Bills cheerleaders halt season after lawsuit

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The Rammer

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BUFFALO, N.Y
. -- Pack up the pom-poms in Buffalo, because the Bills will be playing without the support of their official cheerleaders this year.

Stephanie Mateczun, whose company manages the Buffalo Jills cheerleading squad, said Thursday she has suspended operations through at least the end of the season. The decision was made two days after five former Jills filed a lawsuit complaining they worked hundreds of hours for free, and were subjected to groping and sexual comments.

The civil action was filed in state Supreme Court and seeks unspecified back pay and legal fees. It names Mateczun's company, Stejon Productions Corp., the Bills, and the Jills' former manager, Citadel Communications Co., as defendants. Stejon took over managing the cheerleaders in 2011.
Mateczun is in the process of hiring legal representation, and declined further comment.
The Bills have been made aware of the Jills' decision to suspend operations, but otherwise declined comment.

Lawyer Frank Dolce, who represents the five cheerleaders, said the decision to suspend operations won't affect his case because it addresses past complaints.
Dolce, however, did question Mateczun's motives, saying her decision to suspend the squad was unnecessary.

''If they cease operations, they will blame the lawsuit for the destruction of the Jills, when that was not intended at all,'' Dolce said, noting there is not much money at stake in the lawsuit.
''We love the Bills. We love the Jills,'' he said. ''We do not love the travesty of its management that has occurred over the last few years.''
According to the Buffalo Jills Alumni website, the squad was formed in 1967, eight years after the Bills were established as founding members of the American Football League. In 1986, the Bills relinquished managing the cheerleaders to private companies.

Cheerleaders have launched similar suits against the Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals.
The case against the Bills claims the Jills are wrongly classified as independent contractors and subjected to policies that violate the state's $8 per hour minimum wage law and other workplace rules.
The Jills aren't paid for games or practices and have to make 20-35 appearances, most of which are unpaid, at community and charity events each season, the lawsuit said. On top of that, they have to pay $650 for their uniforms and are not reimbursed for travel or other expenses, the cheerleaders said.

All five cheerleaders said they had to take a ''jiggle test'' so that Mateczun, Stejon's president, could assess their physiques. And Mateczun, they said, controlled everything from their hair and nail polish color to what they could post on Facebook.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
21,605
I wonder if this is an isolated incident or are all NFL Teams cheerleaders treated like and paid like crap?

I don't care if there are or aren't cheerleaders. But I do get that it is very difficult to make a squad. Do the people running the cheerleading teams figure that it is such a big honor to make a squad that it is enough and don't think money is important to the girls? They best be careful if that is the case because the cheerleaders that apply may end up looking a bit more like out of work homeless girls that are desperate for what little money they can get, than the current standard.
 

duckhunter

Starter
Joined
Feb 17, 2013
Messages
908
I sure hope this doesn't put a Kabosh on the Ram's cheerleaders doing lap dances at the games this year.

Also, in an effort to hold down Ram's expenses, I will volunteer my time as a jiggle tester.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
21,605
Did you lose your job at the Jello factory? I guess if I wasn't married and lived near an NFL franchise I would test some jigglies too.
 

PhxRam

Guest
I bet you the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders are compensated quite fairly. When you think of Dallas, you think of the Cowboy cheerleaders.
 

duckhunter

Starter
Joined
Feb 17, 2013
Messages
908
Did you lose your job at the Jello factory? I guess if I wasn't married and lived near an NFL franchise I would test some jigglies too.

My Sandy can vouch that the girls would be safe. The only harm that would come to the jiggles would be ogling.
 

moklerman

Warner-phile
Joined
Oct 8, 2011
Messages
2,185
Well, from this article I blame the Bills. They're the one's who decided to not finance the Jills anymore and hire out to an independent contractor. The American way I suppose but it still isn't right. Also, of all the cheerleaders to not compensate fairly, the girls who have to do all that they do but in Buffalo? Probably not too tough to be a cheerleader in Miami in December.
 

