adopted in the United States in the pursuit of objectives such as protecting professionalism and workplace productivity, promoting gender equality and women's rights, or avoiding and mitigating the impact of sexual harassment lawsuits. The decisions and the policies they protect have, however, been criticized on various grounds: as illegitimate constraints on individual freedom of association, as tools for companies to punish participation in labor unions, and as expressions of overzealous political correctness. Professional and college-level sports teams in the US have enacted anti-fraternization policies between athletes and cheerleaders. Very few American football teams allow casual contacts between players and cheerleaders. Reasons include interference with concentration, potential fallout for the images of teams, the possibility of sex crimes or sexual harassment, and attendant legal liability. See also Blood brother Interpersonal relationship Friendship Christmas truce Socialization References External links US military policies on fraternization US armed services fraternization policies New York Assembly policy prohibiting fraternization with student interns The Church of Greece on Adelphopoiia Fraternization and the Uncensored Occupation book chapter by Ann Elizabeth Pfau Interpersonal relationships