Child beauty pageants were first introduced to people as a sort of entertainment for both the children and adults of the community. These were natural beauty pageants. Today, a beauty pageant is defined as a competition in which the participants, usually women, are judged on their attractiveness, with a prize, and often a title, awarded to the winner. How did a harmless hobby become so fierce? Because of glitz pageants, which stress only beauty, I believe that child beauty pageants should be banned.
Although the original concept of beauty pageants was less distasteful, I still believe that participants should compete because they want to and not because their parents want them to compete. Although participation in beauty pageants can build
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Vernon R. Wiehe, professor in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, states, "sexualization occurs through little girls wearing adult women's clothing in diminutive sizes, the use of makeup which often is applied by makeup consultants, spray tanning the body, the dying of hair and the use of hair extensions, and assuming provocative postures more appropriate for adult models". The participants are often judged on the same criteria as the adult beauty pageants. The children and adults are both judged on: beauty, personality (congeniality), formal wear, swim wear and talent. The children are often dressed in revealing and tight outfits. This may subject them to paedophiles which is a form of abuse too.
Parents, most times subconsciously abuse their children by entering them into beauty pageants especially Glitz pageants. A toddler should not be screaming and begging their parents to not wax their brows or put on very tight costumes. Children should not be begging to eat a bigger portion of their meals. Forcing children and not giving them an opportunity to express themselves or choose what they would like to do can be perceived as child neglect.
Although I do think that beauty pageants should be banned, one thing that I admire about beauty pageants is the support the child receives from their families and communities. I strongly believe that a child’s self-confidence and will to do things is 10x better when they know that the people that love them believe in them and support them. The bond between the child and her supporter gets
At some point every single one of us was once an innocent child without a care in the world. The only thing that mattered was to make sure we had fun. There are many different things children do to have fun. Some children love to go outside and get dirty, others prefer to stay indoors and play pretend. Some girls love to play tea time or pretend to be princess. In some cases those pretend fantasies become true. Little girls get the chance to actually become a small little princess for a day. The only place that allows little girls to become a princess is at a child beauty pageant. Unfortunately throughout the years these pageants for little girls have been criticized and rejected by other people. There are many articles that discuss the reasons why child beauty pageants are rejected but there are also some that discuss the importance of them.
" In the end, children’s beauty pageants are essentially harmful to both young girls safety and minds. It may not happen to some, but most of the young girls that compete in beauty pageants seem to have a bit of an attitude towards their parents and other people who will not cooperate with them.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Pageants have been a controversial topic since the start of them. The idea of a pageant really is degrading. Girls compete to be prettier than the ones in competition around them. The winner receives a crown and is made out to be a queen for doing nothing but walking across a stage. Character has no importance, nor does skill.
With parents putting their children in public with such inappropriate clothing can lead to the danger of a child’s life. The pageant industry doesn’t give out warning to the parents of putting their children in a risk condition that can target them. In Christine Tamer’s article claims that children’s beauty pageants are a form of child sexualization, “these sexualized images can serve to normalize abusive practices such as child abuse, child pornography, and child prostitution.” Tamer also claimed that because of pageants is media related, it can attract pedophiles and can result of a murder just like what had happened to a six year old pageant girl, JonBenet Ramsey, who won a half dozen of beauty crowns. Ramsey disappeared after Christmas
Beauty pageants affect a child’s health. On a 2003 episode of Doctor Phil McGraw’s TV talk show Dr. Phil, Dr. Phil McGraw told pageant moms that they need to explain to their children that, “a beauty pageant is a fantasy,” and if parents did not stress that fact their children “might be concerned more with their looks than their internal selves (McGraw, Sexy Too Soon.)” A child and adolescent psychologist in Maryland agreed with Dr. Phil McGraw. Not only do children competing in pageants measure their self-worth by how they look, they are in for a horrible reality as an adult if they do not stay as ‘beautiful’ when they grow up (Syd Brown, Good Morning America: Beauty Pageants Draw Children and
They have to spend time on their routines, hair, outfits and makeup. What people don’t see is that getting involved in things like this can help a child not sit on the couch for hours instead of doing something productive. "Say what you want about these little girls, but spending hours learning and practicing is a much better way to spend one’s time than glued to a TV screen like most other kids" (Foley). Foley is an active supporter of beauty pageants. Studies show that while kids go through their development they don’t want to do much but sit inside and watch TV. Being in the pageants keeps them going all the time. From doing their dance routine over and over to perfecting their smile for the judges. "I understand the irony in promoting “Beauty Without Barriers” in a beauty pageant, but the pageants that I participate in and coach other young women for are scholarship organizations that require women to be poised, elegant, talented, and well-spoken" (Nooruddin). Beauty pageants teach young ladies how to respectful and responsible. Not all pageants are about makeup and hair. Some pageants show you how to be respectful, responsible and elegant. This can help in the future and teach kids how to be a well-mannered adolescent. This can help in future opportunities that can lead to having good jobs and getting into which ever industry they’d like to. It makes them appear much more
If you were a parent of a young girl, would you allow her to get judged based off of what she looks like? Unfortunately, this is the harsh reality for young girls all over the country. Not only do parent allow for their child to be criticized by a random person, they usually put the child under a great deal of stress because of the amount of badgering to win. All this pressure and criticism may lead to self conscious issues for these girls in the future. There have been studies performed to show the correlation between physiological issues and beauty pageants, as well as, articles written that warn the public about these effects.