Prime Time

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@The Rammer please include link for any article posted. It helps keep this site free from possible take-down notices or litigation. Thanks. I looked but couldn't find the right link that matched the pic.
--------------------------------------
Jiggle Tests, Dunk Tanks, and Unpaid Labor: How NFL Teams Degrade Their Cheerleaders
11 things we've learned from football's cheerleader lawsuits.
—By Julia Lurie and Nina Liss-Schultz

cheerleadermaster.jpg

Cheerleaders for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers perform during a game. Imago/ZUMA


NFL cheerleaders might appear to be a happy, peppy bunch, but off the sidelines their working conditions are far from cheery. On Monday, a former cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sued the team, claiming she was paid less than $2 per hour during her 2012-13 season of work. It was the fifth such lawsuit this year; cheerleaders for the Oakland Raiders (Raiderettes), the Cincinnati Bengals (Ben-Gals), the New York Jets (Flight Crew), and the Buffalo Bills (Jills) have filed similar suits. (In March, the Department of Labor ruled that the Raiderettes didn't qualify for minimum-wage laws because they're "seasonal workers.")

So what's it like to professionally cheer for America's favorite sport? The allegations and evidence provided in the five lawsuits, plus a leaked 2009 employee manual from a Ravens cheerleader, give us a glimpse into the life of the women dancing on NFL sidelines. Here are 11 things they have to deal with:

Long game days, with little or no pay: NFL cheerleaders are often paid a flat rate for games that translates to a few bucks an hour, at best. Between arriving before the game and staying after it, cheerleaders work up to nine hours on game days. The Ben-Gals are paid $90 per game, and the cheerleaders for the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers make $100 per game. The Raiderettes and the Jets Flight Crew make slightly more: $125 and $150 per game, respectively. The Buffalo Jills, whose operations were suspended in April after five Jills sued the team, seem to get the stingiest deal—they aren't paid for games at all. Instead, they receive a game ticket (worth $90) and parking pass (worth $25) for each home game, which they can sell if they choose.

Not getting paid to practice: A lot of practice goes into that perfect halftime show, but many squads—including the Ben-Gals, Jills, Raiderettes, Flight Crew, and Buccaneers cheerleaders—are not paid for practicing. Cheerleaders for these teams are required to practice between 6 and 15 hours per week.

Making public appearances for free: The real money for cheerleaders often lies in public appearances at community or corporate events—Ravens cheerleaders can make about $50 per hour for corporate events. But they're also required to attend charity events twice a month, sometimes for free. The Ben-Gals, Raiderettes, Jills, and Buccaneers cheerleaders have similar setups. Between practice, games, and unpaid events, Jills allege that they work about 20 hours a week for free.

Being auctioned off and sitting on the lap of the highest bidder: The Jills lawsuit detailed a number of public appearances involving "demeaning and degrading treatment," including the Jills Annual Golf Tournament. First, golfers dunk bikini-clad cheerleaders into a pool of water. The cheerleaders are then "auctioned off" and ride around in a golf cart for the rest of the event with the winning bidder. Because there's not enough room in the golf cart, Jills often sit on the bidders' laps. Jills aren't paid for the event.

Being fined for bringing the wrong pom-poms: Adding insult to already puny wages, some teams fine heavily for minor infractions. If a Raiderettes cheerleader forgets to bring the right pom-poms to practice, she's fined $10. The same thing happens if she wears the wrong workout gear to a rehearsal, she forgets to bring a yoga mat to practice, or her boots aren't cleaned and polished for game day. When one Raiderette accidentally got a Sharpie stain on her top at a calendar signing, she was required to buy a new one.

Buying dozens of copies of the calendars they posed for: Several teams produce swimsuit calendars featuring their cheerleaders. Instead of paying them for the photo shoots, some teams make cheerleaders pay for the calendars and sell them on the side. The Ravens cheerleaders are required to buy at least 100 calendars at $12 a pop—installment plans are available—and then sell them for $15 apiece. They get to keep the earnings, but if they don't sell their share, they're stuck with the debt and a whole lot of calendars.

