The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Are they flawless or flawed?

Every home game, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader don their white boots, style their hair impeccably, and dance their hearts out on the field in AT&T Stadium. Fans in the stands, across the US, and possibly the world admire these women. They’re everything society wants women to be: skinny, effortless, and perfect. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are called America’s Sweethearts, but is being one really that sweet?

Last week, I binged the new DCC docuseries on Netflix in only a day and a half. I can’t lie. I’m already obsessed. I used to watch the old reality show all the time, but the new series is even better. We’re getting a much rawer version of the team, and learning more about the cheerleaders. I realized how stressful it is to be on the team and how the girls are always carrying that stress with them.

The old show dramatized training camp in a way where it seemed a little comedic watching what the girls went through. The new show shows how serious training camp is, and how that level of perfection must be maintained throughout the rest of the year too. I truly admire the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, but I’m still torn. The DCC are a team made of some remarkable women, but what exactly are those women representing?

They represent themselves and their values, but first and foremost, they represent the Dallas Cowboys organization. The DCC appears like the perfect group. They have made some good progress, but the organization still has issues.

The Obsession Over the “DCC” Look

The first problem I find troubling is the way they go about discussing a team member’s weight. If you watched the original reality show, you would know that the judges were brutal on the girls for their weight. It wasn’t just girls who were noticeably curvier. They would eviscerate girls who gained a little weight in the new season. There was a long period of time where they would even have weekly weigh-ins. Imagine being a rookie candidate who just finished a humbling three hour practice. It’s 10:30 pm, and all you want to do is go home, but first you need to get your weight checked. It ruins a woman’s self esteem immediately. 

Because of the DCC look, it limits the types of members that can be on the team. The uniform consists of low waisted booty shorts and a blue top that pretty much ends where it begins. Every part of the cheerleader’s body is subjected to scrutiny. Judges only look for candidates that they think look best in it. This shrinks the pool of candidates to a very small group of people. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will never get the best people on their team if they continue to pick dancers that match the specific “DCC look.

Not Paying the Dancers What They’re Worth

Another problem with the DCC is that they don’t pay their cheerleaders what they’re worth. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders recently earned a 400% pay increase, but it isn’t that straightforward. They have a new pay structure and I believe that overall their payment per hour, per game, and per appearance has increased. How much that is exactly is unknown for now. It’s insane how long it took for this pay increase to be initiated though. On top of their day jobs, the dancers must haul themselves over to The Star multiple nights a week for intense and demanding practices. It’s not only practices that take up their time. It’s the appearances too that may suck up their free time on the weekends or their day off from work. Their paychecks don’t reflect the enormous amount of effort and work the women put in.

Though the cheerleaders love what they are doing, it’s still a job. Like any other job, they have a uniform they must wear. There’s a certain level of professionalism expected when they walk in the door. What they do outside of work is a reflection of the company. Free lashes and botox can’t substitute adequate pay. The girls need this money to support themselves by paying their rent, student loans, and car payments. Money will support them in the short term, but also in the long term by allowing them to build wealth. By having enough extra income, the cheerleaders can put money into investment accounts and savings accounts that will set them up for the future. If the Dallas Cowboys organization wanted to support the cheerleaders, they would help them become financially independent.

For the Future

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are one of the most revered cheer teams in the NFL. They set the trend. If the DCC works harder to uplift many body types and pay their members fairly, other teams will follow suit. The organization needs to continue working to build a legacy free of controversy. I respect the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, but their work has just begun.

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