Comments on: Can you get kicked off a cheerleading team for having different colored hair?

By: MICHELLE S

MICHELLE S — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:06:57 +0000

When i was in cheer ,the way we looked was everything.keep in mind this was about 10 years ago you know before everyone became so p.c. and all.If they think you look stupid then they probably don’t want you to be seen.Ask your self ……..
SELF….do i want to cheer or do i want to look like a crazy?Besides i told you nothing good would come out of changing your hair color.oh how do those red jeans look?

By: Elizabeth J

Elizabeth J — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:06:16 +0000

It’s only illegal if it’s something that doesn’t even remotely serve a team purpose, like kicking someone off because they’re black. Lots of cheerleading squads (don’t ask me why) want everyone to look exactly alike, and most of them have other standards for appearance, such as wanting each person’s hair to be one color.

Although they technically have the right to be b*tches and kick you off, I’d still talk with them about it. Maybe you could leave your hair the way it is and use some cheap hair dye to cover the front at games or pep rallies. Those are the ONLY times when your appearance is their business.

By: simpleguy

simpleguy — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:53:36 +0000

difficult question … answer might well depend on how hard you are willing to fight, i.e. who is willing to give in because it it simply is not worth the effort to win. unfortunately schools are notorious for finding hard headed individuals (well, univeristy is not better from my experience) who will dig their heels in over the most trivial issue and fight not because they are right or because it makes sense … but because they are on a power trip in their otherwise meaningless and insignificant life …

to prove “discrimination”, you will have to show how they have treated you differently than someone else, i.e. do other girls on the squad dye their hair … now the question becomes why it is different for you to dye yours … if they allow one person to dye their hair one color (no matter how innocent that color may be) they should allow you to dye yours as well.

since it sounds like there is no rule, either school or cheerleading sqaud, specifically against dyed hair, the question is what gives them the authority to state which colors of hair are acceptable and which are not. unfortuantely, they will probably go on some vague and very subjective rule that regards “appearance” or “image” as a “representative” of the school.

Since cheerleading is not required school activity you have less clout though legal remedies (as far as I know … but I am not a layer). Since you are still a minor, the courts typically give the school a lot of power under a legal theory called “in loco parentis” which essentially gives them the power of parents in place of parents when you are involved in school sponsored activities or events. I think this is typically what allows to schools to squash civil liberties and constitutional rights (freedom of speech, anyone?) pretty much at will.

depending on how much you are willing to risk your position of the squad and how hard you are willing to fight (fight fair, write letters, get a lawyer …) will give you your best shot at winning although this is not a guarantee. A letter from a lawyer (probably gonna cost you $50 will at least let the school know they are about to get hit with a lawsuit and might make them cut and run … this is if a lawyer believes you have a case a court might hear)

good luck!

By: Ember

Ember — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:56:54 +0000

No!
they cant kick u off a squad because of your hair
and if they do
its their fault

By: Josh S

Josh S — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:06:08 +0000

NO you shouldnt, that is classified as discrimination if you get kicked off beacasue of your hair colour! if they do kick you off, go and report it! because that is illegal

By: claudiacake

claudiacake — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:00:25 +0000

Oh, you are so not going to like this. Shut up and dye your hair back the way it was. What individuality? You are a kid, a member of a team….act like a member of the team. Discrimination? At your age, you do not have the vaguest concept of what that word really means. When you get out of school, get a job, pay some taxes, and contribute to society, then you can bleat about rights. Until then, you are getting an education on my tax nickel, so learn something and quit worrying about rights you haven’t earned yet.

By: Gypsy Girl

Gypsy Girl — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:15:32 +0000

It’s not discrimination unless they are objecting to your natural hair color. They have the right to uphold a standard, and perhaps the punk look isn’t up to their standards. It really depends on what the policy is on removing people from the team. See where your principal stands on the issue. If the principal agrees with you, then your set. If not, then you have a big fight in front of you. It will require getting your parents involved and talking to the school board.

By: Maria G

Maria G — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:10:35 +0000

They obviously don’t like you, or don’t like your hair, but having different colored hair isn’t agaisnt the law in cheerleading. Don’t pay any attention to those stupid people

By: Ravin

Ravin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:13:48 +0000

somewhere in all the red tape is something that states you are a representative of the school and shall have conduct and behavior that represents both properly. It seems to me that your hair is not in the schools vision of proper representation. If you have rich parents you could fight this for a long time and take it to court, its been done before. Just remember you are a representative of your school and I feel you dont want a hair color issue to be the defining thing or event about you thats remembered for years to come.

By: liddabet

liddabet — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:22:42 +0000

If they had it in writing BEFORE you joined the squad it would be understandable. I think you have a case. Fight it.

AND WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE IF YOU HAVE BRIGHT RED HAIR!?!?!?!? Next they’ll be discriminating against skin color!! Geezm. You’ll have to conform to society soon enough if you want to be out in the corporate world. High school/college is a time for exploring who you are and showing your individuality.

My kid is almost 13 and I keep telling her - “If you want to wear weird clothes and dye your hair some funky color - DO IT NOW! ’cause society is gonna getcha soon enough!”

Good luck!