Passing the "jiggle test": It's no secret that cheerleaders have to be in good shape, but turns out that being eye candy for the millions of football fans also means being subject to body-policing off the field. Coming in overweight can mean being benched for a game—which effectively means losing about an eighth of your income from games—or being dismissed from the team altogether.

Different teams have different weight-judging strategies. The Jills allege being subjected to a weekly "jiggle test," which consisted of doing jumping jacks while their stomachs, arms, legs, hips, and butts were scrutinized. (The Jills manual also instructs, "Never eat in uniform unless arrangements have been made in advance. Just say 'Thanks so much for offering but no thank you'…NEVER say, 'Oh, we're not allowed to eat!'") Ben-Gals are required to weigh in twice a week, and if they come in more than three pounds over their "goal weight," they face penalties: extra conditioning after practice, benchings, probation, or dismissal from the team.

Trips to the salon on your own dime: Being thin and toned is only the tip of the beauty-standard iceberg. Cheerleaders are expected to wear their hair and makeup in very specific ways, but often aren't reimbursed for the cosmetic products and salon visits it takes to follow the rules. (Check out the Jills beauty and etiquette manual below for specifics.) The Ravens demand that the girls stay tan, keep their nails manicured but not too flashy, and get their hair dyed at least two weeks prior to every game. The Jills buy their own uniforms for $650 apiece, and while in uniform, are required to wear "foundation, blush, three natural eye shadow colors (lid cover, highlighter, definer), eye liner, mascara and red lipstick."

All this grooming gets pricey—one former Ravens cheerleader says that keeping up her hair and makeup could cost more than $1,000 per season. A member of the Jets Flight Crew alleges that the team "required her to wear her hair straight, which in turn required her to see a hair stylist each week at an approximate cost of $45 per styling." The Raiderettes handbook, according to an ESPN the Magazine article, simply says that it's possible to "find yourself with no salary at all at the end of the season."

Being instructed on how to use a tampon: Jills are given a manual that covers "appearance etiquette" and "etiquette for formal dining." The guidelines are impressively detailed; for example: "If you are served pasta, never cut it to eat. Twirl a small portion on your fork with the assistance of a spoon." Jills are instructed how often to brush their teeth and wash their faces ("Make-up left in the creases of your skin creates early wrinkles"). The manual even tackles what it calls "lady body maintenance." "A tampon too big can irritate and develop fungus," it reminds cheerleaders. "Products should be changed at least every 4 hrs."

While we're on the subject of lady parts, the Ben-Gals handbook (read the full version here) stipulates that "no panties are to be worn under practice clothes or uniform, not even thong panties."

The Raven cheerleaders' social-media presence is subject to a similar amount of micromanaging. According to the 2009 employee handbook, "If you participate in any social networking sites, such as MySpace or Facebook you are required to 'Friend Request' your director."

Keeping these policies under wraps: It may be impolite to discuss money, but many cheerleaders are explicitly barred from talking about their income and their squad's fee policy. The Jills handbook instructs: "NEVER discuss income!" The Ravens cheerleaders and the Raiderettes are also told to hold their tongues about the public appearances they're required to make.

And doing it all with a smile: In their etiquette manual, Jills are instructed: "Do not be overly opinionated about anything…Be positive and consistently optimistic about everything…Never complain!" Ben-Gals are required to follow rules guiding their "attitude and behavior," as follows (emphasis theirs): "Insubordination- Webster defines this word as 'not submitting to authority; disobedient.' Syn. Rebellious, mutinous, defiant. Insubordination to even the slightest degree IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TOLERATED!!! You will be benched or dismissed!!!" ; "Authority- ABSOLUTELY NO ARGUING OR QUESTIONING THE PERSON IN AUTHORITY!!!"

Looks like NFL teams might be out of luck on that last one.
 

