Cheerleading is not everyone’s cup of tea

ldquoMen see us as nothing but pieces of meatrdquo were the words of an American when questioned about her encounters with sexism as an IPL cheerleaderAt first glance you may find her embody the epitome of grace and vivacity captivating hearts with synchronised routines and infectious energy Yet beneath the veneer of entertainment lies a darker reality a reality where she is reduced to mere objects of male gratification her worth measured by superficial standards of beauty and desirabilityThe dynamics of power and privilege inherent in the IPL ecosystem perpetuate a culture of lsquoobjectificationrsquo where the female body appears no less than a commodity to be consumed at will Catcalling a manifestation of this deeply ingrained sexism serves as a constant reminder of womenrsquos perceived inferiority and disposability The anonymity afforded by the crowd emboldens scores of individuals to unleash their misogynistic impulses relegating cheerleaders to mere spectacles for the male gazeAlso ReadBig investments disappointing returnsldquoThere are many nasty men who are always up to something For the most part it is unpleasant As women we are conditioned to overlook such behaviour from men from a young age so I guess this is what we have been doing here too It doesnrsquot really take much for us to be called sexual objects you know and that is just so sad I enjoy what I do regardless dance is my favourite thing in the world and Irsquom not going to let othersrsquo opinions about my profession affect merdquo added the 24yearoldWhat may seem like harmless banter to some is in reality a form of psychological violence a relentless assault on the dignity and selfworth of those targeted she says Naturally the impact of such behaviour extends far beyond the confines of the stadium permeating every aspect of the cheerleadersrsquo lives and leaving indelible scars on their psycheYet amid this adversity there exists a quiet defiance a refusal to be silenced or sidelined in the face of oppressionAlso ReadA tale of two loyaltiesldquoYou see I like to call myself a feminist and I admit that I am bothered Why should we be looked down upon as mere objects I got through this contract because I am a good dancer but people seem to have formed all kinds of baseless opinions about us Honestly it gets tough with all the catcalling and ogling We donrsquot get paid so well as you may think so it is really a loss Most of the girls never last beyond one season and you know whyrdquo said the psychology graduateThe commodification of womenrsquos bodies in the entertainment industry is not unique to the IPL but is rather symptomatic of a larger societal malaise a culture that thrives on the lsquoobjectificationrsquo and exploitation of female performers There was a time when a boy probably in his mid20s requested me for a selfie He was being cheered on by his friends who were calling me all sorts of names in their language and it was so uncomfortable for me All I could understand was that he was trying to say he wanted to marry me It was so uncomfortable thankfully the guards took notice and escorted them out After that incident I have made a rule for myself to not take pictures with these fans unless they are women and childrenrdquo she saidThis culture of impunity she argued surrounding catcalling exacerbates the problem Many perpetrators feel emboldened to engage in such behaviour because they believe they will meet with no consequences for their actions Therefore this lack of accountability further marginalises the victims and only normalises the idea that it is acceptable to treat cheerleaders as lsquoobjectsrsquo of lsquosexual gratificationrsquoToo often their perspectives are sidelined or ignored in favour of maintaining the status quo By listening to their stories we can strive towards a future wherein individuals of all genders can engage in sports and entertainment devoid of apprehension regarding harassment or objectificationThe source has chosen to remain anonymous in order to protect her safetyDisclaimer The views expressed here are the authors personal views and do not represent the views of MidDay