Simone Berkower
Simone Berkower
Recent Stories
Cheerleading of the ’20s: Epitome of masculinity
CHEERING CHANGES EXEMPLIFY DIFFERENT PRIORITIES, PERCEPTIONS
One of the earliest recorded Yale cheers, this chant printed in the News on Nov. 15, 1912, exemplifies the same confident optimism and catchy lyrics often associated with today’s cheerleading. But in sharp contrast to the often sexualized, feminine role of cheerleaders in today’s society, photographs and the News articles in the 10-year period from 1912 to 1921 reveal that the early Yale Cheerleaders were perceived as respected models of manliness and success.