So far, the Ku Klux Klams have not shown up to this discussion of cheerleaders.
Sooner or later, they will, and it will become a much livelier argument.
Fri Jan 24, 2014, 01:47 PM
davidn3600 (2,428 posts)
The shockingly low pay for NFL cheerleaders
High-school cheerleaders rule the halls, commanding the admiration of every dweeb, dork, and quarterback. But as salaried adults, cheerleaders are at the bottom of the pyramid.
This week, current and former Raiderettes—the cheer squad for the Oakland Raiders—filed suit in the Alameda County Superior Court, claiming that the football team “withholds all pay from the Raiderettes until after the season is completed, does not pay for all hours worked and forces the cheerleaders to pay many of their own business expenses,†according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The Raiderettes’ lawyer, who is demanding tens of thousands of dollars in back-pay, said the cheerleaders make only $1,250 a year, or less than $5 an hour, and they’re fined for minor lapses like bringing the wrong pom-poms to rehearsals or for “not turning in written biographies on time.†One of the plaintiffs added that the team also makes the women foot their own hair, makeup, travel, and photo expenses.
The Raiders, though, are far from the only—or even the worst—offenders when it comes to cheaping out on cheerleaders. San Diego Chargers cheerleaders get $75 for each home game, along with two game tickets and one parking pass. The Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders make $100 for each of 10 (mandatory) performances at home games. That includes showing up five hours before the game starts, practicing twice a week for three hours from April through January, and participating in a “training camp†each June.
http://www.conservativecave.com/index.php?action=post;board=10.0Why are they paid anything?
I wonder. If an NFL team announced prior to cheerleader tryouts that the girls chosen for the squad would get no pay, but would be required to pay $100 for each game, would the number or quality of candidates suffer? I don't think it would.
Response to davidn3600 (Original post)
Fri Jan 24, 2014, 02:55 PM
El_Johns (904 posts)
1. That actually is pretty shocking -- it's like a fast food job.
Response to davidn3600 (Original post)
Fri Jan 24, 2014, 03:04 PM
dilby (26 posts)
2. Cheerleading is not a career and the women know the pay before taking the job.
She knew what she was getting into before she accepted the position, you can't take a job then say you want more money after the season ends because you feel you deserve more than you originally agreed to. Also the sport of Football does not need cheerleaders, several teams do not even have them. Finally the ball boy is more important than the cheerleaders and they don't even get paid.
Response to dilby (Reply #2)
Fri Jan 24, 2014, 03:16 PM
anneboleyn (2,412 posts)
6. My thoughts too. It is not a job in the traditional sense -- like a beauty pageant they do it for
self-promotion, pics in calendars, putting their names out for publicity reasons. They know all of this, so the lawsuit and complaining to the media post-season seems rather disingenuous.
Response to dilby (Reply #2)
Fri Jan 24, 2014, 03:18 PM
Star Member Nye Bevan (14,274 posts)
7. So should it be legal for employers to pay less than minimum wage,
provided that the employees in question "know what they are getting into" ahead of time?
Response to davidn3600 (Original post)
Fri Jan 24, 2014, 03:19 PM
The2ndWheel (6,292 posts)
8. If these woman are owed money then they should get it
However, there are a lot of pretty woman out there. Plus, while cheerleaders are eye candy at a game, nobody has to go to a football game to specifically see women in a small amount of clothing anymore. On top of that, nobody really needs anyone to lead cheers at a game.
Response to davidn3600 (Original post)
Fri Jan 24, 2014, 03:24 PM
FarCenter (16,216 posts)
9. $75 for each home game, along with two game tickets and one parking pass.
How much are two game tickets to a Chargers game worth? > $100?
It's also an opportunity for really good-looking women to meet really rich men.
The Klams will love that.
