OT: File under: Who approves this crap?

I have 2 teen daughters in HS -- one is on a competitive cheerleading team (and also her HS's football cheer team), and the other is a competitive gymnast.  It's REALLY interesting to see the visual differences in the two sports.

(And, seriously, do NOT suggest to the cheerleaders that they are not in a sport.  They are "atheletes" in a "sport"... that's the way they put it.)

Gymnasts:  The way a gymnast looks at a meet is very regimented.  Hair always pulled back (safety reasons).  Minimum makeup; possibly something around the eyes.  No lipstick.  Fake tans?  NEVER.  The leotards are ... well, we know what they look like.  But they are purely for function, their design is not intended to titilate the viewer.

Cheerleaders:  Takes them HOURS to get ready.  Hair must be puffed up (they actually put in something under the hair to make it stand up). Big bows.  TONS of makeup and lipstick.  And the "uniforms" are often designed in male fantasies -- booty shorts or microskirts, bare midriffs, etc.  The funny thing is, I don't think the cheerleaders do all that get-up and get all sexy with the intention of impressing males in the audience.  (Or on their teams... most of the males on these teams, what few they are, uh, don't prefer girls, if you get my drift.)  Cheerleading is a LOT about "girl power," and looking girlie-girlie is part of the culture of it.

The other thing I have to compare them on is:  Cheerleading is brutal.  Every year, a large team (30 or so girls) will have one or two broken bones.  Getting kicked in the face or mouth or arm is typical (as the fliers kick the base).  Tons of girls falling on their heads.  This is totally normal.  I think it's because the teams rush girls to do things they aren't physically ready to do; when you have 3 girls holding up 1 girl, and any 1 of the 3 is off, it's random who's going to get hurt by the accident.  I had a HS football coach tell me, one season the school had an ambulence come to afterschool practice 3 times that year -- each time it was for an injured cheerleader, never a football player.  BUT -- gymnastics, the "riskier" sport (backflips over a 4-inch balance beam???) has a much, much lower incidence of injury.  Way, way lower.  They take the girls much slower from a younger age, and the practice methods are honed to develop the perfect skills.

... yeah. I'd hit it.

I guess that makes me part of the problem?

have always had pretty cheerleaders tho':

To swing back the other way.

Man, people are so overly sensitive to everything nowadays. Cheerleaders / dancers are required to fit a certain bill from an athletic to appearance standpoint - right, wrong or indifferent.

This thread needs to be nuked from orbit.