Hair Checks, Jiggle Tests, & Gaslighting — Is Pro Cheerleading Worth Saving?
Body shaming and harassment plague the world of pro cheer, but women are still putting everything on the line to make the team.
A culture of weight watching and “jiggle tests” has been part of pro cheer since the ‘70s, when the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders got a strict handbook to safeguard the look of the newly sexed-up squad.
When you first get on the team, you are told that you are only here to be seen and never heard. Your opinion doesn't matter and your voice doesn't matter. You're here to perform, and that's it