Philosophy of Sport [1em] [width=.5]squirrel · 2019. 9. 29. · cheerleading should not replace...

Philosophy of Sport

David W. Agler

David W. Agler Philosophy of Sport 1/28

Outline

What is cheerleading?

Is cheerleading a sport?Not a collegiate sportNot a sport

Arguments for treating cheerleading as a sportArgument from student interestArgument from athleticismArgument from financesFurther problems with treating cheerleading as a sport


What is cheerleading?


What is cheerleading

� Cheerleading is sometimes considered by universities (and people more generally) asa sport, e.g. it is recognized as a high school sport in 30 states.

� Universities have attempted to replace existing sports with cheeleading as well asadd cheerleading to their existing programs and count it as a women’s sport (to bein compliance with Title IX)

� There is, however, debate on two main issues:

1. whether cheerleading is a sport (philosophically or for the purpose of Title IX)2. even if cheerleading isn’t a sport, whether it should be considered a sport for some

practical purpose



� Cheerleading is a set of diverse activitiesthat includes leading cheers, raisingspirits of the spectators, somegymnastics and/or acrobatics, and theuse of props (e.g. pompoms, signs,banners, megaphones).

� often occurs on the sidelines of othersporting events (e.g. football orbasketball)

� although it may be done in its ownsetting



� Cheerleading is neither acrobatics andtumbling nor STUNT. Both of these areevolved forms of cheerleading whosefocus is on the gymnastic and acrobaticaspect of cheerleading and is often donein a competitive environment.

� “STUNT removes the crowd-leadingelement and focuses on the technicaland athletic components of cheer,including partner stunts, pyramids,basket tosses, group jumps andtumbling.” - USA Cheer


Is cheerleading a sport?


Is cheerleading a sport

In asking whether cheerleading is a sport or not, there are two ways we might approachthis question.

1. is cheerleading considered a sport from the perspective of the NCAA’s rules

2. is cheerleading considered a sport from a philosophical perspective


Is cheerleading a sport

In asking whether cheerleading is a sport or not, there are two ways we might approachthis question.

1. is cheerleading considered a sport from the perspective of the NCAA’s rules

2. is cheerleading considered a sport from a philosophical perspective


Not a collegiate sport



NCAA definition of a sport:

an institutional activity involvingphysical exertion with the purposeof competition versus other teams orindividuals within a collegiatecompetition structure. Furthermore,sport includes regularly scheduledteam and/or individual,head-to-head competition (at leastfive) within a defined competitiveseason(s); and standardized ruleswith rating/scoring systems ratifiedby official regulatory agencies andgoverning bodies (NCAA 2011).

Question

Looking at the following definition, whatpart of it disqualifies cheerleading as acollegiate sport.



NCAA definition of a sport:

an institutional activity involvingphysical exertion with the purposeof competition versus other teams orindividuals within a collegiatecompetition structure. Furthermore,sport includes regularly scheduledteam and/or individual,head-to-head competition (at leastfive) within a defined competitiveseason(s); and standardized ruleswith rating/scoring systems ratifiedby official regulatory agencies andgoverning bodies (NCAA 2011).

Question

Looking at the following definition, whatpart of it disqualifies cheerleading as acollegiate sport.

1. lack of competitions (sidelinecheerleading)

2. sometimes fewer than 5 competitions(in cases of competitive cheerleading)

3. no rating/scoring system that is ratified


Not a sport


Not a sport

� Even if the NCAA does not consider cheerleading as a sport, cheerleading might beconsidered a sport from a philosophical perspective.

� That is, the NCAA definition makes use of some criteria that don’t seem essentialto the definition of sport (e.g. at least five competitions, this is arbitrary)

� To consider whether cheerleading is a sport though, we need a definition of sport.


Definition of sport

� Let’s define a sport not in terms of all-or-nothing criteria (necessary and sufficientconditions) but instead put the definition of sport on a spectrum (that is, somethings are more sport than others).

� Let’s say that a pure sport has the following characterisitics:

1. competitive2. involve physical (athletic) skills3. superiority of an athlete (competition) is evaluated in terms of those physical (athletic)

skills4. purpose of activity is to test those physical skills


Definition of sport

� Let’s define a sport not in terms of all-or-nothing criteria (necessary and sufficientconditions) but instead put the definition of sport on a spectrum (that is, somethings are more sport than others).

� Let’s say that a pure sport has the following characterisitics:

1. competitive2. involve physical (athletic) skills3. superiority of an athlete (competition) is evaluated in terms of those physical (athletic)

skills4. purpose of activity is to test those physical skills


Cheerleading: Not a sport

Using this criteria, cheerleading is not a sport.

