Are NFL Cheerleaders Treated Fairly?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ค. 2018
- After a deluge of negative headlines about the treatment of NFL cheerleaders, we wanted to hear from the women who have actually done the job. In 2014, the Oakland Raiders settled a class action lawsuit alleging wage theft for $1.25 million.
This year, the New York Times has released myriad reports of alleged harassment and discrimination among the NFL cheerleading ranks, including a alarming account from a group of Washington Redskins cheerleaders who described a trip to Costa Rica where they were allegedly ordered to be "personal escorts" for a group of V.I.P. sponsors and fans at a local nightclub.
We talked to four former NFL cheerleaders about the recent headlines alleging discrimination, harassment, and lack of proper compensation. The women we talked to appear to have had overwhelmingly positive experiences during their time as cheerleaders, and they spoke candidly about the questions surrounding compensation, social media, and rules about interacting with players causing controversy throughout the league.
If you have worked as an NFL cheerleader and you want to share your story, please email gflanagan@businessinsider.com.
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wait the MASCOTS get 50k a year?
Zach Thompson sign me up
@@Jaccobtw I was a mascot in college. I can tell you it was grueling work. I was a very fit 20-something, weighed 180 lbs and during every basketball game I literally lost 8-10 pounds. That is a crazy amount of weight to lose in a 3 hour period!
Let's go for the mascot tryouts
2:55 she must have been embarrassed to say how much. Why do an interview about cheerleader wages and not want to talk about compensation?
Darrell James thank you, I was thinking the same thing no one forced her to be there
Yea why did she get offended? Thats what the whole interview is about
THANK YOU! Why was that question such a bad thing, she doesn't even work that job anymore!
I think she was kinda embarrassed about her wages. She probably was only making s fre hundred each week and honestly that's kinda sad given that as mentioned, even the hot dog seller is probably making more.
Yup the story is about how they were treated including pay yet she wouldn't talk about it.
Video:HORRIBLE DISCRIMINATION
Cheerleaders: It was a pretty wonderful experience
Deus they choose to do that to
She have to say that or get fired
If she wasn’t apart of the nfl she’s good to go
Yeah, they said that but that was also juxtaposed with them being like... "Yeah, we got paid...what $200 a game? 1,200 a year?" "Yeah, there was some sexual harassment, but I think that's to be expected." "Yeah, we had strict rules to abide by that didn't apply to the players." So basically, the fact is that they were being discriminated against but these women were being airheaded about it.
@@lavoshakern Your comment was clear and accurate until you ended it with referring to the interviewed cheerleaders as being "airheaded". It's more logical that they were in denial or being defensive, subconsciously or otherwise. For instance, if they had a generally good memory of their time cheerleading, maybe they didn't want to taint that memory by reassessing their experience more honestly.
Okay $1200 a year that's way too low, that's insultingly low.
DiggyT it's a seasonal job for many. Some of them will be a part of less than 10 games( should the team not make playoffs). Not sure how much they are getting paid all across the board since not all cheerleaders are saying how much they are getting paid. That amount seems a bit too low. For those who think cheerleaders get paid way too low just go visit your local hs football coaches. Outside of the head coaches, most coaches get paid very little for amount of hours they are working( practice, game days, analyzing film, offseason, etc). No exaggeration, but many probably get paid under a dollar an hour for their work. Why do I bring this up? Both hs coaches and cheerleaders love what they do and are fine to get compensated with a little. I would not doubt if many cheerleaders have jobs outside of cheerleading.
I mean it’s cheerleading like $1200 is perfectly fine, plus most of these girls are married to rich dudes so whatever they do doesn’t really matter
1200$ is not too low. The min yearly wage in Turkey is 400$
@Ahmet Thats poverty not average you’re broke my friend
Ahmet Murat Akalin The living wage is different there
The QB comparison was horrible but I get the mascot one.
Yes. I can't watch this LMAO!
For real that pissed me off lmaooo
The hardiest job in sports vs dancing part time
@@heatherschoonmaker9875 I say cornerback is
@@memyselfni3474 umm I’d probably disagree and say te just by the idea that you have to learn to positions wr and ot
did the lawyer really compare a qb to a cheerleader? smh
edit: I agree that the cheerleaders are underpaid
Both are entertainers using their bodies. I agree that the main show is "top billing", that's show business, and I also agree that the cheerleaders are underpaid. Let's not forget the fact these women are forced into uncomfortable situations AFTER they've agreed to the job & signed contracts. Legally binding agreements. It's that victimization that I feel is the most wrong.
