Cowboys Cheerleaders Get Pay Raise
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have obtained a 400% pay raise after years of asking for better pay. The announcement came during the second season of Netflix’s documentary series America’s Sweethearts, which is about all the challenges the cheerleaders faced. This increase is revolutionary for NFL cheerleaders, because they are known for having low pay for their hard work
Before this change, veteran cheerleaders like Jada McLean earned just $15 per hour and $500 per game appearance. Now, top performers can earn over $75 per hour. However, the deal doesn’t include health insurance, leaving an important issue unresolved. The raise was made because a cheerleader sued the team by claiming that she earned less than the mascot.
The pay boost reflects growing recognition of cheerleaders’ contributions to the NFL. Many people think that this pay raise will spread over the entire league. The documentary shows the team’s workload, having 20 hours of practice every week, and having to show up every day. Many members have to take second jobs to keep up with their finances.
Team director Kelli Finglass called the raise “60-plus years overdue.” Even though cheerleaders get free beauty treatment, they still want fair pay first. The Netflix series helped showcase their financial struggles, and showed everyone who watched the show that cheerleaders don’t actually make money.
This win means progress to the cheerleaders, not that they’re done. As McLean said, “We’re professional athletes who deserve proper compensation.” This case could inspire more teams to ask for better pay.