� most of the time it is not competitive

� while there are physical (athletic) skills involved, the quality of the cheerleader isnot evaluated in terms of these athletic (physical) skills

� the purpose of the activity is to entertain rather than to test any physical skills.

Practically, what this implies is that from the standpoint of the NCAA and from aphilosophical perspective:

� cheerleading should not replace traditional women’s sports

� cheerleading should not count as a sport for the purposes of Title IX (making suremen and women have equal access to sporting opportunities)

� this does not imply that there should not be cheerleading at all.


Cheerleading: Not a sport

Using this criteria, cheerleading is not a sport.

� most of the time it is not competitive

� while there are physical (athletic) skills involved, the quality of the cheerleader isnot evaluated in terms of these athletic (physical) skills

� the purpose of the activity is to entertain rather than to test any physical skills.

Practically, what this implies is that from the standpoint of the NCAA and from aphilosophical perspective:

� cheerleading should not replace traditional women’s sports

� cheerleading should not count as a sport for the purposes of Title IX (making suremen and women have equal access to sporting opportunities)

� this does not imply that there should not be cheerleading at all.


Arguments for treating cheerleading as a sport



� Even if cheerleading is not a sport, universities and colleges might treat it like asport in that they might offer varsity scholarships to individuals who wish to becheerleaders.

� such varsity scholarships might replace scholarships given to females in traditionalsports (e.g. volleyball, basketball, etc.)

� There are at least three arguments for treating cheerleading as a sport. These are:

1. argument from student interest2. argument from athleticism3. argument from finances



� Even if cheerleading is not a sport, universities and colleges might treat it like asport in that they might offer varsity scholarships to individuals who wish to becheerleaders.

� such varsity scholarships might replace scholarships given to females in traditionalsports (e.g. volleyball, basketball, etc.)

� There are at least three arguments for treating cheerleading as a sport. These are:

1. argument from student interest2. argument from athleticism3. argument from finances


Argument from student interest



The argument from student interest goes something like this:

1. People and students are interested in cheerleading (e.g. in the U.S., there areroughly 400,000 high school cheerleaders)

2. If students want an activity to be a varsity-sponsored sport, then it should be thecase at the collegiate level.

3. Thus, cheerleading should be treated as a varsity sport at the collegiate level.



The argument from student interest goes something like this:

1. People and students are interested in cheerleading (e.g. in the U.S., there areroughly 400,000 high school cheerleaders)

2. If students want an activity to be a varsity-sponsored sport, then it should be thecase at the collegiate level.

3. Thus, cheerleading should be treated as a varsity sport at the collegiate level.


Objections

Objection: arbitrary

This makes what we want to call a “sport” totally arbitrary. If students were interestedin watching movies, then by the above argument, watching movies would be a sportand we should award scholarships.

Objection: morally objectionable activities

If students were interested in morally objectionable activities (e.g. pole-dancing,stripping, binge-drinking contests, fights to the death), then these would be sports andthe university should offer scholarships for these activities. But it isn’t clear that suchacts should be supported at all.


Objections

Objection: arbitrary

This makes what we want to call a “sport” totally arbitrary. If students were interestedin watching movies, then by the above argument, watching movies would be a sportand we should award scholarships.

Objection: morally objectionable activities

If students were interested in morally objectionable activities (e.g. pole-dancing,stripping, binge-drinking contests, fights to the death), then these would be sports andthe university should offer scholarships for these activities. But it isn’t clear that suchacts should be supported at all.


Argument from athleticism



The argument from athleticism goes something like this:

1. Modern cheerleading requires athleticism (e.g. jumping, waving hands, maybe somestunts, yelling, some flexibility, etc.)

2. Even if cheerleading isn’t a sport, it can serve as a substitute for a sport since itrequires athleticism. That is, the same benefits we get from sport, we can get fromcheerleading

3. Therefore, cheerleading should be treated as a sport.



The argument from athleticism goes something like this:

1. Modern cheerleading requires athleticism (e.g. jumping, waving hands, maybe somestunts, yelling, some flexibility, etc.)

2. Even if cheerleading isn’t a sport, it can serve as a substitute for a sport since itrequires athleticism. That is, the same benefits we get from sport, we can get fromcheerleading



Objections

Objection: focus is on entertainment

� Many activities require some athletic ability (e.g. changing the oil on a car, doingthe laundry, building a fence). Some activities, for example, can be extremelyphysically taxing (e.g. last summer I used a sledge hammer to break up my patio,and then moved 100-200 lb stones across the lawn). These activities can bebeneficial to your health (one of the goods of sport).