Honestly, the whole thing makes little sense to me. Men end up with holes in their brains, broken bodies & dwindling fame, while the women are exploited and abused. We have local economies subsidizing the sport with little return. I love football, and I love sports, but the whole thing on this level is nuts when you really think about it.
EDIT: RE: th-cam.com/video/xcwJt4bcnXs/w-d-xo.html
Todd Begay they’re not both entertainers using there body’s 😂 ones a professional athlete and another is a cheerleader
Treyson Greening if they aren't using their body than what are they using
Treyson Greening cheerleading doesn't take much skill.
Exactly, you can be cheerleader any time lmfao. Qb you gotta work you're way up from high school to college to nfl. This lawyer will loose and should get her license revoked.
Your doing an interview, you knew he'd ask that question, dude 😂
Well yea. You cant easily replace a good qb.
Keoni Mana lol
Not even that -- Cheerleaders don't generate revenue.
Yas Zayn Benchwarmers make more than the cheerleader. U do not go to a game to watch them But they r still Well reimbursed for their time. The cheerleaders could make more $$
@@lisawood365 They are backups, they still go through all of the training and stuff that the starters do.
There cheerleaders they sit on the sidlines.on the other Hand the QBs are the main show
so they compare qb to cheerleaders... thinking
apples and onions. not even apples and oranges
Apples and soybeans.
they really think we go to games to see cheerleaders? Geez
Spongey they chose to do that
Thomas Cusack if you’ve never been a cheerleader or know little to nothing about the sport, then you can’t talk. Sorry.
Why can't just people say how much they make?!?!? It's not a big deal.
Adam Diaz probably doesn’t want to admit anything bad
Adam Diaz, money is a very sensitive topic to most people. What people make is a very private matter and most people don't like talking about it.
Because she is probably embarrassed by it since they get paid like 7.15 a hour
Insecure
@@susanmurphy958 Corporations have instilled a culture that talking about how much you make is bad and rude so they can pay people different salaries without them getting upset. There is nothing wrong with talking about how much you make and the more it's done the more people will get paid fairly.
Good job, ladies. Your interviews were supportive in reducing the discrimination noise. You will be paid $200 each.
NFL PR
Why did the girl act like he asked if she was a virgin when he asked how much she previously made? Whole point of the interview was to understand her experience... Why is talking about money so taboo lol
She probably embarrassed by it since they get paid like 7.15 a hour
Not being allowed social media is detrimental to the cheerleaders career, how are they gonna secure a stream of money after the few years they cheer. Definitely not a career, more of a side interest or hobby.
Funny thing is that the cheerleader didn’t feel anything was wrong
Honestly Rachel Swartz was kinda kissing the nfl butt I mean... she was petty hesitant with her answer
Skinny Legend agree! She sounds like someone paid to speak on their behalf
No lie, all these women are beautiful.
Of course their cheerleader
Ikr, it's not like it's their job or something 🤔
It's a requirement. They don't pick the ugly ones. They don't even pick the pretty ones that might have an ugly moment or two doing those difficult moves.
1:46 I disagree, not ALL of them
Lol, the Philly Eagles Cheerleader 🤣 It was really empowering! "They wouldn't let us have any social media for our protection" lol
You think they would receive nice DMs via social media? foh
Why didn't you interview any of the cheerleaders from the teams under scrutiny?
Riya Jindal Legal gag order
Each cheerleader should be compensated at least $20-25K + benefits. They serve a strong role in upkeeping a team's image, brand, and game energy. And tbh, it's not like that would significantly hurt a team owner's pockets
It baffles me why NFL cheerleaders basically make minimum wage. Yeah, from a business standpoint, a squad means a ton of people to pay, but the mascot gets $40k plus benefits?!?! And if the girls are at a restaurant and the guys come, the GIRLS have to leave? What REALLY gets me is that they're told that they should feel LUCKY to be in there. What this tells me - if I was a cheerleader - is that I'm considered an extra in this show.
