Hooray for Marching Outside the Box

[wlotus]

When I was in high school in NJ in the mid-80s, there was a sharp division of girls and boys in certain roles: only girls were flag twirlers and participated in pom pom squad, while only boys played drums. (I once told the high school band teacher I wanted to play bass drum in the marching band, and he laughed at me. Not having the backbone then that I have now, I didn't mention it, again.) Since I like killing sacred cows like gender roles, I took great pleasure in the following participants in this year's NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade:


Girls Playing Bass Drum


Boys in Color Guard


Girls on Drum Line


Boys on Pom Pom Squad

You can see my complete collection of St. Patrick's Day Parade photos in my gallery.

Comments

[rockbirthedme.livejournal.com]

You know what's funny about boys on the poms squad? It's only in some places that boys on the cheerleading squads are an innovation. Men have been on college squads since before I was born, and in some places that's been true of high school squads, as well -- usually places where the squads compete.

Twenty years ago, my entire high school would have erupted in horror if my friend Paul, a talented gymnast and gifted dancer, had tried to get on the cheerleading squad. I have no idea whether he was even interested, but he went on to Temple, where I am sure the Owls would have grabbed him in a hot minute if he'd tried out.