12intheBox

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So the NFL Combine is fair game but the Jiggle Test is taking things too far?
 

jrry32

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@The Rammer please include link for any article posted. It helps keep this site free from possible take-down notices or litigation. Thanks. I looked but couldn't find the right link that matched the pic.
--------------------------------------
Jiggle Tests, Dunk Tanks, and Unpaid Labor: How NFL Teams Degrade Their Cheerleaders
11 things we've learned from football's cheerleader lawsuits.
—By Julia Lurie and Nina Liss-Schultz

cheerleadermaster.jpg

Cheerleaders for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers perform during a game. Imago/ZUMA

NFL cheerleaders might appear to be a happy, peppy bunch, but off the sidelines their working conditions are far from cheery. On Monday, a former cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sued the team, claiming she was paid less than $2 per hour during her 2012-13 season of work. It was the fifth such lawsuit this year; cheerleaders for the Oakland Raiders (Raiderettes), the Cincinnati Bengals (Ben-Gals), the New York Jets (Flight Crew), and the Buffalo Bills (Jills) have filed similar suits. (In March, the Department of Labor ruled that the Raiderettes didn't qualify for minimum-wage laws because they're "seasonal workers.")

So what's it like to professionally cheer for America's favorite sport? The allegations and evidence provided in the five lawsuits, plus a leaked 2009 employee manual from a Ravens cheerleader, give us a glimpse into the life of the women dancing on NFL sidelines. Here are 11 things they have to deal with:

Long game days, with little or no pay: NFL cheerleaders are often paid a flat rate for games that translates to a few bucks an hour, at best. Between arriving before the game and staying after it, cheerleaders work up to nine hours on game days. The Ben-Gals are paid $90 per game, and the cheerleaders for the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers make $100 per game. The Raiderettes and the Jets Flight Crew make slightly more: $125 and $150 per game, respectively. The Buffalo Jills, whose operations were suspended in April after five Jills sued the team, seem to get the stingiest deal—they aren't paid for games at all. Instead, they receive a game ticket (worth $90) and parking pass (worth $25) for each home game, which they can sell if they choose.

Not getting paid to practice: A lot of practice goes into that perfect halftime show, but many squads—including the Ben-Gals, Jills, Raiderettes, Flight Crew, and Buccaneers cheerleaders—are not paid for practicing. Cheerleaders for these teams are required to practice between 6 and 15 hours per week.

Making public appearances for free: The real money for cheerleaders often lies in public appearances at community or corporate events—Ravens cheerleaders can make about $50 per hour for corporate events. But they're also required to attend charity events twice a month, sometimes for free. The Ben-Gals, Raiderettes, Jills, and Buccaneers cheerleaders have similar setups. Between practice, games, and unpaid events, Jills allege that they work about 20 hours a week for free.

Being auctioned off and sitting on the lap of the highest bidder: The Jills lawsuit detailed a number of public appearances involving "demeaning and degrading treatment," including the Jills Annual Golf Tournament. First, golfers dunk bikini-clad cheerleaders into a pool of water. The cheerleaders are then "auctioned off" and ride around in a golf cart for the rest of the event with the winning bidder. Because there's not enough room in the golf cart, Jills often sit on the bidders' laps. Jills aren't paid for the event.

Being fined for bringing the wrong pom-poms: Adding insult to already puny wages, some teams fine heavily for minor infractions. If a Raiderettes cheerleader forgets to bring the right pom-poms to practice, she's fined $10. The same thing happens if she wears the wrong workout gear to a rehearsal, she forgets to bring a yoga mat to practice, or her boots aren't cleaned and polished for game day. When one Raiderette accidentally got a Sharpie stain on her top at a calendar signing, she was required to buy a new one.

Buying dozens of copies of the calendars they posed for: Several teams produce swimsuit calendars featuring their cheerleaders. Instead of paying them for the photo shoots, some teams make cheerleaders pay for the calendars and sell them on the side. The Ravens cheerleaders are required to buy at least 100 calendars at $12 a pop—installment plans are available—and then sell them for $15 apiece. They get to keep the earnings, but if they don't sell their share, they're stuck with the debt and a whole lot of calendars.

Passing the "jiggle test": It's no secret that cheerleaders have to be in good shape, but turns out that being eye candy for the millions of football fans also means being subject to body-policing off the field. Coming in overweight can mean being benched for a game—which effectively means losing about an eighth of your income from games—or being dismissed from the team altogether.

