My son's afterschool program is currently offering two programs to enhance athletic and cheerleading skills. Well, guess which one my son enjoyed? He likes the cheerleading and wants to participate. He said it was fun, he liked the instructor and some of his good friends are in the cheerleading. The class is once a week (I think) and there is a charge. So, do I ignore the gender roles that we place on our children and let him try it? His father won't be happy!
Also, he is an active child that is just not interested in playing team sports
PLEASE let him enjoy his choice to be in the cheerleading class. In college we had male cheerleaders and they were really cool! If he shows any hesitation after he's taken a few classes let him reconsider, but for now he should enjoy every minute of being a kid!
Let him do it
My almost 6 yr old son is in his second year of dance class and he LOVES it.
He actually likes being the only boy in the class it means he gets all the attention. Not to mention that some professional football players take dance to strengthen their footwork and agility.
Absolutely.
2 points:
1) Good cheer teams are "team gymnastics set to music". My own son has been doing gymnastics for 5 years now. He has HUGE grin on his face the whole time. Guess what other sports he naturally aligns with and you can't pull him away without a crowbar? Snowboarding and breakdancing. Same moves, different environments. We don't have cheerleading here (not really, not like in TX), or I'm sure my own son would love cheer as well.
2) My brother was a figure skater for years. It made my dad VERY uncomfortable. My brother also played hockey. One day my dad snapped (when my brother was about 12 or 13), demanding to know why he didn't just play hockey?!? ... You know my brother's response (ROFLMAO)... "Dad! Have you seen what the girls WEAR? And most of the other guys are gay! There's only one other straight guy and me and like 200 hot girls. And if I did pairs, do you know where you put your hands for lifts and stuff????? I'm the only hockey guy they talk to, 'cause I freestyle skate, too. It's GREAT. I mean, hockey is fun and all, but dad... have you SEEN the girls who skate?" My dad backed off at that point.
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I would enroll him...Male cheerleaders are generally very physically fit and strong!
There are two sides to this coin.
*You should consider that he has no idea about gender roles at this age. He sees something that looks like fun and he wants to participate! It would give him a great outlet for all that energy and he gets to be with his friends.
O.K...that being said...
*You should also consider that just since HE has no sense about gender roles at this age, doesn't mean that other (and only slightly older) kids don't. He could become a target just for doing something he enjoys. He won't understand the teasing from other boys( that's sure to follow ) even though it is cruel and unfair to him.
So, I'd say to weigh it out and even talk with him about the possibility that some kids might be mean about this. If you feel you can prepare him and his personality is strong enough to withstand these issues if they arise...then go for it! I think it's a shame that we have to protect our kids from other kids...but that is a reality we can't change.
Good luck to you and your son in whatever you decide to do!!
Male cheerleaders are great! I too would hope there's at least one other boy doing it, but males are naturally more athletic, higher jumpers, faster tumblers, and stronger bases. It is becoming "cooler" with mbira like bring it on, and shows like hellcats!
Hon ignore the gender roles because I know plenty of male cheerleaders, plus they are very active and muscular. it takes a lot of athleticism and strength to be a cheer leader when he gets older. Just look up male cheerleaders on the net to explain to your husband
you know, I've always been a bit anti-cheerleader because of the stereotypes that surround it but on the other hand, after watching a documentary around it -
it is a VERY athletically challenging sport
good for a boy to develop healthy relationships with girls so that he can relate to them respectfully in the future
and
no, he's not going to grow up gay just because he cheers and leads.
they do have male cheerleaders in high school and college - those are the guys that are throwing and catching all the pretty girls right!?
so, if he's having fun, the teacher is good, he's got friends, I would say, why not? sounds all positive to me!
Cheerleading is a great sport for boys and girls! Let him do what he enjoys! If daddy does not like it daddy needs to lighten up and think about what makes his son happy.
There are male cheerleaders at the college level. They catch the girls and provide support at the base of the pyramid.
I would check to see if there were any other boys participating and find out a little more about the details of the program but I wouldn't have a problem with him cheerleading.
There's a lot of good male cheerleader's and they can sky rocket if they get good with tumbling.....i love watching a co-ed cheer team
Let him do it. My son took dance and gymnastics when he was 3 and he quit dance when he was 4. I asked him why he wanted to quit and he said it was because there were no boys in the class. I then asked him if I could find a class that was all boys would he want to still do it and he said yes. So, your son will self modulate. If he doesn't like it because he is the only boy, he will tell you.
