Femininity and Southern Belle Stereotypes in Texas Drill Teams

Author(s)	Yujie Bailey Zhang
Country	United States
Abstract	This study examines how high school drill teams engage with and challenge Southern Belle stereotypes concerning beauty and sexuality through a revolving feminist perspective. Drill teams, originating from Texas, are a type of dance team composed of uniformed girls commonly performing kick lines during halftime of a football game. This research is a case study of the "Sundancers” Drill Team at Westwood High School in Austin, Texas. Through a 12-month participant observation and five in-depth interviews, this paper aims to showcase the dancer’s perspective of the drill team and how it contrasts with popular belief. Specifically, this paper explores how diverse drill team members– across various gender, race, and dance backgrounds– navigate their individuality and social dynamics within a drill team. The analysis reveals that, despite the uniformity, traditions, and strict structure emphasized by drill teams, these teams provide a sense of belonging, increased confidence, and empowerment.
Keywords	High School Dance Education, Gender, Empowerment
Field	Sociology > Education
Published In	Volume 6, Issue 6, November-December 2024
Published On	2024-11-22
Cite This	Femininity and Southern Belle Stereotypes in Texas Drill Teams - Yujie Bailey Zhang - IJFMR Volume 6, Issue 6, November-December 2024. DOI 10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i06.31260
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i06.31260
Short DOI	https://doi.org/

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