Child beauty pageant contestants are taught that if you look pretty, you win prizes and get love from mommy and daddy. These girls are put in huge frilly dresses, given fake hair pieces, caked in makeup, and are already getting spray tans. Their developing minds will determine that being pretty is the best thing to be in life. Older kids may understand the difference between what happens onstage and what happens offstage. However, little kids may interpret it as meaning beauty is the only thing that matters.
The lights are all on you, the make-up, the hair, and the extravagant dresses. Your blood pumps with adrenaline; you feel nervous, yet excited. All eyes are on you; the pretty girl strutting across the stage in ostentatious costumes that flicker once caught in the light. Many people have witnessed a beauty pageant whether it is one on television or stage. Not many are in denial of the lovability of the younger aged children executing their talents in front of crowds. Beauty pageants have been around since the 1920’s setting a trend in the American society, but the history of beauty pageants began in Troy and Ancient China, where the contestants consisted of sculptors, actors, poets, philosophers and public speakers etc. (Children and Beauty Pageants) Beauty Pageants consist of many age groups ranging from newborns to about twenty years of age. Girls between the ages of three to thirteen should not participate in beauty pageants.
Many young girls are forced to wear preposterous outfits and enormous amounts of makeup that deny them of their innocence at a young age. Beauty contests are meant more for adult women who are mature enough to understand all that’s going on and can handle losing competitions to the other contestants. Children should not be able to compete in pageants because of the harmful effects on self-confidence and character. Some people think they are good and some do not agree that they are good. (Leo, 2014)
Modern beauty contests started in the United States of America in 1880 with the first Miss United States bathing beauty contest held at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Since then, beauty pageants had been popular in many parts of the world. Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International, participated in every year by more than fifty countries, ceaselessly attracts huge audiences and supporters. The biggest, the Miss World competition, had been running annually since 1951, and although it is less popular in the UK now than it was in 1968, when it attracted 27.5 million TV viewers, it still attracts an enormous worldwide audience of up to 3 billion viewers in 120 countries. [1] Although the main purpose of these pageants are to empower women, the crowned winners are also traveling around the world in order to support causes like HIV/AIDS and children's charity organizations. [2] Due to the success of these internationally produced pageants, various beauty contests for different classes of age, sex and sexuality stemmed up. However, even with the huge diversity, the content of each pageants have almost always been the same: all of them are comprised of the mainstream categories like swimwear portion and evening gown portion. With these content, beauty pageants gives out strong messages regarding what the ideal type of woman is, hence undermining the purpose of a beauty pageant: to empower women. Thus, although beauty pageants contribute to the entertainment of the masses, it promotes an ideal of female beauty that only a minority of women can realistically aspire, objectifies women, further advances cultural insensitivity among its candidates and uses up too much resources which is why it should be banned.
The effects accruing from beauty pageant competitions matter significantly. From an ethical perspective, we have to weigh the positive benefits against the negative benefits on individuals and society. This provides the best yardstick for making appropriate judgment about beauty pageants. Based on this platform, it is clear that beauty pageants pose numerous, detrimental effects on society. This makes it meaningful to ban beauty pageants.
The pint-size stars pile on fake hair, heavy makeup, and even false teeth before taking the stage. Many kids wear revealing clothing that critics say aren’t age appropriate.” (Anastasia, Laura) Pageant participants range from ages six months to sixteen years, depending on what competition section they are a part of, and participate in categories of swimsuits, talent, evening wear, and themed costumes. Most girls at these young ages wear overalls and pigtails rather than slinky ensembles and fake hair that overwhelms their features.
Many people are against beauty pageants, because people think that pageants are sexist, judgmental, and degrading of women. Do beauty pageants still serve their purpose in society? Yes, many contestants gain a lot by doing pageants. Contestants of any age and gender have their benefits from doing pageants.
They are dressed up to look like adults and sometimes dressed provocatively. “Beauty pageants are a reflection of a culture in which women are not equal. Women’s bodies are not their own but are seen as objects of beauty for others.” (Nasso). Parents of the pageant world don’t always understand how provocative and wrong it is to dress their children up in show outfits or give the child additives to make them look better.