Different teams have different weight-judging strategies. The Jills allege being subjected to a weekly "jiggle test," which consisted of doing jumping jacks while their stomachs, arms, legs, hips, and butts were scrutinized. (The Jills manual also instructs, "Never eat in uniform unless arrangements have been made in advance. Just say 'Thanks so much for offering but no thank you'…NEVER say, 'Oh, we're not allowed to eat!'") Ben-Gals are required to weigh in twice a week, and if they come in more than three pounds over their "goal weight," they face penalties: extra conditioning after practice, benchings, probation, or dismissal from the team.

Trips to the salon on your own dime: Being thin and toned is only the tip of the beauty-standard iceberg. Cheerleaders are expected to wear their hair and makeup in very specific ways, but often aren't reimbursed for the cosmetic products and salon visits it takes to follow the rules. (Check out the Jills beauty and etiquette manual below for specifics.) The Ravens demand that the girls stay tan, keep their nails manicured but not too flashy, and get their hair dyed at least two weeks prior to every game. The Jills buy their own uniforms for $650 apiece, and while in uniform, are required to wear "foundation, blush, three natural eye shadow colors (lid cover, highlighter, definer), eye liner, mascara and red lipstick."

All this grooming gets pricey—one former Ravens cheerleader says that keeping up her hair and makeup could cost more than $1,000 per season. A member of the Jets Flight Crew alleges that the team "required her to wear her hair straight, which in turn required her to see a hair stylist each week at an approximate cost of $45 per styling." The Raiderettes handbook, according to an ESPN the Magazine article, simply says that it's possible to "find yourself with no salary at all at the end of the season."

Being instructed on how to use a tampon: Jills are given a manual that covers "appearance etiquette" and "etiquette for formal dining." The guidelines are impressively detailed; for example: "If you are served pasta, never cut it to eat. Twirl a small portion on your fork with the assistance of a spoon." Jills are instructed how often to brush their teeth and wash their faces ("Make-up left in the creases of your skin creates early wrinkles"). The manual even tackles what it calls "lady body maintenance." "A tampon too big can irritate and develop fungus," it reminds cheerleaders. "Products should be changed at least every 4 hrs."

While we're on the subject of lady parts, the Ben-Gals handbook (read the full version here) stipulates that "no panties are to be worn under practice clothes or uniform, not even thong panties."

The Raven cheerleaders' social-media presence is subject to a similar amount of micromanaging. According to the 2009 employee handbook, "If you participate in any social networking sites, such as MySpace or Facebook you are required to 'Friend Request' your director."

Keeping these policies under wraps: It may be impolite to discuss money, but many cheerleaders are explicitly barred from talking about their income and their squad's fee policy. The Jills handbook instructs: "NEVER discuss income!" The Ravens cheerleaders and the Raiderettes are also told to hold their tongues about the public appearances they're required to make.

And doing it all with a smile: In their etiquette manual, Jills are instructed: "Do not be overly opinionated about anything…Be positive and consistently optimistic about everything…Never complain!" Ben-Gals are required to follow rules guiding their "attitude and behavior," as follows (emphasis theirs): "Insubordination- Webster defines this word as 'not submitting to authority; disobedient.' Syn. Rebellious, mutinous, defiant. Insubordination to even the slightest degree IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TOLERATED!!! You will be benched or dismissed!!!" ; "Authority- ABSOLUTELY NO ARGUING OR QUESTIONING THE PERSON IN AUTHORITY!!!"

Looks like NFL teams might be out of luck on that last one.

That's just wrong. Billion dollar organizations treat part of their draw like such garbage.
 

mr.stlouis

Legend
Joined
Sep 7, 2011
Messages
6,454
Name
Main Hook
Pay'em, this is BS. They're icons of the most popular sport in America and they're getting crap for pay? I hope they all get a big raise.
 

