...Why Beauty Pageants are Harmful to Young Girls “Since I was three I was pressured by my mum to be perfect. But living up to her expectations was impossible.” This is a quote from national pageant star, Brooke Breedwell. In 1855, a national contest that circus entrepreneur, businessman, huckster, and all-around exploitation artist P.T. Barnum orchestrated, called the "National Baby Show," attracted 143 child contestants and 61,000 viewers nationwide. This was the first child beauty pageant. But what most people don’t know, is that Barnum attempted to orchestrate a teen pageant, but failed because society found that it was immoral. So why is it okay to but babies in pageants but not teens? Child beauty pageants are harmful to young girls for...
Words: 594 - Pages: 3
...irresponsibly. Today, child beauty pageants opened kid’s eyes on things they are not supposed to encounter in their early childhood. Kids now act like adults; they have unleashed their innocence and pure minds for the sake of beauty.Child beauty contests resemble young kids, under the age of 18. Contestants are usually divided into groups according to their age. Very young aged kids are usually not interviewed dude to their very little knowledge, so only outer appearance is considered. Kids are shown up on stage in different outfits typically wearing make-up and overage hairstyles.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/child beauty pageant )In 1921, the owner of Atlantic City Hotel struck upon the idea to help boost tourism “Most Beautiful Child”. Business owners adopted these competitions, because it increasingly bought about a billion dollars a year. People loved the idea; they encouraged their kids to attend such contests.(zinzi williams, 12/6/10)The murder of Jon Benet Ramsey, born August 6,1990 turned the public spotlight in the late 1996 into child beauty pageants. JonBenet was murdered in her house, the six years old girl was found in the basement with her hands tied up and strangled after nearly 8 hours from being reported missing. However, this case remains unsolved. Critics began to question the ethics of parents who would present their child in such a way.( kareen nussbaum, http://www.minorcon.org/pageant.html ) Parents may think that beauty pageants are helpful for their kids in...
Words: 1121 - Pages: 5
...With events like “The Miss America Pageant” being nationally televised, movies like “Little Miss Sunshine” being produced, and shows like “Toddlers and Tiara’s” and “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” being watched by millions, children’s beauty pageants are becoming more popular than ever. Today more than 16,000 child pageants are held annually, with an estimated 290,000 contestants (Bowling). Behind the popularity, however, follows the controversy. There are essentially two types of children’s beauty pageants, the “natural” pageants and the “glitz” pageants. In natural pageants, children under a certain age are not allowed to wear make up or fake teeth (flappers), spray tans and big hair are discouraged, and there are specific age appropriate dress guidelines that the contestants must follow. In contrast, at a glitz pageant you will see fake smiles, fake tans, heavy stage make up, and wigs on almost every girl. Advocates of both types of pageants argue that they are a good source of friendly competition and healthy for a child’s self esteem. Critics of child beauty pageants, however, argue that the glitz pageants, more so than the natural pageants, could potentially have damaging effects on the child contestant. One of the most significant reasons parents cite for entering their children into beauty pageants is to boost their child’s self esteem, and to teach poise and confidence. A group of parents interviewed by TODAY contributor Michael Inbar claimed that putting their children...
Words: 2394 - Pages: 10
...to respect education, and that appearances do not define a person. However, beauty pageants interfere with this mindset. There are 2.5 million girls that compete in the hundred thousand beauty pageants held each year. Child pageants were first started in 1921 when the Atlantic City hotel owner came up with the idea that would help tourism. The Little Miss America pageants began in New Jersey in the 1960’s.Originally pageant were designed for ages thirteen to seventeen, but since there were too many people, they had to make age groups. By entering a child in pageants, parents are teaching children that they have to go far and beyond to look better than everyone else. Although beauty...
Words: 1544 - Pages: 7
...Makeup, big hairdos, spray tans, gowns, high heels, and a lot of glitter – this is what child beauty pageants consist of. At a very young age, little girls are exposed to the world of child pageants and often forced to participate in the contests. The popular television show, Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC which aired first in 2009 exposes viewers the life of young pageant stars. It entertains viewers by displaying how the young girls and their families deal with child beauty competitions which is not all fun, as it consists of tantrums and attitude. Toddlers and Tiaras displays how the young girls wake up early on the day of their competition, get dressed up with their big gowns, apply heavy weight of makeup, and walk down the stage in front of...
