A professional cheerleading job for a national sports team is a role that many young girls fantasize about while they strive for excellence on their high school cheerleading squads. Many professional cheerleaders began their careers as dancers, having spent many years studying ballet, jazz, tap, and more. Competition for a spot on a professional cheerleading squad is highly competitive, but it offers these girls the chance to use the dance and athletic skills they have long worked on.
Along with the recognition and the opportunities that may come through cheerleading, the girls also face rampant groping, graphic comments, and other forms of sexual harassment. Many feel exploited when they are sent into pregame tailgating parties or promotional events, and when they are required to interact with fans, who often treat them offensively in a variety of ways. The perception, in many cases, is that this treatment is part of the job.
Mingling with fans is part of the job in cheerleading. Although some teams recognize the harassment problem and address it through training and handbooks distributed to the cheerleaders, the girls are still at the mercy of tailgate party attendees, high rollers, and more. The fact that fans are often intoxicated plays a huge role in much of the mistreatment.
Even when there is a conscious acknowledgment of what cheerleaders face, they are always required to be nice and never rude, no matter how they are treated. They are frequently reminded that if it were not for the fans, they would not have a job. Many cheerleaders claim that if they objected to certain treatment from fans, they would be dismissed from the team.
If you have suffered sexual harassment at work in any profession, the Philadelphia sexual harassment lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C. can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call 215-569-1999 for a free consultation. We are centrally located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and we proudly serve clients from the surrounding areas, including Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County.
