Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing lawsuit from cheerleaders over unfair pay
By Josh Hill
![Oct 24, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders prior to a game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports Oct 24, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders prior to a game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c89784e71bf4c22a7ae078367a70cc243461a1a4ff8426c0abffe62768578f89.jpg)
It seems that the revolt of the American cheerleader is in full swing, as yet another NFL team is facing a lawsuit for unfair practices when it comes to the treatment of its cheerleaders. According to the Tampa Tribune, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are being sued by former cheerleader Manouchcar Pierre-Val for basically not paying her for showing up and performing.
"On Monday, Woods filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Pierre-Val accusing the NFL franchise of violating federal and state wage laws.Pierre-Val was paid less than $2 an hour when all the time she was required to work was accounted for, Woods said."
The report also states that the lawsuit is being filed on behalf of all Buccaneers cheerleaders which means yet another NFL is treating its cheerleaders in a less than favorable way. Apparently, based on the number of lawsuits pending, it’s okay to objectify NFL cheerleaders but not if they have to be paid.
This is a massive issue for the NFL that isn’t getting paid enough attention to. In a macho culture that is too hardcore to worry about head injuries, the poor treatment of women is just about the worst look a ‘manly’ sport can have. There’s nothing more primitive than the way women have been treated throughout history as the 100 year anniversary of them being able to vote hasn’t even arrived yet.
So to have this sort of an epidemic in a modern society is a big issue and it says a lot about the NFL that they don’t seem to be paying much attention to it. If one group of cheerleaders sue, that’s one thing but multiple teams are facing multiple lawsuits over the treatment of their cheerleaders and that’s a pretty obvious red flag.