Women's College Cheerleaders Challenge Stereotype

From: Karen Brown
Length: 05:02

A new cheerleading squad at one of the country's pre-eminent women's colleges -- alma mater of Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan -- is raising eyebrows with its short skirts and perky attitudes. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Women's College Cheerleaders Challenge Stereotype
From: Karen Brown

Sq3_small The Smith College "Spirit Squad" set off a controversy this fall when 70s and 80s-era alumnae learned that their historically feminist, academically-rigorous school would be taking part in the most stereotypically "unfeminist" type of activity. But the cheerleaders on the squad insist that they're simply refusing to obey traditional boundaries of what is feminist. What's more feminist than cheering for women athletes?

More from Karen Brown

Caption: Kathy Picard, Credit: Karen Brown

Toxic Stress: Why Abuse and Trauma Linger into Adulthood (05:22)
From: Karen Brown

It's no surprise that early trauma can effect someone for years to come, but researchers in Massachusetts are starting to understanding what exactly is happening to the brain ...

Caption: Meghan, Brady, Diane (L-R), Credit: Karen Brown

Surrogate Motherhood Between Friends -- After Baby (04:46)
From: Karen Brown

A Massachusetts woman carried a baby for her best friend, who has cystic fibrosis; baby Brady was born in August. This is a follow-up to a previous story about the pregnancy ...

Living with Hypochondria: The Real Costs of Imagined Illness (28:56)
From: Karen Brown

Woody Allen made hypochondria famous as a source of self-deprecating humor, but this clinical condition can be seriously debilitating for individuals and their families -- ...

Surrogacy Among Friends (06:58)
From: Karen Brown

A woman carries a baby to term for her best friend, whose chronic disease would make pregnancy hazardous.

Child Obesity - Part Three - Spreading the Lifestyle (05:17)
From: Karen Brown

Families in the low-income community of Holyoke, MA -- who successfully lost weight through a community clinic program -- are trying to share their newfound lifestyle with ...

Child Obesity - Part Two - Kihuanna's Story (05:17)
From: Karen Brown

This feature profiles a 9-year-old girl named Kihuanna who, at 4 foot one and 139 pounds, has a body mass index twice what it should be. With the help of her family and ...

Child Obesity - Part One -- The Clinical Approach (05:05)
From: Karen Brown

One health center in Holyoke, MA addresses the 50 percent rate of overweight and obese children in this predominantly low-income, Puerto Rican community.

Urgent Care Clinics -- Taking on the Primary Care Overflow in Health Care (05:21)
From: Karen Brown

Urgent Care clinics are doing brisk business as the primary care shortage sends patients their way.

Veterans on Campus - A Challenge to Adjust (05:03)
From: Karen Brown

Veterans are entering college in droves thanks to the new GI bill -- but they often need help adjusting to campus life, and not all colleges are prepared for that.

Health Reform Part 3 - Who Benefits from Massachusetts Public Programs (05:28)
From: Karen Brown

Who benefits from the greatly expanded public health programs, and who doesn't.

Piece Description

The Smith College "Spirit Squad" set off a controversy this fall when 70s and 80s-era alumnae learned that their historically feminist, academically-rigorous school would be taking part in the most stereotypically "unfeminist" type of activity. But the cheerleaders on the squad insist that they're simply refusing to obey traditional boundaries of what is feminist. What's more feminist than cheering for women athletes?

Broadcast History

Aired on WFCR in Amherst, MA -- Nov. 13, 09

Transcript

SMITH COLLEGE IN NORTHAMPTON IS ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS WOMEN'S COLLEGES -- AND ALMA MATER TO SEVERAL NOTABLE FEMINISTS, INCLUDING GLORIA STEINEM AND BETTY FRIEDAN. SO ONE THING PEOPLE DON'T EXPECT TO FIND ON CAMPUS...... ARE CHEERLEADERS. A NEW 'SMITH SPIRIT SQUAD' IS BUCKING THAT STEREOTYPE, AND RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WOMEN'S ROLES IN ATHLETICS, AND WHO OWNS THE DEFINITION OF FEMINIST. WFCR'S KAREN BROWN REPORTS.

[CutID: cheer amb - take it to the floor.wav
Time: 92s
Title: cheer amb - take it to the floor
Description: cheer amb - take it to the floor
Out-cue: ]

Ambi.... "take it to the floor, come on smith let's score...0:25:39.2 ... 'much better'... that looks really good.

ABOUT TWO DOZEN YOUNG WOMEN IN TANK TOPS AND SWEAT PANTS ARE LINED UP IN TWO ROWS..... LEARNING TO CHANT AND CLAP IN UNISON. THEY'RE HOLDING CHEERLEADING PRACTICE ON A GRASSY FI...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

5:02, plus introduction

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

SMITH COLLEGE IN NORTHAMPTON IS ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS WOMEN'S COLLEGES -- AND ALMA MATER TO SEVERAL NOTABLE FEMINISTS, INCLUDING GLORIA STEINEM AND BETTY FRIEDAN. SO ONE THING PEOPLE DON'T EXPECT TO FIND ON CAMPUS...... ARE CHEERLEADERS. A NEW 'SMITH SPIRIT SQUAD' IS BUCKING THAT STEREOTYPE, AND RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WOMEN'S ROLES IN ATHLETICS, AND WHO OWNS THE DEFINITION OF FEMINIST. KAREN BROWN REPORTS.

OUTRO: