Is being a cheerleader for an NFL team all it really seems??

If you are an NFL football fanatic like myself, you tune in every Thurs, Sun and Mon to watch these guys play and you root and cheer for you favorite team! There are the players, the fans, the mascot and then there are the beautiful cheerleaders representing the team! These ladies put in work to cheer the players on and hype up the crowd. These ladies represent the glam side of the NFL, or do they??
After watching Bryant Gumbel Real Sports on HBO, I was taken aback at how NFL cheerleaders are really treated. I have always thought they had the best thing going..... Cheering for an NFL team, making appearances, doing fundraisers, etc. They always seem happy and in control. But control seems to be the last thing they had.
In order to be an NFL cheerleader there are certain requirements you must meet. Sure...every job has "rules" just as this one does. The ladies were required to maintain appearances. Hair had to be a certain way. Make up guidelines had to be followed. Even a guideline to how often the women were required to change their tampon!! Yes.....Blank stare!!
 You have to audition or "try out" for the team. Once selected you sign a contract and you are officially a cheerleader for said team. But is it really all that it seems.  Several ladies have stepped up and filed lawsuits against different teams regarding the low pay they have received.  In most cases the pay averaged $125.00 per home game.  So if you average around 10 home games in a season then you can maybe say before taxes they make $1200 bucks. Keep in mind this is NOT including required workouts, special appearances, photo shoots, practices, etc.  In some cases the ladies are required to provide their own pantyhose and makeup. They are also responsible for paying for salon visits and any other beauty regimens. In some cases the ladies were spending more than they were

making just to be a cheerleader.  One cheerleader even stated that she could make more serving hot dogs and beverages in the concession stands verses being on the field cheering for the team! Even the mascots for teams average $30k- $60k a year.... so why is it that these glamorous women are making such low wages? Is it because in fact that's all they are....... just glamorous specimens? In one lawsuit against the Raiders, it was concluded that the Raiders were exempt from paying its cheerleaders minimum wage, since they are considered “seasonal amusement". Really??!!??  So therefore they are not even worthy of being paid minimum wage!!??!!  What do you think? Should these women be paid more?? Should women rights activist get involved?? Below are a few articles that give a more detailed look into the lawsuits and why these cheerleaders feel they should be paid more!!

Tell me what you think! Be sure to comment below :)



http://money.cnn.com/2014/04/28/news/cheerleader-wage-lawsuits/index.html
http://time.com/44069/cheerleaders-rebel-over-low-wages/

Why do we care so much about what others think.....

As I scroll through social media and other various newsfeeds ...... It made me pause and ask the question..... Why do we care about what others think? Does it really matter? If you like your wild, naturally curly hair , why do we  care what the girlfriend who encourages you to "straighten it out" or "slap a perm in it!!" says. If you are successful and happy at your job/career, why so we feel the need to entertain that person who is telling you to do something else or why you work there. If you in a relationship and you are happy, why even be concerned with the people who are on the outside trying to dictate how YOUR relationship should be. I have seen peop,e change decisions, and even life journey based on what someone else suggest what they need to do regarding their life. What I think they don't realize is, the decisions you make and what you do is what you have to live with. Not that other person. I'm so to a point in my life where I appreciate advice, but in the end it's my choice what into with my life. So don't be mad at me for doing what I want to do and not what you think I should do. Why be upset over comments from other people who are just mad over decisions you made for your life. People are going to comment and talk all the time. Don't let that affect you! One thing I just read before writing this blog was how Tamera Mowry was so upset at how people showed so much hatred over her marrying a white man. If she knew this prior would it have affected her decision? It shouldn't but you never know. The point is, she loves him, she is married and happy and I hope she gets to the point where she doesn't care what anyone thinks!
There are three words I'm going to sum up this blog post with.... " Live YOUR Life!!!"
Thanks for reading.....