Words: 1271 - Pages: 6
...Picture it. A beauty pageant has just ended a young girl walks off with a crown on her heavily hair sprayed hair. A wide smile on her face that has been pounded with makeup. How old is this girl? Fourteen to sixteen years old maybe?, wrong. She is 7 years old, Are children's beauty pageants damaging or beneficial? Child beauty pageants are competitions with different categories in which girls compete to be the prettiest, the most talented, or the overall best. They have been popular and have had several shows based around it. For example “Toddlers and Tiaras” on TLC. They originated in 1950. They have gained popularity in recent years. Currently 5000 child beauty pageants are held annually in the United States. There is a lot of controversy...
Words: 1345 - Pages: 6
...Child Beauty Pageant There are lots of extracurricular activities for girls and boys, like baseball, basketball or soccer and the parents drive to and from their games. Some time they have more than one child to take them to their games. Lots of parents get son involved and start cheering and sometimes get to an arguments if the referee or judge makes a bad call. Then the mother or father starts a fight, because they get so into it. It no difference when parents want their child to complete in a pageant show, because there is competition and sportsmanship their also. Beauty pageants stated in the U.S. in 1921, with the introduction of Miss America pageant. Child beauty pageants did not start until the 1961 in New Jersey. The first was started at amusement park in Bergen County. It was intended for 13-17 year olds, but got more participants and they started to split the contestants by age. The little Miss American pageant was...
Words: 476 - Pages: 2
...At the age of 16 months to 16 years old, it is estimated that 3 million children compete in beauty pageants(“Beauty Pageants Draw Children and Criticism”). Some parents enroll their children into these pageants in order for their children to follow the steps of celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner, who began modeling at a young age and now have a successful career. Parents enroll their children at a young age to get the urge of starting to become famous at a young age to be cast into acting and get movie parts; however, the child may not want to participate and is forced to. Enrolling children into beauty pageants at a young age is not acceptable. Parents should stop the enrollment of their children into beauty pageants due to the...
Words: 1202 - Pages: 5
...102 Dr. D. Pineda 10 December 2013 Child Beauty Pageants: What’s The Harm? Although there are many adults who suffer various consequences of child pageant participations, they still look back at their childhood and have some good memories of fun. Some even enter their own children into these pageants. Unfortunately, however, the damage is still the same and the cycle continues. Child beauty pageants are detrimental to the psyche of young children because these pageants promote sexualization far beyond their years and lack regulations to govern the actions within these contests. Because these children are being pushed into time-consuming, grueling preparation for these pageants, and because their performances are considered to be far beyond their years leading to self-objectification or sexualization, and the lack of regulations within these pageants there should be some boundaries set to minimize the psychological effects of participation within these contests. As we approach the Christmas holiday this year there are many who remember the horrific murder mystery of JonBenet Ramsey, a former child pageant star, and wonder if her participation in the beauty pageant world is what ended her short life. It’s been 17 years since her body was found in the basement of her parents’ home and her face was plastered all over the news. When the name JonBenet Ramsey is heard doll-like images flash through our heads from her pageant photos. Would she still be alive today had she not...
Words: 2952 - Pages: 12
...The ugly face of child beauty pageants Leslie Cannold May 21, 2011 OPINION * A child beauty pageant participant. DO AN internet search on "child beauty pageant" but be prepared. Not just to be depressed by images of overblown, cap-toothed, heavily made-up under-fives but the obvious yet rarely commented upon fact that all these kids are girls. This issue is red hot in Australia right now, as the June date for the first American-style child pageant to be held in this country approaches. But as psychologists predict future insecurity, eating disorders and depression for participants, and religious pseudo-feminists rhapsodise about lost childhood innocence, it's critical we separate the hyperbolic wheat from the chaff. What is the real problem with child beauty pageants and what, if anything, should be done about them? Hard data is thin on the ground and so far doesn't support the future mental illness thesis. But what one US study found when interviewing 41 pageant mums – and it is nearly always mothers who push girls as young as one into competition – is that often social class and female life experiences are behind the choice. Some pageant mums are living out their own dreams of "go[ing] somewhere in life", as one mother put it, rather than being "stuck at home" due to early childbearing. While self-focused female ambition continues to be stigmatised in Western societies – with the ambitious working woman always contrasted unfavourably with the mum who sacrifices...
