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Cheerleading and the Meaning of Spirit
Communication Currents (2010)
  • Laura Grindstaff, University of California - Davis
  • Emily West, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract

“Ready. Okay.” Anyone familiar with American cheerleading is likely familiar with the idea of spirit. Because the cheerleader is a longstanding icon of American femininity, spirit communicates ideas about how young women should behave and express emotion in public life. However, cheerleading has changed, growing more athletic and competitive over time (consider the film Bring It On). As a result, more boys and young men are getting involved. What, then, is the meaning of spirit in this new context? We argue that as cheerleading has changed, the expression of spirit has become more scripted--more routine--than it was in the past. This allows cheerleaders to continue communicating traditional meanings of spirit regardless of who they are or how they really feel.

Keywords
  • Cheerleading,
  • Spirit,
  • Emotion,
  • Identity,
  • Gender,
  • Race
Publication Date
June, 2010
Citation Information
Laura Grindstaff and Emily West. "Cheerleading and the Meaning of Spirit" Communication Currents (2010)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/emily_west/18/