From the Society Pages:
Cheerleading started in the United States in the late 19th century as a male activity whose purpose was to organize crowds cheering at football games. In 1923, women joined cheerleading squads and have increasingly dominated this sport. Cheerleading traditionally features chanting, gymnastics, and tumbling. The dominant image of cheerleaders is a perky, always smiling, female who fits a particular body mold.
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