The Rammer

ESPN Draft Guru
Joined
Sep 15, 2011
Messages
2,400
Name
Rick
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #17
@The Rammer please include link for any article posted. It helps keep this site free from possible take-down notices or litigation. Thanks. I looked but couldn't find the right link that matched the pic.
--------------------------------------
Jiggle Tests, Dunk Tanks, and Unpaid Labor: How NFL Teams Degrade Their Cheerleaders
11 things we've learned from football's cheerleader lawsuits.
—By Julia Lurie and Nina Liss-Schultz

cheerleadermaster.jpg

Cheerleaders for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers perform during a game. Imago/ZUMA

NFL cheerleaders might appear to be a happy, peppy bunch, but off the sidelines their working conditions are far from cheery. On Monday, a former cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sued the team, claiming she was paid less than $2 per hour during her 2012-13 season of work. It was the fifth such lawsuit this year; cheerleaders for the Oakland Raiders (Raiderettes), the Cincinnati Bengals (Ben-Gals), the New York Jets (Flight Crew), and the Buffalo Bills (Jills) have filed similar suits. (In March, the Department of Labor ruled that the Raiderettes didn't qualify for minimum-wage laws because they're "seasonal workers.")

So what's it like to professionally cheer for America's favorite sport? The allegations and evidence provided in the five lawsuits, plus a leaked 2009 employee manual from a Ravens cheerleader, give us a glimpse into the life of the women dancing on NFL sidelines. Here are 11 things they have to deal with:

Long game days, with little or no pay: NFL cheerleaders are often paid a flat rate for games that translates to a few bucks an hour, at best. Between arriving before the game and staying after it, cheerleaders work up to nine hours on game days. The Ben-Gals are paid $90 per game, and the cheerleaders for the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers make $100 per game. The Raiderettes and the Jets Flight Crew make slightly more: $125 and $150 per game, respectively. The Buffalo Jills, whose operations were suspended in April after five Jills sued the team, seem to get the stingiest deal—they aren't paid for games at all. Instead, they receive a game ticket (worth $90) and parking pass (worth $25) for each home game, which they can sell if they choose.

Not getting paid to practice: A lot of practice goes into that perfect halftime show, but many squads—including the Ben-Gals, Jills, Raiderettes, Flight Crew, and Buccaneers cheerleaders—are not paid for practicing. Cheerleaders for these teams are required to practice between 6 and 15 hours per week.

Making public appearances for free: The real money for cheerleaders often lies in public appearances at community or corporate events—Ravens cheerleaders can make about $50 per hour for corporate events. But they're also required to attend charity events twice a month, sometimes for free. The Ben-Gals, Raiderettes, Jills, and Buccaneers cheerleaders have similar setups. Between practice, games, and unpaid events, Jills allege that they work about 20 hours a week for free.

Being auctioned off and sitting on the lap of the highest bidder: The Jills lawsuit detailed a number of public appearances involving "demeaning and degrading treatment," including the Jills Annual Golf Tournament. First, golfers dunk bikini-clad cheerleaders into a pool of water. The cheerleaders are then "auctioned off" and ride around in a golf cart for the rest of the event with the winning bidder. Because there's not enough room in the golf cart, Jills often sit on the bidders' laps. Jills aren't paid for the event.

Being fined for bringing the wrong pom-poms: Adding insult to already puny wages, some teams fine heavily for minor infractions. If a Raiderettes cheerleader forgets to bring the right pom-poms to practice, she's fined $10. The same thing happens if she wears the wrong workout gear to a rehearsal, she forgets to bring a yoga mat to practice, or her boots aren't cleaned and polished for game day. When one Raiderette accidentally got a Sharpie stain on her top at a calendar signing, she was required to buy a new one.

Buying dozens of copies of the calendars they posed for: Several teams produce swimsuit calendars featuring their cheerleaders. Instead of paying them for the photo shoots, some teams make cheerleaders pay for the calendars and sell them on the side. The Ravens cheerleaders are required to buy at least 100 calendars at $12 a pop—installment plans are available—and then sell them for $15 apiece. They get to keep the earnings, but if they don't sell their share, they're stuck with the debt and a whole lot of calendars.

Passing the "jiggle test": It's no secret that cheerleaders have to be in good shape, but turns out that being eye candy for the millions of football fans also means being subject to body-policing off the field. Coming in overweight can mean being benched for a game—which effectively means losing about an eighth of your income from games—or being dismissed from the team altogether.