Words: 629 - Pages: 3
...Many people believe beauty pageants are over rated but let’s be honest who doesn’t want to feel like a princess every once in a while. Pageants are a good way for children to realize you always have to do your best and work to achieve your goal. Granted children don’t always win but in reality all that’s doing is preparing them for all the life events they are going to go through. Pageants are about more than winning; they teach life lessons and let the children express themselves. Nothing is wrong with setting children up for success, at least this way they get to have fun and learn. There are many different ranks in a beauty pageant; there is not just one winner. The prizes given out depend on what rank you get. Beauty pageants give out a variety of prizes, each pageant is different but prizes may include money, animals, and even scholarships. So not only do pageants help set children up for success and build their confidence they also help pay for schooling. Pageants are a great opportunity and everybody should take advantage of them. Pageants are just like sports, kids play football and basketball and even are on swim teams and nobody says anything negative about that. Pageants are just like sports, you are competing against one another and everybody wants to win. When children play sports they don’t always win and that can be just as hard on a child. If a child is on a team and the team loses the teammates point out every mistake making the children feel like it was...
Words: 598 - Pages: 3
...characteristic if you could?” Miss Lopes then amazed the judges and was crowned Miss Universe 2011 by replying the answer “I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty, I acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I plan to follow those throughout the rest of my life.” Miss Leila Lopes laughed and smiled as she hugged the runner-up Miss Olesy Stefanko, then felt a crown carefully placed on her head. I fully congratulate Miss Lopes upon her achievement, being crowned miss Universe is an admirable goal that many young women dreams of doing. This is just is a simple example to all those ladies out there that everyone has the potential to do what they want. Participating in pageants is not an easy task to overcome. Ever since I was a little girl I have always disliked pageants because I hated the idea of loosing at anything. In my response Miss Leila Lopes was crowned miss universe 2011 due to her intellectual bravery, efforts and her talents. When I was twelve years old my mom got me to participate in a dancing contest that was talking place in my village. I had agreed to take part at first but when I got...
Words: 899 - Pages: 4
...In middle school and high school, I was quite insecure until I started competing in pageants. For me, pageantry is empowering. It seems like an oxymoron. Anyone who knows the slightest bit about Toddlers and Tiaras can tell you that the institution is about superficiality and objectification. However, reality TV portrays pageantry as realistically as it does housewives in Orange County. When I tell people that I am involved in this, they are shocked. I, as a well-educated feminist, simply don’t fit their stereotype. I don’t compete to be judged on my beauty. That’s an antiquated idea that most systems have moved past and it’s not a quality I care enough about. I do it to represent my community, promote causes I care about, and improve my confidence....
Words: 579 - Pages: 3
...Beauty Pageants in Today’s Society Beauty pageants have been a part of the American Society since the 1920’s so that women or young girls can compete and be judged mainly on their physical appearance, but also on talent and personality. They say pageants build a young woman’s confidence because she is up on stage, where all eyes are directed toward her, cheering her on, ultimately making her feel glamorous. In “Introduction to Beauty Pageants: At Issue” Rosie Goldsmith says, “Those in favor of the pageants argue that there is no shame in showing off one’s beauty, fitness, and health.” Others say it is a great way to make friends and have life long friendships. With all of these benefits that come along with beauty pageants, what could possibly be so harmful about them? Beauty pageants may build some women’s confidence and help build friendships, but overall, beauty pageants are degrading to women and serve no real purpose in today’s society. There are a few reasons that are considered to come to the conclusion that beauty pageants causes more harm that good. The first thing that is considered is the fact that they are judged on appearance and poise. “A beauty should be judged for the good works, not for the beautiful thighs and backless blouses.” By judging a woman based on her physical appearance and her clothes, we are degrading women to mere objects. Women have fought way too hard for equality and respect for the last several decades to be lowered to mere objects parading...
Words: 1136 - Pages: 5
...Significance of the Study Beauty pageants take place everywhere around the world, and as the researcher observed, they never fail to draw various sectors of audiences. As Cohen (1996a) described it, beauty pageants, as diverse as they are in their cultural and historical contexts, they do something similar wherein they establish an ideal of beauty that best represents the locality. Indeed, Filipinos have been always fond of beauty pageants that it has become a significant part of their lives. No town fiesta or festival can be called as they are if there was no beauty pageant held. And beauty queens and even beauty contestants are always admired and considered as one of the beautiful icons in the country. But as the Philippine culture easily being influenced by the American society, this research hopes to emphasize the distinction of Philippine beauty pageants from American beauty pageants for it is in beauty pageants that the epitome of a Filipino is being showcased around the world. With that in the mind, this research also hopes to discover and unravel the purposes behind the staging of beauty pageants in both American and Philippine society. Background of the Study The researcher, who is not a stranger in the world of beauty contests in her school, has been asked by a judge on what she thinks is the purpose of beauty pageants in the society and whether its purpose is still prevalent. Intrigued, the researcher decided to do a research on beauty pageants. The TLC TV series Toddlers...
Words: 4104 - Pages: 17
