In
the past few years, beauty pageants have been publicized in the media. Millions
tuned in to watch Mallory Hagan be crowned Miss America and Norton Auditorium
was sold out last week with people anxious to see who would become Miss UNA. The
New York Times ran an article about the newly crowned Miss America explaining
her small Brooklyn neighborhood. While most people find pageants to be
entertaining, many are wondering about the effects that it has on young girls.
With television shows like Toddlers and Tiaras that glorify young children from
ages 0 to 12 to wear makeup, false teeth, and get spray tans, many are left
wondering how these children will turn out to be when they get older. When the
media airs shows like Toddlers and Tiaras, it influences young girls to believe
that in order to feel beautiful and have confidence, makeup and being thin are
necessities. While I understand that older girls who participate in pageants
(high school and up) in order to compete for scholarships, the media should not
be glorifying children’s pageants because of the negative effects it has on
young children.
I've never been a 'fan' of pageants for toddlers. I feel like those are precious years and babies should be able to enjoy them by being a 'baby'. These moms (maybe even some dads) throw their babies off into this world and they are way too young for that. There is ALWAYS only ONE winner when it comes to beauty pageants, so I believe that it messes with their self-esteems, because they may wonder are they not 'good enough' or 'pretty enough' when they're not crowned the winner. And on top of that, it's not cheap at all, these pageants cost money. I have close friends who are active with pageants for their daughers, who are one and four years old, and the glitz dresses start at $500 on top of the entry fee, different outfit changes,make-up, pictures, portfolio, etc. It's PRICEY! I just believe that they should wait until the children are older and better at understanding, before putting them through that and spending that type of money. But for the older girls, I enjoy it. I watch Miss America and Miss USA every year and those girls are always classy and positive, and they each represent an organization and it's really nice to watch.
ReplyDeletePageants are a sort of double-edged sword. They have the potential to open doors for contestants. They provide opportunities for scholarships, education, and networking. Pageants are able to shape themselves into well-rounded adults with marketable talents and communication skills, and hopefully a high sense of self-worth. However, there is always the chance that some contestants see pageants as "beauty pageants," placing too much emphasis on looks. That outlook on pageanting may shape contestants' personalities in negative ways. Younger contestants seem to be more at risk to misconstrue the focus of pageants, especially in a society that glamorizes such shows as Toddlers in Tiaras. Fortunately the Miss UNA pageant contestants seem to be lovely young women with their beautiful heads on straight.
ReplyDeleteI've never really watched any pageants. I have seen the television show Toddlers and Tiaras and I didn't care for it. I feel that exposing children when they are that young to fake tans and teeth and hair just makes them feel like that's what looks best and is appreciated the most instead of their natural looks. When I was that age, I didn't wear anything fake-- the most I ever did to dress up was put on mismatched ballerina outfits with my sister. I'm not saying that these parents don't let their kids know that they're always beautiful regardless and that who they are is more important than physical appearance, or that these pageants only judge on looks, but I do believe that the amount of money spent on the appearance of these children has the potential to make them think it's more important than it actually is. However once people reach a certain age where they can understand and make their own decisions, if they want to do pageants then they should.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that bothers me most about children's pageants is the life that the kids miss out on. These kids have developed the idea that physical appeal is one of the most important aspects about them at way too early of an age. My dad has worked in the children's ministry for the past twenty years and the most enjoyable things about these kids is their innocence and adventurous spirit. I was a ring bearer on a couple of occasions as a kid and, while people did reinforce my looks, I was more concerned about the fastest route up the nearest tree in case of a stampede. We're taking this adventurous aspect of these kids' lives away when we start trying to tell them that they already have to live up to a standard. I can't exactly relate to the mindset of a young girl, but it seems the dress-up games that they play in their own time is their adventurous spirit. Kids live in an imaginary world and once you start telling them that their world isn't good enough and they need to live up to the standards of some judges, we're replacing this childlike mind with a corrupt, "matured" mindset. Let kids live in their world, it's the only time they'll get to.
ReplyDeleteAs a previous pageant competitor, I have experienced first-hand the pros and cons of the pageant world. Pageants can definitely open doors and help contestants network and earn scholarship money. It is a dog eat dog sport with a lot of intricate parts that have to be perfected in order to succeed. If one has time to devote and is confident and strong, pageants can be a gateway to showcase one's personality. Pageants can by costly, but money can also be earned if pageants are won. All in all, I do not think parents should push their children to compete, but if the girls want to do it, it can be a life-changing experience.
ReplyDeleteI will be honest, I actually enjoy the entertainment of pageants! However, I do believe that society has sort of went overboard when it comes to the exploitation of children. Parents have become borderline crazy with the amount of money that is spent on each pageant and the drive to win. As for young women who compete in pageants, my answer is why not? In a way, it does promote beauty and excellence. In another way, it can be degrading to those who may have insecurity issues. All in all, If a female or child is being portrayed in a positive way, then I think pageants should continue their show.
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