In many high schools, cheerleaders are considered the "chosen few." They are thought to be the most popular, prettiest students, the ones the guys love to be seen with. There are certainly schools in which this stereotype is not true, but they are in the minority.

The role of cheerleaders is basically to cheer on and support the male sports teams, and to excite the crowds into supporting their team. Many hours of work go into their routines, and most cheerleaders are quite acrobatic, flexible, and good dancers.

But it is time now to question the institution of cheerleading because it has sexist roots and encourages the objectifying of women. Cheerleading began at a time when girls didn't participate in interscholastic sports, so their involvement was as enthusiastic supporters leading the crowd in cheering the guys who were playing. Some things have changed, but not all. Even now the vast majority of high schools have no male cheerleaders, with the result that cheerleading remains very sexist. Girls cheer at male sporting events, but no males (or females) are cheerleaders at female events.

Moreover, the traditional cheerleading outfit is designed to promote sexism. It usually consists of a tight sweater and a very short pleated skirt that shows all when a cheerleader does a cartwheel or jumps. Why do cheerleaders wear such unnecessarily short skirts if not to promote a reaction from males? This reinforces the viewing of females as sex objects and not multi-dimensional people.

To repeat, I do not mean to offend cheerleaders and suggest that they are not talented. I know that it takes great skill and practice to perform their routines. I am merely stating that cheerleading continues and reinforces female stereotypes that our society is supposedly trying to eradicate. Cheerleading is hard work; it is a time-consuming and difficult activity. However, it is not sending the right message to teenagers. When they see girls on the sidelines cheering on the males, it sends the subliminal message that girls should play second fiddle to boys and be appreciated only for their appearance. The message plays out in classrooms and later on when they become part of the work force. Cheerleading is a classic example of an activity that many don't view as harmful but which actually endangers the equal rights of women.

In this time especially when young girls are abused and victimized, our society must become more sensitive to the way girls are objectified. The view that girls are there for the entertainment of males needs to be closely examined. We should be discussing whether an activity such as cheerleading should continue when our society is at such a crucial point in male/female relations. n