Hi There my guy, if I got paid 40 bands for sitting in a costume for 16 games whilst also getting to watch the game live, sign me right up. The amount of work doesn’t correlate to the pay in this sense: the cheerleaders can be classified as athletes in their own right they have to train and stay in shape- the mascot sits on his ass all day and works 16 days a year
Mother Russia i meant in the time that they arent at the games
Mother Russia if yourr in a mascot suit you dont have to do anything to keep yourself in shape thats what i meant by sitting on their ass... im not saying degrade the mascot im saying upgrade the cheerleaders. These franchises can afford to pay players multimillion dollar contracts, giving their cheer team a raise is penny change to them
awesomeandy1997 i agree with you about the cheerleaders pay - the fact that there is so much competition makes it extremely unlikely that they will get a pay rise, but that doesnt mean it shouldnt happen, it just means that it likely wont. The nfl teams are more than financially capable of paying their cheer teams a decent wage. About the mascot, i disagree. You reckon there are regular mascot trainings to keep mascots in shape? As fas as I know the mascot just has to be able to fit in the suit and move around. About uncomfortability, for 40 grand a year for 16 games, noone can be complaining. Ive been in a mini version myself - its not that bad. Im not for downgrading the mascot's pay, but the mere fact that the franchises are practically throwing money away at what should be a min wage job shows that the cheerleaders should be paid more for their efforts.
They should have interviewed a mascot to understand why. There is probably a good reason.
I was a mascot in college. I can tell you it was grueling work. I was a very fit 20-something, weighed 180 lbs and during every basketball game I literally lost 8-10 pounds. That is a crazy amount of weight to lose in a 3 hour period!
I have mixed feelings about this. The cheerleaders are essentially nonessential extras to the actual game. However, with public appearances and such, they can do much to promote the game and the team they represent, and thus, could be very valuable assets for the team, and worth extra money. Of course, they can pay their cheerleaders whatever they want to, as long as there are women willing to accept what they pay. But given the value cheerleaders can provide, they might be better off paying more to ensure professionalism and loyalty from the cheerleaders, instead of trying to brainwash them into how "lucky" they are to be there.
In short, even with cheerleaders, you get what you pay for. If you want good, professional, loyal cheerleaders who promote the team, the game, and provide good PR, pay them a decent amount. Having intelligent as well as attractive cheerleaders could really pay off! Otherwise, bad consequences, like the Raiders lawsuit, and other negative PR.
macsnafu They are capitalists, they pay the lowest amounts possible to make as much as possible. Sure you’re providing an idea that might make them more money, but frankly im sure they know more about the market than you do.
I'm sure that they know more about *their* market than I do. But then again, there have been clear consequences of their low pay to cheerleaders, like the Raiders lawsuit, and there will undoubtedly be more like this, and more negative PR, unless they make changes. They may think they can weather out these consequences, but then again, they may be wrong. "Capitalists" make mistakes, too.
There's much more to capitalism than simply buying low and selling high, BTW.
macsnafu Yeah this backlash will probably become stronger, i agree. We’ll see though.
Bro Ik players not cheerleaders, I don't even give a shit about them.
I agree. I've done some research on this topic and there are so many law suits based on discrimination and harassment and privacy. The cheerleaders they interviewed definitely don't represent the full experiences of NFL cheerleaders, who don't have such overwhelmingly positive experiences. I think that if the NFL would pay cheerleaders more, a lot of their issues would go away. Then all they would have to do is gain some respect for the women they hire
Wow, $1200 a season?! That's sad
The First girls answer was rude it's for video purposes 😂 , glad the twin sisters gave me a over view
I personally thought being a cheerleader could potentially lead to a great start of a career... seems like the NFL really controls their ability to network and build their own platform. Normally when you're in a position these women are... they could potentially move on to something larger but the social media constraints are definitely trying to stop them from building their own self brand.
Sled brand of what? Whoring their bodies out?
They are clearly the best of the best to be chosen, they perform in front of millions and practice hard. They should be properly compensated.
Bacall McElroy but, the actual players are the people that viewers show up to games, tune in on the television, and buy merchandise for. If a cheerleader gets replaced, no one will notice because they don't play a large role in the success of the team. These women get free tickets to games, attention online on social media.etc that they leverage by promoting products, and a close relationship with players, which they often try to take advantage of in order to start an intimate relationship with them. I'd say they've been payed enough.
