclestone claimed she should be “dressed in white, like the other domestic appliances.”
Oh dear!
Obviously there is not a direct correlation between having grid girls etc and misdemeanours that have been in the news, but the point is it is a sexist and cheap way of promoting your sport. Sexist in the degrading sense and a cheap and inefficient way to promote your sport, pandering to a specific section of your audience while ignoring others.
Having experienced some of the ‘goings on’ at the Gold Coast Indy and the Clipsal 500, I would have serious reservations about taking children or family to such events.
It’s not just motorsport.
It’s amazing to me that certain news websites, while taking the moral high ground on the misdemeanours of sporting stars and culture of the NRL, are happy to link to the hottest league cheerleaders photo gallery or the like.
At a time when the NRL is facing serious questions about its cultural makeup regarding treatment towards women, is there a place for scantily glad cheerleaders at what should be a family friendly environment?
It’s important to distinguish here too between what image individual athletes present and what the code does.
The aforementioned Danica Patrick has posed for racy shoots with FHM and Sports Illustrated but she, and any other athlete, has the right to pursue whatever career opportunities they wish.
As my Roar colleague Natalie Medhurst states, the sexes should be treated equally and perhaps the different perceptions of male and females doing such shoots points to the inherent sexism still in sport.
There is a difference between the two though. Sporting events should be family friendly environments. The codes should set an example themselves.
For all the criticism that Patrick is a bad role model for such shoots, you have to ask why parents are allowing their kids to read the likes of FHM. Come race time and she is a driver like the rest.
The media has a responsibility here too and as mentioned the hypocrisy of the certain outlets that run trash stories like this and yet act as moral adjudicators in, for example, the Matthew Jones case is pitiful.
It may seem like a bit of harmless fun, but it’s one clear way sports can change their treatment of women.
deq blaque
Guest
As my Roar colleague Natalie Medhurst states, the sexes should be treated equally and perhaps the different perceptions of male and females doing such shoots points to the inherent sexism still in sport. Fair enough, but if you place yourself at the vanguard of sport and come up with nonsense like this then be prepared to go all the way and begin agitating for the real wrong in female sport where they are 'treated unequally', but in the 'over-dog' position, and that is in 'tennis'. don't you think it's time were treated equally and made to play over 5 sets to justify the 'equal money', yet unequal performance requirements they have. you talk of 'blatant sexism etc in your article, but refuse to talk of the one glaring example of the 'armchair ride' female players get in the sport of dennis the menace.
amband
Guest
the author called Danit patrick an "athlete" Just a word in your sell like ol boy. Racing drivers are not athletes.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Thought this should be bumped up to bring back the photo...
amband
Guest
cheerleaders not required. Not part of the tradition of th game. While we are at it, ban entertainers at the gran finals. That's a big expense and we don't go to games and see them
Jim Lawrence
Guest
Oh shure, get rid of the girls. I personally can't iit when those young women rush out onthe pitch or into the stands and rub their sweaty bodies all over helpless males, or females. That just won't do. GIT RID OF'EM I SAY BEFORE THEY GIVE RUGBY A BAD NAME!!! Jim in Nashville
Amband
Guest
Get rid of all enterntainment except the traditional old band. We go to see the game, not entertained by singers, dancers, cheerleaders etc. Plus there is an extra expense to the game having all these people
Mike
Guest
Well said Mick. Last thing Australia needs is more Police State nonsense. If we stop cheerleaders because its antiquated, then I hope you plan to ban rugby, league and AFL all together, as these sports are simply manifestations of parts of the human condition that we all want to be rid of - ie Violence, War and Xenophobia. Sport is so antiquated... How ridiculous. Has it occurred to you that cheerleaders love their job? If they are perceived as a complement to the spectacle and differentiate the live event from TV further (along with mascots and fireworks etc) then they will remain. Australia does not need more moral police (have had enough to deal with from Howard, Rudd and Abbott).
Amband
Guest
quote "The aforementioned Danica Patrick has posed for racy shoots with FHM and Sports Illustrated but she, and any other athlete, has the right to pursue whatever career opportunities they wish." Patricki is not an athlete. The term 'athlete" is used too casually these days Therse girls want the attention of the men playing the sports. They chase them. Let nature take it's course. My only complaint about cheerleaders is that it's not traditional in Australia Sex scandals! So what, who cares
Football Person 2
Roar Pro
Agree with the article to be honest, very nice to look at and all but this is sport. Im sure they can get other jobs.
Dave1
Guest
this from india http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2009/11/26/no-sari-clad-cheerleaders-for-india-sri-lanka-odi-in-cuttack-50188/ "BHUBANESWAR - The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) has scrapped its idea to have sari-clad cheerleaders perform during the day-night ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack Dec 21......... .........the move had invited a lot of criticism within the state and outside. A fringe political outfit Kalinga Sena had threatened to disrupt the match if OCA introduced sari-clad cheerleaders. ......."
