The newest sex scandal on the horizon: NFL Cheerleaders

Yes. But to be clearer, it isn’t the same job as dancing, modeling, cheerleading, or anything else.

There is a level of consent involved with prostitution that is miles and miles different from anything in any professional non-porn related modeling contract.

Why do NFL cheerleaders do that job? I always see these articles that talk about the terrible pay and poor working conditions, but it’s not really clear to me what the benefit of the job is, or how there always seems to be so many beautiful women willing to take such a job. I can’t think of the name of a single cheerleader. These are just anonymous women, taking what sounds like a terrible job.

uhh… It sounds sexist, for sure, but come on. There is no sex work. How can the team “whore” the cheerleaders out, if there isn’t any sex work? I think the article specifically calls out that there wasn’t any sex (or maybe that was in the NYT article). I guess you’re overstating to make a point, but I’m just sort of surprised.

Did you read the article in the original post? Did you read the part in the jpeg?

JFC.

The Redskins:

  1. Confiscated the passports of the cheerleaders for “safekeeping”, meaning they were essentially trapped at the resort.

  2. The Redskins made it clear to the women that as part of the trip they were on, that they were now expected to be topless while sunbathing.

  3. The Redskins, without the prior consent of the cheerleaders, invited a bunch of male luxury suite owners to sit and ogle the cheerleaders while they were topless, and

  4. The Redskins then singled out cheerleaders–against their will-- to act as “escorts” to these same male VIP luxury suite owners.

Look. Being told to be naked for the prurient interest of others is sex work. Being forced to be someone’s “date” for the night is sex work.

What exactly is different? They dance in revealing outfits. That’s exactly what exotic dancers do.

NFL cheerleaders aren’t competing in anything. Their some prepare is to dance around and look hot.

That is literally what they are paid for. That’s the entirety of their job.

Sure, it’s the same thing.

Again, you realize that I’m not saying it’s BAD, right? You seem to be thinking that it’s a slight against them, but it’s not.

None of them are just there to look hot though like cheerleaders though.

No, of course not. Hell, i specifically said that above.

Which of those is whoring?

Which do you think is not?

Ah, i think i see where the disconnect is.

Yes, i absolutely agree. Simply agreeing to any one of these things does not in any way imply agreement to any of the other things. While I think they all exist on a similar spectrum where they are essentially selling themselves, they are certainly selling different levels of access.

I didn’t mean to imply otherwise, but i understand how i have that impression.

nm2345

As I said, it all sounds pretty sexist, but that’s not the same as sex work.

Actually, I really just curious about the job and having scanned the thread, I have a better sense for the motivation of the cheerleaders. I’m going to let you have the last word on this. Fight on @triggercut!

Yeah, it is. If, as part of your job, you are being told to let men look at you naked, and there is nothing but prurient interest involved on behalf of the men, and that is the sole purpose for:

  1. you being naked and
  2. allowing others to look at you naked

Then that is by definition sex work.

Yes, see my last post. I didn’t mean that they were literally the same. Just that they were the same in that they were selling themselves as sexual objects. But not that they were all selling “all access” as it were.

hahaha.

That’s not whoring, but I get you.

You must feel so bad about what happened to those girls that you think you’ll make it sound more horrible if you call it whoring. Maybe you’re right, but I think it’s a silly strategy. Whoring is whoring. All that shit that happened to them was sexist and horrible and a real tragedy, and you’re not making their case any stronger by conflating it with sex work. In fact, I would say you’re doing the opposite. Look at all the back and forth you have to do with me to sustain your position? That’s weak! Especially for something that so clearly awful. Just call it what it is: sexist.

If you are forcing someone to do sex work against their personal wishes and consent, and you are doing so for financial gain, while preventing them from being able to walk away… that isn’t sexist, Nigel. That’s something else.

Why is cheerleading so expensive? There isn’t much equipment, right? Is it the outfits?

Figure skating costumes are made to look revealing from far away, but that’s actually flesh-colored fabric. Just thought I’d throw that in there since somebody on QT3 has gotta stick up for figure skating.

I know this is incredibly naive of me, but when you’ve got a company trafficking women across international borders for the purpose of prostitution, isn’t that kinda… illegal? Even if they can’t prove that their passports got taken away, this has got to have broken some law somewhere.

There’s a lot of flesh-colored fabric in NFL cheerleader outfits, too, but I take your point.

And yeah, the actual legal aspects of this will be something the NFL security office is likely to take a look at. There are forces in the NFL – owners, execs, etc. – who want Snyder out. This may be their lever.

Cause that will end up going well?

“Are you guilty?”
“Nope.”
“Case closed, I guess.”

I have to agree with triggercut here, "whoring’ is appropriate, though perhaps “pimping” is a better form of what we mean.

Pimping is the right term. Confiscated passports. Forced dates. That’s straight out of the pimp / human trafficking playbook.

I know one who just last year quit after doing it for 3 years for the Minnesota Vikings. I’ve also met and talked with 2 of her cheerleading teammates. Some clarification on the, “weigh-in.” They were required to stay within a 5lb range the entire season. For those of us who fluctuate that over a weekend sometimes, think about that. It enforced near binge/purge mentality. They were also forced to do fund raising, one of which is that very calendar that all the teams peddle with more revealing looking attire. They have to attend many team events, as well as events to promote whatever the head office deems team or cheerleader worthy. They suffer through a LOT of harassment during those events, as they are usually required to wear cheerleading uniforms or clothing that is more revealing than a large majority of casual wear.

The woman I know told me that during these events it wasn’t uncommon to get hit on or propositioned by players, boosters (high spending fans,) or other attendees. They are asked to keep together in pairs or groups to dissuade this near common occurrence.

They also get paid a very small amount for the year in comparison to the hours worked. The joke was they get less than minimum wage when all of the hours are taken into account.

It’s a very fucked up job and stories like this I’m betting will be the tip of the iceberg. The #metoo movement really needs to embrace everything happening to these folks.

But … can I interject on this point:

No. Let me rephrase: hell no. The “team” did not do this. Coaches, players, and staff, as THE TEAM, did not do this. The team and fans do not get to be, “sanctioned,” for this as it isn’t a game nor part of THE game.

The PEOPLE involved should be CRIMINALLY charged. Period, full stop. Sanctioning a team is the entirely wrong way to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

“Well it looks like the Redskins lose a draft pick and pay a fine next year, but man those topless shots must have been worth it.”

Screw that. Let’s ensure these people pay for this as a sex crime as it should be. Let’s ensure the people involved never work for the NFL again.