The History of Cheerleading Bloomers

A pair of spankies or bloomers are worn underneath a cheer uniform skirt for modesty during stunting and flipping. These are also called cheer briefs or boy-cut briefs and can be plain, printed or have a team logo. Made from a poly spandex blend they are comfortable and breathable to wear while cheering.

They have been an integral part of the uniform since the 1970s and are normally knee length with a high waist line that covers most of the belly button. They are often decorated with rhinestones and may have a bow on the bottom. During this era, cheer skirts became much shorter and the uniform tops tighter. The thigh stand was popular where one cheerleader would be on her knees and the other would stand on her thigh. This didn’t require much flexibility and a pair of spankies or bloomers were just fine.

In addition to wearing more revealing uniforms, these young women were also at risk for eating disorders. Unlike other sports participants, who were generally at lower risk for disordered eating, cheerleaders experienced a greater than average increase in the prevalence of anorexia and bulimia. This may be due to a number of factors including their perception that the public views them as sexual objects, their high level of activity, and their exposure to revealing team uniforms.

The changes that Kraig Tallman introduced to the sport of cheer came at a time of seismic shifts in America’s social and cultural norms. The women’s liberation movement was in full swing, and women were starting to enter the workforce in record numbers. As a result, the culture of the ’60s and ’70s was beginning to be more accepting of female autonomy, agency, and ability.