Cheerleader!: An American IconEntertainers or athletes? Leaders or losers? Cheerleaders, numbering 3.8 million in the United States alone, are part of everyone's school memories. Looking beyond the poms and megaphones, Cheerleader! An American Icon explores how the sport reflects our shifting beliefs about athletics, entertainment, gender, and national identity. Natalie Guice Adams and Pamela J. Bettis trace cheerleading's history, from its inception 135 years ago as a male leadership activity, through the sassy era epitomized by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, to its current incarnation as a physically demanding sport. Integrating history, pop culture, and interviews with participants of all ages and even those in the business, Adams and Bettis simultaneously celebrate cheering and provide critical analysis as well. Cheerleader!: An American Icon is a poignant, hilarious, powerful, and revealing look at a perennially popular activity. |
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activity African American African American girls Alabama AllAmerican AllStar American Cheerleader American culture athleticism August basketball boys championships CHEER San Francisco cheerleading camps cheerleading coach cheerleading represents cheerleading squads competitive crowd Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders dance Debbie Does Dallas Easman Education fans female cheerleaders femininity feminist former cheerleaders Gender girls and women gymnastics Harold Bishop Herkimer high school cheerleaders image of cheerleading injuries interview with author Jeff Webb July lesbian look male cheerleaders Memphis national cheerleading Native American November October one’s pep rally perform physical pom pons popular professional cheerleaders Purifoy Radical Cheerleaders role routines school district selection September 2002 sexual skirts smile social Spirit Sports Illustrated squad members stunts tape recording Tennessee Texas Title IX traditional tryouts tumbling typically Universal Cheerleading Association Varsity Webb Wichita Wichita Middle School Winnsboro Women’s Sports XCheerleaders York