Different teams have different weight-judging strategies. The Jills allege being subjected to a weekly "jiggle test," which consisted of doing jumping jacks while their stomachs, arms, legs, hips, and butts were scrutinized. (The Jills manual also instructs, "Never eat in uniform unless arrangements have been made in advance. Just say 'Thanks so much for offering but no thank you'…NEVER say, 'Oh, we're not allowed to eat!'") Ben-Gals are required to weigh in twice a week, and if they come in more than three pounds over their "goal weight," they face penalties: extra conditioning after practice, benchings, probation, or dismissal from the team.

Trips to the salon on your own dime: Being thin and toned is only the tip of the beauty-standard iceberg. Cheerleaders are expected to wear their hair and makeup in very specific ways, but often aren't reimbursed for the cosmetic products and salon visits it takes to follow the rules. (Check out the Jills beauty and etiquette manual below for specifics.) The Ravens demand that the girls stay tan, keep their nails manicured but not too flashy, and get their hair dyed at least two weeks prior to every game. The Jills buy their own uniforms for $650 apiece, and while in uniform, are required to wear "foundation, blush, three natural eye shadow colors (lid cover, highlighter, definer), eye liner, mascara and red lipstick."

All this grooming gets pricey—one former Ravens cheerleader says that keeping up her hair and makeup could cost more than $1,000 per season. A member of the Jets Flight Crew alleges that the team "required her to wear her hair straight, which in turn required her to see a hair stylist each week at an approximate cost of $45 per styling." The Raiderettes handbook, according to an ESPN the Magazine article, simply says that it's possible to "find yourself with no salary at all at the end of the season."

Being instructed on how to use a tampon: Jills are given a manual that covers "appearance etiquette" and "etiquette for formal dining." The guidelines are impressively detailed; for example: "If you are served pasta, never cut it to eat. Twirl a small portion on your fork with the assistance of a spoon." Jills are instructed how often to brush their teeth and wash their faces ("Make-up left in the creases of your skin creates early wrinkles"). The manual even tackles what it calls "lady body maintenance." "A tampon too big can irritate and develop fungus," it reminds cheerleaders. "Products should be changed at least every 4 hrs."

While we're on the subject of lady parts, the Ben-Gals handbook (read the full version here) stipulates that "no panties are to be worn under practice clothes or uniform, not even thong panties."

The Raven cheerleaders' social-media presence is subject to a similar amount of micromanaging. According to the 2009 employee handbook, "If you participate in any social networking sites, such as MySpace or Facebook you are required to 'Friend Request' your director."

Keeping these policies under wraps: It may be impolite to discuss money, but many cheerleaders are explicitly barred from talking about their income and their squad's fee policy. The Jills handbook instructs: "NEVER discuss income!" The Ravens cheerleaders and the Raiderettes are also told to hold their tongues about the public appearances they're required to make.

And doing it all with a smile: In their etiquette manual, Jills are instructed: "Do not be overly opinionated about anything…Be positive and consistently optimistic about everything…Never complain!" Ben-Gals are required to follow rules guiding their "attitude and behavior," as follows (emphasis theirs): "Insubordination- Webster defines this word as 'not submitting to authority; disobedient.' Syn. Rebellious, mutinous, defiant. Insubordination to even the slightest degree IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TOLERATED!!! You will be benched or dismissed!!!" ; "Authority- ABSOLUTELY NO ARGUING OR QUESTIONING THE PERSON IN AUTHORITY!!!"

Looks like NFL teams might be out of luck on that last one.
Gotcha will do X
 

RhodyRams

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personally, I dont mind a little jiggle here or there
 

Mojo Ram

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mojo
Pay'em, this is BS. They're icons of the most popular sport in America and they're getting crap for pay? I hope they all get a big raise.
They're getting paid the Industry standard...which basically translates to post 2008 "you should feel lucky you have a job" wages. Sad times.
Does anybody here remember the terms "merit raise" or "market value increase?" Do those even exist anymore?