The Greek chorus of American athletic events, cheerleading developed at the end of the nineteenth century in the Northeast and Midwest as an extra-curricular school leadership activity to help motivate and inspire class loyalty and good citizenship. Primarily for males, after the First World War and the growth of co-educational institutes it became predominantly female, although in the 1960s and 1970s up to 40 percent of cheerleaders were male. Cheerleaders are usually selected for their social and leadership qualities, physical skills and popularity Acolytes usually begin as mascots working with older cheerleaders.

In the last thirty years cheerleading—influenced by the popularity of gymnastics—has become more of an athletic event, developing under the auspices of several national associations which sponsor clinics, camps, workshops and nationally televised competitions since 1984. In 1999 there were an estimated 3,300,000 cheerleaders nationwide, half between the ages of twelve and seventeen (another 1.2 million under the age of twelve). The South and Midwest dominate, as they often do in competitions. In 1972 the Dallas Cowboys originated the first professional cheerleading squad.

Cheerleading is big business—supporting a star cheerleader can cost $5,000 per year, and supply companies reap millions. It is also big media—both the wholesome sensuality of students and more suggestive professional squads gain sports media attention, while stories of athlete—cheerleader romance, squad jealousies and even murderous mothers have been the stuff of teen movies for decades.