The Reality Reports

How Cheerleading Started As A Men's Activity: Most people today think of cheerleading as something mainly done by women, but this was not always the case. When cheerleading first began in the late 1800s, only men were allowed to participate. The activity started at Ivy League colleges during football games.  In 1898, a University of Minnesota student named Johnny Campbell became the first official cheerleader when he led organized cheers from the sidelines. Soon after, other schools created their own all-male cheerleading teams, often called "yell leaders" or "yell squads."

The Origins Of Gendered Colors: The association of pink for boys and blue for girls may seem surprising today, but it reflects cultural norms that were prevalent before World War I.  In the early 20th century, pink was considered a strong and masculine color because it was seen as a softer version of red—a shade associated with strength and courage.  Blue, on the other hand, was linked to femininity due to its delicate nature and its connection to religious imagery, such as depictions of the Virgin Mary wearing blue robes.