The 400% salary increase for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader reminds people that female athletes are paid very little
If you are riveted millions Lover in AmericaNetflix’s documentary about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading, then you already know that the 36 women who made the team are nothing more than professional athletes.
Most come from a studio-trained dance background. They endured a tough training program and had to meet a strong physical need – their trademark kicking line and jumping moves were so punished that some of them tear their hips to the point where surgery was required.
From July until the end of the Cowboys season, they rehearse for two to three hours Wednesday to four times a week and perform in all home games. People Magazine notes that practice alone can be a 40-hour commitment a week, which does not include their promotions.
And, until recently, they reportedly did not have enough salary to support themselves. As the show itself points out, many of them work the second or even third time.
Now, Season 2 Lover in America With the decline of major announcements: a 400% increase in wages.
“Heard of our efforts, they want to give us a raise,” said four-year veteran Megan McElaney on the show.
The show did not disclose what the cheerleaders earned before the raise, or what their compensation would look like after they were compensated. But former cheerleader Jada McLean told the New York Times Wednesday that she once had a five-year veteran on the team for $15 an hour, and with salary, it might be more like $75 an hour.
Cheri Bradish, future director of the Sports Lab at Metropolitan University of Toronto, said that while many people pay very little, many are shocked, it fits the overall narrative of the gender pay gap in women's sports.
“Women in sports have inequality in sports, not just cheerleaders,” Bradish told CBC News.
“Their journey is similar to what we see with other leagues and teams that strive to respect a broader, more respected salary overall.”
“Volunteer Position”
Raeanne Milovanovic, co-founder and vice-chairman of the Canadian Football Cheerleading Alumni Organization, said being a cheerleader is a major commitment that requires a high level of athleticism, dedication and professionalism.
Milovanovic said compensation varies from team to team and “has been a topic of discussion throughout history.” She said allowances usually don’t reach minimum wage, but there are other allowances and promotional opportunities – for many, more of this experience.
“For many people, it’s a volunteer position,” she said.
According to the CFL News Hub, CFL cheerleaders usually don’t receive regular fixed wages, but instead pay about $50 to $100 per game per game.
With the popularity of women's sports experiences, salary differences are attracting more and more attention.
Superstars such as Caitlin Clark of the WNBA, Simone Biles of the U.S., rugby player Ilona Maher and Canadian Records swimmer Summer McIntosh have attracted more attention together with the rise of new female professional hockey and soccer leagues.
However, Paycheques has not accelerated its pace yet.
Paige Bueckers, for example, is the WNBA No. 1 draft pick, and her rookie year is expected to earn just $78,831 in the U.S. (about $109,480), or below the state’s true median household income. Professional Women’s Hockey League players earn as little as $35,000 per year.
In March, FIFA's report on women's football found that the average salary for top teams around the world was $24,030, and living wages were small in many places. Despite seeing a series of viruses in 2024, last year, no woman ranked in the top 100 globally.
The league announced Wednesday that the Professional Women’s Hockey League will expand to Vancouver and start the game next season. Vancouver is a “outstanding” opportunity for the Development League, said Jayna Hefford, Oiympic gold medalist and executive vice president of PWHL Hockey Operations.
Salary Battle
Dallas cheerleaders have been pushing for wages for years, part of the overall NFL cheerleaders’ competition for minimum wage. In 2017, a federal judge filed a lawsuit accusing the NFL and team owners of colluding to suppress cheerleaders’ wages.
In 2019, the Cowboys filed a lawsuit with a former cheerleader, causing the team to double their salary per game from $200 to $400 in the United States. The latest salary increase is four times.
“'Happy' is not even the right word,” former cheerleader Jada McLean said on the show. “I think I just…feel, like everything, everything pays off.
Robyn Pineault, 42, cheered for Hamilton Tiger Cats and Toronto Alnan people in the early 2000s. Apart from practice and public appearances, Pineault says she will dance off the court, plus half-time performances and performances between seasons, all physically demanding and time-consuming.
Pineault, who now lives in Ottawa, said she is proud of the Dallas cheerleaders urging a raise.
“They have a microcosm of brand awareness in the industry. Every cheerleader looks up at the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders,” she said.
“So it’s a great story for dancers everywhere to see them get their wages and actually get their own value, not just having the opportunity to dance and have that career, but also getting fairly paid.”