If you just skipped to the end, here's a summary: There are many benefits for them here considering their small role. Players are payed more because they're worth more to the team. They've been payed enough.
Edit: The part about the close relationship with the players is wrong, please exculde it.
HrdBno InUrAsh facts
Becall: that's a rather Liberal/Socialist point of view. What about freedom of choice, to compete for what you can earn, and incentives to get the better higher paying jobs, and other not exactly mundane aspects? But I really want you to answer this one: if NFL teams are not paying what you think they're worth...and we have this thing called freedom and free enterprise...then why don't you or someone form a competitor to the NFL that pays more? By your logic, the "properly compensating" competitor would get all the talent, thus the NFL would fold. Is that logical thinking? Or is it to form a union, which is a damaging restraint of free trade?
if it’s so unfair why doesn’t the women quit? They agree that it’s a fair job by applying to it.
"Lucky to be a quarterback" You gotta work to be a qb, I don't think she understands how hard it is to be a qb
It’s hard to feel bad for women who expect to get payed for their looks... nobody put a gun to their heads
Not totally, they also have to have top-notch dancing skills as well, Looks alone will not cut it.
Crystal Evans nah,looks do cut it,dancing is not hard at all especcially if thats all youve done all your life or if its your job
Joe Mama Exactly. I would also say that professional football, boxing, and gymnastics among others are also not hard at all since that's all they do. No amount of training or time dedication for practice is required since, again, it is not hard at all.
지선 you have to be brain dead to compare the difficulty of practicing dancing , yes practicing not training, to actual training like in boxing, ones brutal, while the other will simply get your heart rate up a little, you decide which is which...(:
Joe Mama I know, we are in complete agreement. Dancers, who do they think they are? It's not like professional dancers need to have a fit body that can handle the rigors of training. And what's the difficulty in staying flexible? Anybody can do splits and bend their spine 90 degrees backwards. It's not like we see any professional ballerinas or other dancers get injuries from practicing.
Gender discrimination?
TheSpicyMango remember the guy who sued. 'Hooters' because they wouldn't hire him as a waiter?
MrGchiasson Gender and sex are two different things. It seems humanity doesn’t know that
EO much?😂
Aionois Asmiroth no gender and sex are the synonyms there are only 2
No... Gender and sex mean the same thing. It's either MALE or FEMALE depending if you have XY or XX CHROMOSOMES
There's not a shit called genderfluid, there's not a shit called genderless and there's not a shit called bigender for fucks sake.
I’m surprised that so many people still try out after all of this came out
The first cheerleading team was all male dating back to about 1880, not 1954.
I had no idea that cheerleaders-for the largest American sport-were paid so little.
The social media restrictions are also really dumb.
Ok $1200 is low but maybe raise it up to 50k or at least $30k but no offense $100k for one cheerleader for dancing,practice and appearances is pretty fictional and that would be very expensive especially when there is like 20 or more cheerleaders on a team. I’m on both sides but the cheerleaders need way more than 1200 to cover monthly and annual costs.
sisters kept it real
2:37 she talks about how her experience was very good but then she gets ask about compensation at later in the vid at 2:55 and it's almost as if she never enjoyed cheerleading lol
Quarterback vs Cheerleaders, she needs to get fired
We get it Rachel Swartz you had a great experience. And the organization was 'really great'
I just want to ask
Do we go to the game to watch the qb or the cheerleaders
It makes sense the qbs get a ton more
Oh yeah? Lets fire all cheerleaders! No more discrimination! Yeah!
Thats what you want, right? You are the one need it, not us.
LOL
Who needs them anyway? I never understood why they need them. I can enjoy a game without them.
Stefan Unson They’re PR and marketing tools for a team.
Players are often marketable and important but they’re expensive and busy to send to events sometimes. Plus the vast majority of the NFL fans are men and hormonally raged teen boys. So teams use hot young women as cheerleaders as a cheap way to market a team.
Plus little girls who watch the games have these young women to look up to.
They may not be important to the game but they are important from a sports marketing standpoint. You could argue you could get rid of the mascots cause you can enjoy the game without them. But when was the last time you heard “Get rid of the damn mascots!”?
