Issues With Title IX: Why Cheerleading Isn't Properly Recognized

Cheerleading being recognized as a sport has been an issue for a long time, and many different court cases such as Biediger v. Quinnipiac University have hashed this out in the past. To me, it’s unfortunate that none of these cases have opted to change the athletic status of cheerleading under Title IX, which would be a huge step towards the progression of the sport.

But a few days ago, I made the most fulfilling discovery…

I’ve been dreaming of the sport’s proper recognition for a long time now, and as I was searching for arguments to back myself up, I found an article from UC Berkeley Law called, “From Cheer to Fear: Why Cheerleaders Need More than Just Their Pom Poms to Protect Them from Sex-Based Discrimination.” In my opinion, the author, Sophie Rebeil, did an amazing job arguing that the issue lies primarily within Title IX’s definition of a sport, demonstrating that the definition ultimately subverts the initial purpose of Title IX. 

This brings me back to the main purpose of this blog upload: to share my thoughts on why cheerleading should be considered a sport under Title IX. In this post, I’ll be sharing some of my opinions that go along with the arguments that Rebeil made. Let’s start off with why this is important to begin with.

First of all, Title IX prevents any forms of sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and gender stereotypes. Cheerleading could really use these protections, and I’ve written another article about cheerleading gender stereotypes which, if you’re not familiar with this issue already, you may want to check out. Even from personal experience, I’ve received many comments based on assumptions that cheerleaders are all dumb, mean, and unathletic, which plays into these stereotypes.

This recognition is also important because it would improve the legitimacy of cheerleading as an athletic activity, not just under the law, but also in the public eye. In other words, legally declaring that cheerleading is a sport under Title IX would improve the sport’s image and consequently lead more people to recognize and respect it as one.

Why, like Rebeil mentioned, does the issue lie in the definition of a sport under Title IX? Title IX seeks to allow women’s preferences for sports and, although cheerleading isn’t inherently a “female” activity, it’s currently female-dominant. To summarize Rebeil’s argument, cheerleading meets all of the OCR requirements for being considered, especially when compared to NCAA recognized sports such as bowling and rifle. In terms of OCR factors, these sports only differ from cheerleading in terms of their NCAA benefits. 

Alongside a lot of other factors, she uses this to argue that it has a lot to do with the sport’s “historical inclination towards performance, aesthetics, and sexualized body display.” This, in turn, creates a “male baseline” for what is considered a sport, essentially degrading women who participate in such an activity. 

Additionally, another version of cheer has been created to comply with Title IX’s definition of a sport, which is called Stunt. It’s basically cheerleading without the performative elements (crowd engagement, dance, flashy choreography), further demonstrating how the Title IX definition of a sport prefers less “feminized” elements. 

Now, there is a ton more the Rebeil has to say, since this is only a small portion of what she’s written (go check it out!). I completely  agree with all of her arguments, especially considering the experiences I’ve had with the public perception of cheerleading. 

I’m telling you guys, the amount of joy I felt when reading this was INSANE. I’m super passionate about this issue, and seeing a paper that supports me, my teammates, and cheerleaders around the country was extremely exciting. Rebeil’s points go hand-in-hand with the idea I’ve been trying to argue all along, and I can’t wait to see what other opinions may arise on this issue. 

Ultimately, cheerleading as a whole isn’t taken seriously, especially considering the sexualized stereotypes surrounding it. I’ve heard many arguments during my time as a cheerleader that have undermined the athleticism and discipline that this sport requires, and Title IX’s strict definition of a sport doesn’t help. Taking this step of Title IX recognition would support the bigger picture and improve the sport’s image, providing cheerleaders with adequate protections under the law.