And trust me, you will never hear the end of it from your husband and any of your male friends. I work with all men and they gave me all kinds of heck because my son was in dance class. Who cares? My son LOVED it.
Good luck!
L.
My husband was a cheerleader for a little while in high school, he did it for the girls! He said cheerleading camp was like 200 girls and 2 guys, it was genius if you ask me. He also was on the wrestling team and played football, so I think he dabbled in a little of everything. Cheerleading is very athletic and I think if he enjoys it more power to him. I would let him cheer.
Sure you do. Why not? Originally cheerleaders were all men to begin with not women anyway. :-)
Oh...tough decision. I often ask myself the same question, although mine is a what if because my son is only 24 months. I guess I ask myself that question because I want to be prepared if my son wanted to do something other than "traditional" boy sports. I would want to say "Yes, go for it!" I would want to tell family and other people "Why do you care? It's awesome that he is doing something he likes." I would also want to let my son know that it is fun to do something different and that he doesn't have to play football or soccer because everyone else does.
The things I imagine my son being interested in are ballet (men are such beautiful dancers) and show jumping. I would receive a lot of grief from family if this ever happened but oh well!
And, if your son is really good at cheer leading, then he could go to A&M and be a yell leader :-) Can you tell I'm an Aggie????
Also, male cheer leaders get to hang out with all the girl cheer leaders, they are usually handsome and very athletic looking (we had some at one of my high schools.
Good luck! Please let us know what you choose.
In the tumbling class at gymnastics there are just about as many boys as girls. They do flips and jumps, etc...it is preparatory to cheer-leading. Most of the kids take gymnastics too or dance.
If he really likes it why not let him, he could get a scholarship to college if he gets really good.
I am not even going to read what the other posters wrote yet. Here's my two cents. I personally would not be all that excited if my son came to me and said he wanted to cheer. BUT, I would let him do it. His dad, my husband, would be TOTALLY against it. I think I would try and say something to dad about him getting to hang out with all the girls!
Now, he may love it and then as time goes on he may face getting made fun of. It really depends on who his friends are. I remember two boys on our HS cheer squad. One, very popular, and one, for some reason consistently made fun of. He may need you a bit more if it's something he wants to continue doing for a long time.
I say, let him do it. Keep an eye/ear out for him. In case he starts saying things about other children making fun. Be his advocate. You ignore the gender roles, for now, and support him!
L.
Dear W.:
I'd say let your son be a cheerleader. My high school nephew is on the cheer squad and loves it. He also tried sports, which he liked, but cheer squad he likes a lot more.
As a child a desperately wanted to play Little League baseball, but no girls were allowed in my era. I really would have liked just to have the opportunity. You don't want your son to regret a missed opportunity.
Give your son the opportunity to do something he thinks is fun, even if there are fewer boys. I've seen too many of my teenage daughter's friends kept away from something they loved because a parent was uncomfortable with the gender roles. These kids don't have very close relationships with their parents, which they really need in those teen years!
L. F., mom of a 14-year-old daughter
this was just in the news, the boy was a bit older 10 ish and bullies broke his arm over it.
I'm not saying no. i'm just wondering if you have thought about how you would deal with negative things if they should occur. Plus how big of a deal is it to dad? Is son the type to stick with it? etc.
Wasn't President George W. Bush a cheerleader in college?
I thought I read that somewhere.
Research that and show your DH!
Yes! I cheererd in college and guess what? Half our squad was boys!!
To better encourage him and his father, go to a local univeristy (TCU, maybe) and watch a game - boys - strong boys, boys who lift girls all night - will be on the field cheering!! A lot of strength training goes into it and most times boys have alternate moves (hence not a lot of prancing, etc.) for cheers and dances. Make sure the instructor emphasises those differences for him (and father).
Also, I bet if you called TCU athletics and requested dad and son come and meet the male cheerleaders and why, they would be more than happy to oblige.
I am not as familiar with SMU, but I bet if closer they would do the same:)
FYI: Aggie "yell leaders" all used to be male!!
good luck!
As tough as it may be to ignore gender roles because that's how we grew up, I say let him do the cheerleading. If he enjoys it and can deal with any comments that may arise, then it shouldn't matter. Good luck to your son!!