� However, there are certain goods found in sport that are not simply due to healthbenefits (that is, good due to exercising). That is, there are certain goods thatcome about when we place the focus on some physical (athletic) skills rather thanon using physical skills to gain entertainment.

� Ability to preserve under pressure, dedication, exploration of human limits, etc.

� Thus, we cannot replace traditional sports with cheerleading since we are notreplacing two equal things (cheerleading involves different types of goods, viz.,entertainment goods)


Objections

Objection: focus is on entertainment

� Many activities require some athletic ability (e.g. changing the oil on a car, doingthe laundry, building a fence). Some activities, for example, can be extremelyphysically taxing (e.g. last summer I used a sledge hammer to break up my patio,and then moved 100-200 lb stones across the lawn). These activities can bebeneficial to your health (one of the goods of sport).

� However, there are certain goods found in sport that are not simply due to healthbenefits (that is, good due to exercising). That is, there are certain goods thatcome about when we place the focus on some physical (athletic) skills rather thanon using physical skills to gain entertainment.

� Ability to preserve under pressure, dedication, exploration of human limits, etc.

� Thus, we cannot replace traditional sports with cheerleading since we are notreplacing two equal things (cheerleading involves different types of goods, viz.,entertainment goods)


Argument from finances



The argument from finances goes something like this:

1. Modern cheerleading is significantly less expensive per athlete than other sports

2. Modern universities don’t have unlimited money

3. Universities can provide more individuals the chance to participate in an athleticactivity by having cheerleading instead of other traditional sports (e.g. volleyball)




The argument from finances goes something like this:

1. Modern cheerleading is significantly less expensive per athlete than other sports

2. Modern universities don’t have unlimited money

3. Universities can provide more individuals the chance to participate in an athleticactivity by having cheerleading instead of other traditional sports (e.g. volleyball)



Objections

Objection: explosive

The underlying assumption is that we should replace any activity X with anotheractivity Y (even if it is of lesser quality) if more people can participate in Y . From this,it seems to follow we should dissolve most sports and replace them with inexpensiveclub teams or inexpensive non-sport activities, e.g. chess club, checkers club, etc.However, this seems mistaken since we are not replacing a thing having a certain valuewith something that has the same value.


Further problems with treating cheerleading as a sport


Further problems with treating cheerleading as a sport

There are several additional problems with treating cheerleading as a sport (that is,offering varsity scholarships or replacing traditional sports with cheerleading). Theseare:

1. cheerleading is relatively dangerous in comparison to other female sports

2. cheerleading fosters certain negative stereotypes about women


Cheerleading as dangerous

� According to the Journal of Pediatrics, cheerleading is the most dangerous sport forfemales.

� Cheerleaders are at the highest risk for “catastrosphic” injury (injury that leads tosome long-term medical issue, e.g. permanent disability or shorter lifespan)

� 2.68 catastrophic injuries for every 100,000 female high schoolers vs. 1.96 injuriesper 100,000 for high school boys football over the same period.

� high risk for concussions

� more likely to go to the emergency room

Thus, even if we did consider cheerleading as a sport, there is a strong reason that wewould not want to include it as a substitute for some other women’s sport, e.g. socceror volleyball.


Cheerleading as dangerous

� According to the Journal of Pediatrics, cheerleading is the most dangerous sport forfemales.

� Cheerleaders are at the highest risk for “catastrosphic” injury (injury that leads tosome long-term medical issue, e.g. permanent disability or shorter lifespan)

� 2.68 catastrophic injuries for every 100,000 female high schoolers vs. 1.96 injuriesper 100,000 for high school boys football over the same period.

� high risk for concussions

� more likely to go to the emergency room

Thus, even if we did consider cheerleading as a sport, there is a strong reason that wewould not want to include it as a substitute for some other women’s sport, e.g. socceror volleyball.


Cheerleading as reinforcing the idea of women as sexual objects

� Another problem with treatingcheerleading as a sport is that it mightreinforce negative stereotypes aboutwomen.

� cheerleaders are viewed as sex objects,viz., aspects of cheerleading put ondisplay the sex-appeal of the individual

� revealing clothing, e.g. short skirts,exposure of middrift

� distinct (thin) body type in line withconventions of “beauty”

� being tossed around by men


Cheerleading as reinforcing the idea of women as sexual objects

For other athletes, their sex-appeal is asecondary consideration but forcheerleaders they sometimes perceived asprimary.


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Philosophy of Sport [1em] [width=.5]squirrel · 2019. 9. 29. · cheerleading should not replace...

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