Ranel Gallardo how are little girls looking up to them when they are being viewed as sex objects? Also, paying these cheerleaders are one of the reasons why ticket prices tend to be higher.
Stefan Unson They do charity work and have junior cheerleader programs where the squad teaches girls how to dance and how to be a good models citizen. Many of the cheerleaders aren’t hos, pornstars, they’re freaking teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers. Little girls can be like “You can be pretty and dance and have a career!”.
Trust me I know a lot about sports marketing to know this. This is the main reason why cheerleaders still exist despite the rise of feminism.
There are third-string linemen making only 80k a year
Cheerleaders should be paid as much as quarterbacks? Frickin what? This disgusting mindset needs to stop. They wouldn't even have a job if not for the actual players, you know, the people that draw the crowds in the first place, playing the actual game people are there for.
There are some legitimate issues. Lumping them in with paying them the same as players discredits the whole pie.
No one's saying they should be paid as much as quarterbacks. I think a lot of people are intentionally misunderstanding what the lawyer was trying to say with that comparison.
@@LukasWeber64 umm actually thats exactly what they are saying
Sounds like the answer is... drum roll... "It depends."
You know how hard it is to become an nfl quarter back there are only 32 starters and 100s if not 1000s per year that designate for the draft. Also people go to see the game and the head of ur game the quarterback. Very few if any go for only the cheerleaders so it is a simple supply and demand problem
This video is best watched with the sound off.
If you ganna sue with a sign contracted you should read your contract they might of put how much they would be making
People shouldn't be afraid to share their wage because then they could find out if there is actually a wage difference
When I go to a game I honestly could care less if the cheerleaders are there but if the starting quarterback is missing I would be freaking out and I would be very disappointed and would feel like I was cheated
Wow!! the amount of money 💰 that is involved in the Football 🏈 industry
Owning, paying, betting, and so on!!
i wasn't convinced this was an issue until i heard one of them say they got paid $200 an hour. that shit is terrible.
1:40. The quarterbacks get millions of dollars because they win the team games. Every quarterback really wants the job but every team also really wants the quarterback. Having a good cheer-leading squad doesn't matter.
1250 per season? why are so many applicants? what pluses have theese job?
would be nice if were collegue letter recomendations.
That one lady seemed to think that it was unfair but all the most of actual cheerleaders were perfectly happy
Comparing the QB to a cheerleader is like comparing the president to a post office worker
They’ve taken the no fraternization rule too far. It’s true. If the player came into a restaurant you were at you were asked to leave. When my friends and I were just waiting for food after a game.
I’m a trade union specialist and can’t believe their not unionised?
8:01 that triple chin though
These people need to understand, you go to a FB game for the players and the game, not the cheerleaders.
1200 is low for monthly too😐
its funny how the attorney compared the cheerleaders being lucky to be there to the quarterbacks and other players
Facebook 2 will be having a battle royale mode
Who else turned this shit off as soon as the lady compared the cheerleaders to the quarterback?
Did the lawyer really compare a cheerleader to a football player for pay lmao
Comparing franchise quarterbacks to cheerleaders is asinine. Cheerleaders should be paid more for their work. For the life of me, I do not see the appeal of "exposure" given the way they are treated. But thousands keep trying out so God Bless.
I've never seen a cheerleader tear everything in their knees
Comparing a cheerleader to a quarterback was the worst argument I've ever heard.
This is like band nerds saying that they’re as important as the football team
They said at beginning, it’s suppose to be a honor
if they wont disclose how much they get paid, how will the media be able to inform people in power that pay is too low. that is why employers in north america are able to wage discriminate because no one knows what the other person in similar position is making.
How do I get that mascot job?
0:46 reminds me of Lisa Guerrero
how tf can you compare the responsibility, risk, and obligation of a quarterback.. to a cheerleader...
Kijana Brajon cheerleading is actually more dangerous then football at times as stunt falls and messed up flips can lead to breaking a major bone. I’ve done competitive cheer and the rule is “ if someone’s in your way, you can bulldoze through them” I’ve seen a girl not land her backflip and not get up in time and a guy did a double on her face then someone landed on her stomach. Breaking bones is common as I’ve broke my foot from constantly doing my stuff and black out from a fall onto the grass, almost concrete from an extension. I didn’t get paid as I did it as a sport but hell they deserve to
Wolfy No hate but cheerleaders are trained. And they don’t deserve to get payed as much as a QB probably raise it a little but. NFL doesn’t only break legs and causes blackouts it can cause severe injuries. And it also takes more squill and precision.