Crazy Dave
Guest
Fair enough... Australian media obviously doesn't report their sport stories the way they do ours.... unless you just have to be interested in their sports to find the stories...
Dave1
Guest
Youre right about there being no problems with attitudes to women in american football you have to go right back to November 17 to find any stories on it http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4662777 ".....Reality TV star Tila Tequila filed a lawsuit against San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman alleging domestic violence...... Tequila, whose real name is Tila Ngyuen, alleges assault, battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She said that when she tried to leave his house, Merriman grabbed her by her arms. When she tried to break free, Merriman shook her like a rag doll, the suit said. Merriman threw her onto a couch, hurting her neck, jaw and back, then choked her until she almost passed out, the suit alleges....."
Firestarter Bob
Guest
When they ban magician's assistants then I'll listen to Andrew.
Crazy Dave
Guest
Cheerleaders are present in other countries and in other sports too... Do the same problems exist there? Look at the 20/20 series in India. Those dancing girls who get up and show their stuff at every available opportunity. Have there been problems with cricketers misbehaving towards women? Look at the American Football (where the cheerleaders first started and some say are the best in the world). Are there problems with American Footballers misbehaving towards women? I think this is a problem specific to Australia (and yes it hurts to acknowledge that). I also think it is a problem that is specific to a small no. of sports within Australia. (V8 Supercars and NRL being the obvious targets). Why should we penalise the dancers just because of the attitudes and dancers of a small no. of sportsmen (who are all NRL players, there have been no reported incidents of V8 Supercar drivers misbehaving towards women). Any sport that has scantily-clad dancers is predominantly (always has been and always will be) a manly sport. And what is one thing that 99% of the male population like to look at? Beautiful women!!! Of any age, wearing any clothing!!! So it kind of makes sense that these sports have their dancing girls or gridgirls. I believe that most women prefer to look at other women rather than men.... so it works there as well.... Sure, maybe some of their uniforms could be less revealing, or some of their routines could be less suggestive, but mostly they are good clean fun. And most of the girls would probably not go out there with the intention of showing themselves off to the men. They are just doing their job. And how is what they do any different to clothing models? Or to ballet dancers? Or to car models who drape themselves over the bonnets of expensive cars at Car Shows? Are there behavioural problems associated with any of the men in these industries towards their women? This is an NRL Players problem (thankfully most players aren't involved). It must be stamped out by teaching the players when they are young, how to behave around women, and penalising them severely when they break the rules. Don't penalise the dancers or gridgirls by taking away their jobs. Don't penalise the fans who enjoy watching the girls while waiting for the main event.
Dave1
Guest
You see bad behaviour in other sports. I dont think the game of League is wrong.
MC
Guest
I think LK is missing the whole point of the power women have over men. I am assuming that she is either extraordinarily highly principled or not so attractive. Women DO have this power over men. Do they use it? Yes. Do marketers use it? Yes. The target audience of pro sports is typically men aged 15-50. Most men who like sports, like women. Sex sells etc etc. Blame the weak administrators of "Professional" sports for their lax control over the behaviour of their athletes. Don't blame the fact that good looking dancers there to lead the crowd cheering. Though I also think the dancers and other entertainment should be complementary. PS: I know some professional dancers (not strippers, before you say) who would be disappointed by the above "defenders of women's rights". Some women dance for a living or as a hobby and they enjoy it when in front of an audience that admires them. They know the power they have and they enjoy testing their confidence with that. Good on them!
br mike
Guest
Treat the problem and not the symptom. Clearly the problem with many League players is that they actually can't live balanced lives because deep down inside they actually fear the game itself. If you look at their indicators of psychological and emotional health then you wouldn't have to be Sigmund himself to work it our. Poor interpersonal relationships, drug and alcohol dependency, high rates of post career depression, an incapacity to function within the basic rules of the game. I could go on. Cheer leaders are not the problem so don't try to scapegoat. The game itself is wrong and many can only play at the highest level if they are externalised puppets who have had their value system corrupted.
Amband
Guest
there was a time league and Union never had cheerleaders, for about 70 years in fact. i see no need for them in rugby or league
Lk1699
Guest
It is very degrading to women. The sole purpose of the cheerleaders is exactly what many people have commented on, eye candy. I do not want my daughters to believe that being ogled is empowering. I can think of many wonderful things that are empowering, that is not one of them. These women have a serious lack of respect for themselves and for the people they "perform" for. I don't want it in my home. It is offensived to me and I feel degraded by them. So, no sports in our home. Shame, we loved watching or going to the events before the cheerleaders came along. Why are there no scantily clad men on the cheerleading squads? Why do the sports leagues believe that only women should be degraded? The men are competing, facing the challenge, clashing wits. The women do strip like routines on the sidelines. Be honest. They are there to degrade themselves. They should not be there. The people in the crowd that want to have that kind of entertainment should just go to strip clubs instead. That way we all could watch with our families.
Dave
Guest
you think If they dont like cheerleaders, they shouldnt go to the football?