Watch A Woman's Work: The NFL's Cheerleader Problem

A Woman's Work: The NFL's Cheerleader Problem is a 2019 documentary directed by Yu Gu that tackles the issue of sexism and discrimination against cheerleaders in the NFL. The film features interviews with former cheerleaders, lawyers, activists, and journalists, as well as with one of the NFL's highest-ranking female executives, Maribeth Towers.

The movie starts by introducing the concept of cheerleading in the NFL, which used to be viewed as a glamorous job that provided women with the opportunity to perform in front of millions of people and to potentially become famous. However, the film quickly reveals that the reality of being an NFL cheerleader is far from glamorous. Cheerleaders receive low pay (in some cases, below the minimum wage), are subjected to strict rules regarding their appearance and behavior, and are routinely exploited by their teams and the league.

One of the main focuses of the movie is on the numerous lawsuits that have been filed by former cheerleaders against the NFL and their teams. The documentary highlights the case of Lacy T., a former New Orleans Saints cheerleader who filed a lawsuit over sexual harassment and discrimination. Lacy's story is emblematic of the issues that cheerleaders face, as she describes being forced to sell raffle tickets and attend charity events without compensation, being subjected to unwanted advances by team officials, and receiving inadequate medical attention. The film also briefly touches on the case of the Washington Redskins cheerleaders, who were reportedly required to pose topless for a calendar shoot and were then sent to interact with male sponsors in a way that made them feel uncomfortable.

The documentary also explores the broader societal issues that underlie the mistreatment of cheerleaders. It points out that cheerleading is still seen as a "pink collar" job that is not taken seriously, despite the strenuous physical and emotional demands that are required of cheerleaders. The film also highlights the ways in which gender norms and stereotypes contribute to the exploitation of cheerleaders. For example, cheerleaders are often expected to perform a kind of hyper-femininity that is both sexualized and infantilizing. Additionally, the film argues that male-dominated sports leagues like the NFL are more likely to view women as disposable objects rather than valuable employees.

Despite the serious subject matter, A Woman's Work: The NFL's Cheerleader Problem is not without its moments of levity. The movie includes footage of the Seattle Sea Gals (the Seahawks' cheerleading squad) performing a parody of the famous "One Day More" song from Les Misérables, complete with rewritten lyrics about their grievances. The film also features interviews with former cheerleaders who have used their experiences as a springboard to successful careers in other fields, such as law and activism.

Overall, A Woman's Work: The NFL's Cheerleader Problem is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on an important issue. The film is well-researched and compelling, and it succeeds in humanizing the women who have been mistreated by the NFL and their teams. Hopefully, the movie will inspire more people to take action and demand better working conditions for cheerleaders in the NFL and beyond.

A Woman's Work: The NFL's Cheerleader Problem is a 2021 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.