Wolfy no tf it’s not omg the ego of a lot of u 🙄
Yes, compare a quarterback to a cheerleader. Genius
1:50 the lick
of course hot dog is higher, it's hot dog
That woman is just salty she would never be athletic enough to cheerlead
As a Ravens fan, now I know what are wrongs and rights now. I treat my Ravens cheerleaders fairly. Because they also have stunt-team unit led by hard-working men.
Another point is the lady says that bench warmers get paid $100,000 that's because they are important if someone gets injured
Why did she get offended to say how much she was paid was it a contract? Like dude just say how much you get paid we know it’s low your not making 100k. Like being insecure like this makes you not able to press charges or file a lawsuit.
Edit: I do agree that they need a raise
Why won’t people disclose their wage it’s so petty and dumb 🙄🙄🙄
they are under contract and not an employee? right?
At least they dont get interviewed after a game naked trying to get dressed.
The reason why cheerleaders get paid way less than the players is NBC isn't recording the cheerleaders. They aren't the main scene or the show. Football is the main part and that's why they get paid tons
They chose to do it
I never understood why you need to have cheerleaders. You don’t need them to enjoy the game.
It's not like people come to the NFL game for cheerleaders .
why shouldnt you be allowed to tell someone/ask for their salary?
The reason they don’t get paid a lot is because people don’t come to watch cheerleaders they come to watch the players.
The reason quarterbacks get paid alot is because they ENTERTAIN cheerleaders are there just to look good and dance around while the quarterback ENTERTAINS
The lawyer is dead wrong. Nobody pays hundred of dollars per ticket just to see the cheerleaders.
So, how does one become a mascot.....
I tend to feel like what people are paid almost always makes sense, just due to supply and demand. There are certainly tons of girls who are qualified to be cheerleaders, and a ton of girls who would love to be cheerleaders. If one girl feels like she's underpaid, the team could most likely replace her in a heartbeat for someone who would be completely fine with the pay. And all the girls they talked to seemed completely satisfied with the experience. Of course there may be some injustice somewhere, but there is in every job if you look hard enough.
Last time I checked football fans pay to go to the game to watch there team play not the cheer leaders dance. I agree that they are underpaid but they shouldnt expect to get paid 100k or millions of dollars. I'd imagine that most of them would do some form of modeling which is where they would make more money.
I was a coach of a competitive cheer team and I got a mailer (99 2000) from an NFL team here in CA. inviting any of my members to try out for cheerleading. I read it and was shocked at some of the rules and req. They are paid (back then) 150. per game, NO AWAY GAMES, they must have their own transportation to and from games, they are not to get involved with any players. They will never travel with the players. I didn't know what to think! I just folded it up and said ummmm no thanks. It's funny because I went to a game and the cheerleaders did ONE THING THE WHOLE GAME! Side step right and clap hands above head, side step left and clap hands above head. After quarter rotate to next side of field. REPEAT TIL END OF GAME!!!! No dances or any other movement except the rolling of pom poms and clapping at a TD. And this is supposed to be a Golden team?!?! I hope they got a new director by now.
The whole point is they are not the main attraction. They should start their own sport where teams cheer competitively. That will earn them the big bucks.
I might as well become a mascot
1:47 First one job you can end up in a wheel chair from one wrong movement/ tackle, I’ll let you guess who job is that.
You ever seen a failed basket toss?
I think think the salary question was appropriate for this interview. It was applicable to the argument. Of course she won't ask the interviewer his salary and she also wouldn't ask him any of the other questions he ask her.
I understand if you don't want to disclose your salary, but shaming the interviewer for asking it seems to be missing the point.
give them a proper pay at the very least, even if you think cheerleaders are useless.
comparing players to cheerleader are quite misleading, people dont watch the game becuase of cheerleaders , but I agree that they should be paid what is agreed upon.
1:21 I mean.. people don't go to the games for the cheerleaders, they go for the football.. why is this so hard to understand?