Opinion

Cheerleading Tryout Rules Aren’t A Problem, Calm Your Tits

Katie Frates Editor-in-chief of The Daily Walkthrough
Font Size:

This week’s tragedy is cheerleading. And you bet your ass it has to do with objectification. And Western values. And white women.

EspnW (emphasis on women, unless you’re white, tan, blonde and fit in this case) joined the mob descending on University of Washington (UW) for posting this infographic about the “do’s” and “dont’s” of trying out to be a Husky cheerleader Friday.

The University of Washington cheerleader guide that appalled so many. [University of Washington]

The University of Washington cheerleader guide that appalled so many. [University of Washington]

Assuming your social justice aneurysm didn’t just burst, let’s break this down.

Tony Barron and others are offended at this infographic because it objectifies women, is racially insensitive and idealizes “Western beauty.”

You know, put on your false eyelashes and your “girl about town lipstick.” Oh, and whatever you do don’t get caught rocking a ponytail or a shirt that covers your midriff … that’s as bad as donning unflattering eye shadow. NOT a good look.

Cheerleading is a sport based in part around looking upbeat, peppy and enthusiastic. The infographic says dark, smokey eyes are not appropriate because, shockingly, they don’t convey pep or enthusiasm. It says nothing about that style looking “unflattering.” It’s actually just using smokey eyes as a reference point for what you want to avoid.

“If you can also make sure you have that perfect sun-kissed, fake tan-induced glow about you — that would be a plus,” espnW continues.

UW would also prefer potential cheerleaders be tan, because being tan is appealing to a large number of Americans. They want to attract as large of an audience as possible to sporting events that bring UW and universities around the country millions of dollars a year. Also, UW is requesting cheerleaders do it in a safe manner with a “Natural tan/Spray tan.” That’s helping promote healthy lifestyles by discouraging tanning; spray tans last a week, so UW may only want you to get one for games. Otherwise, let your pale pride rock. Oh, and white women usually don’t have a “natural tan,” so take a pause on that racial insensitivity.

Who cares if the person in the picture is white? It’s a guideline for anyone who wants to try out to be a cheerleader. If the person was black, it would still be information for Asian and Hispanic girls.

For a sport that has been fighting to be taken seriously for such a long time, this is simply disheartening. It sends the overt message that appearance is the most important thing, if not the only thing that matters.

But actually, appearance is important, and that’s OK. And Barron simply ignores the physical skill honed from years of training cheerleaders need. Schools already send out important information about tumbling and other skills required for tryouts. If anything, Barron and other’s moral outrage is hurting the sport by ignoring the effort and talent required to be a cheerleader.

I can only guess people are upset about “idealization of Western beauty” because a state university in a majority-white country used a white woman on a poster.

So let’s slow our roll, guys. There are a lot of terrible things in this world; endless causes for an endless well of anger: There are child suicide bombers, there are cartels hanging people from highway overpasses, “Firefly” was canceled.

And the real injustice? EspnW confused UW and Washington State University. Massive family-splitting rivalry aside, not all Washington universities are the same, and your disregard for individuality is offensive.

Follow Katie on Twitter

PREMIUM ARTICLE: Subscribe To Keep Reading

Sign up

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use

You're signed up!

Sign up

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use

You're signed up!
Sign up

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use

You're signed up!

Sign up

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use

You're signed up!
Sign up

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use

You're signed up!

Sign Up

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use

You're signed up!
Sign up

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use

You're signed up!
Sign up

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use

You're signed up!
BENEFITS READERS PASS PATRIOTS FOUNDERS
Daily and Breaking Newsletters
Daily Caller Shows
Ad Free Experience
Exclusive Articles
Custom Newsletters
Editor Daily Rundown
Behind The Scenes Coverage
Award Winning Documentaries
Patriot War Room
Patriot Live Chat
Exclusive Events
Gold Membership Card
Tucker Mug

What does Founders Club include?

Tucker Mug and Membership Card
Founders

Readers,

Instead of sucking up to the political and corporate powers that dominate America, The Daily Caller is fighting for you — our readers. We humbly ask you to consider joining us in this fight.

Now that millions of readers are rejecting the increasingly biased and even corrupt corporate media and joining us daily, there are powerful forces lined up to stop us: the old guard of the news media hopes to marginalize us; the big corporate ad agencies want to deprive us of revenue and put us out of business; senators threaten to have our reporters arrested for asking simple questions; the big tech platforms want to limit our ability to communicate with you; and the political party establishments feel threatened by our independence.

We don't complain -- we can't stand complainers -- but we do call it how we see it. We have a fight on our hands, and it's intense. We need your help to smash through the big tech, big media and big government blockade.

We're the insurgent outsiders for a reason: our deep-dive investigations hold the powerful to account. Our original videos undermine their narratives on a daily basis. Even our insistence on having fun infuriates them -- because we won’t bend the knee to political correctness.

One reason we stand apart is because we are not afraid to say we love America. We love her with every fiber of our being, and we think she's worth saving from today’s craziness.

Help us save her.

A second reason we stand out is the sheer number of honest responsible reporters we have helped train. We have trained so many solid reporters that they now hold prominent positions at publications across the political spectrum. Hear a rare reasonable voice at a place like CNN? There’s a good chance they were trained at Daily Caller. Same goes for the numerous Daily Caller alumni dominating the news coverage at outlets such as Fox News, Newsmax, Daily Wire and many others.

Simply put, America needs solid reporters fighting to tell the truth or we will never have honest elections or a fair system. We are working tirelessly to make that happen and we are making a difference.

Since 2010, The Daily Caller has grown immensely. We're in the halls of Congress. We're in the Oval Office. And we're in up to 20 million homes every single month. That's 20 million Americans like you who are impossible to ignore.

We can overcome the forces lined up against all of us. This is an important mission but we can’t do it unless you — the everyday Americans forgotten by the establishment — have our back.

Please consider becoming a Daily Caller Patriot today, and help us keep doing work that holds politicians, corporations and other leaders accountable. Help us thumb our noses at political correctness. Help us train a new generation of news reporters who will actually tell the truth. And help us remind Americans everywhere that there are millions of us who remain clear-eyed about our country's greatness.

In return for membership, Daily Caller Patriots will be able to read The Daily Caller without any of the ads that we have long used to support our mission. We know the ads drive you crazy. They drive us crazy too. But we need revenue to keep the fight going. If you join us, we will cut out the ads for you and put every Lincoln-headed cent we earn into amplifying our voice, training even more solid reporters, and giving you the ad-free experience and lightning fast website you deserve.

Patriots will also be eligible for Patriots Only content, newsletters, chats and live events with our reporters and editors. It's simple: welcome us into your lives, and we'll welcome you into ours.

We can save America together.

Become a Daily Caller Patriot today.

Signature

Neil Patel