I personally believe that child beauty pageants are wrong. I don't see how a person can justify putting a young child through the gruelling process of excessively dressing up and plastering make-up on their face just to strut their bodies in front of older people. I feel as if child beauty pageants are a few steps away from child pornography and can even be considered as
abuse in some cases. I know, it seems a bit extreme to compare a child beauty pageant to such an extreme topic like child pornography, but when broken down, what we have in a child beauty pageant is a young, impressionable child being dolled up for the pleasure of an older audience. After thorough research I find that I feel sad for most pageant contestants that are forced, for the pleasure of their parents, to wear elaborate dresses and skimpy bikinis, especially the ones crying, begging for their parents not to spray tan them or bleach their teeth.
Child beauty pageants are, sadly, currently happening in New Zealand, though I have found that the industry isn't terribly huge here.
I hope this gives you a little insight onto my thoughts on the topic and I haven't confused you even more.
Please feel free to read this post by an ex child pageant contestant where
Karen Kataline (2012) is quoted saying "As a natural extrovert, I took to "show biz"
rather well and received plenty of praise for my performances. But there was a
darker side: The old men scratching their crotches while I performed in skimpy
costumes. The latent and confusing fear of being looked at sexually, which
continued even into adulthood. And the haunting sense that I had no face when
it was not made up for the stage."
This is quite an emotional introduction. Emotion in itself is not wrong -- we are, after all, supposed to write on topics about which we feel passionate. You need to provide arguments now to support your view, e.g., child beauty pageants being a few steps away from child pornography -- yes, possibly extreme, but explain why you think/feel this. "...a young, impressionable child being dolled up for the pleasure of an older audience" could apply to Anne Geddes's photos of babies dressed up as flowers and fruits, etc. or parents dressing up their toddlers in formal wear to attend a wedding. It might be helpful to specify why child beauty pageants take those extra steps closer to child porn -- what about them takes them closer?
ReplyDeleteMiss Elsie, you are right on the money! I agree whole-heartedly with you about your views on this subject. (Am I allowed to say that it is also my opinion too? I am not sure - haha.) I think it is hard to come up with some feedback that is brand new, cos all I want to do is echo what Miss Ana Banana had to say on this one haha. It would be awesome, and really help you out too, to have some links/hyperlinks to resources that back up your thoughts and why you feel the way you do about this subject, i.e: why you think and feel like child beauty pageants are a few steps away from child pornography. (THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT ANA SAID! Haha. I need to think of something else to critique, but I honestly cannot.) Honestly though, I really love what you have come up with and I feel like you are very strong in conveying your stance on this matter. Your passion comes across real heavy, and I think that is cool that you are bold to say you are not okay with this. I love the visual bits and bobs that you have used too, because it keeps the reader interested and entertained. Gifs rule, and I wanna find some that match my topic too.
ReplyDeleteQuick question: did you find anything on New-Zealand child beauty pageants? Like, do we even have those? That could be something to look into, if you have not already. Something closer to home :)
Cool work, Elsie. I am going to go and watch Honey Boo Boo's "special go go juice" video shortly. Will I cringe?
I totally agree with you one hundred percent on this Elsie. I think you have made valid points and have been able to back up all your points. Your comparison to beauty pageants to child pornography i think can be very similar too. The fact that they do this in front of adults, is 'cringe-worthy'. I personally think that its sad when parents do this to their children when some young girls want to be doing other things, I've seen small parts of the show toodlers and tiaras and some of those girls just want to be playing in the mud and eating chocolate, but their parents deny them the simple pleasure.
ReplyDeleteYou've got some really well put-together points, goodluck with the rest :)
Elise, I love the topic you have chosen! Its quite a contreversial topic that has been in the media lately, making it seem like its not wrong! I 100% agree with you, it also makes me cringe, and I simply cannot believe parents put their children up to this, for the little, young innocent girls to stand in front of judges and be judged on their outer beauty and appearance. What is that teaching them! As much as I agree with your point of view, I have to agree with Anna and Davidda in the fact that you need to explain it further. You have done a great job in describing, which also you may need some more references to back up what you are saying. But also you need to analyze and explain. Especially where you relate it to child pornography, which I'm not sure I agree with the comparison, both are exploiting children yes - but perhaps the comparison was a bit extreme, or you may need to explain why you think this more in detail.
ReplyDeleteElsie I think this is a very interesting and origanil topic. I completely agree with your veiw in saying that child pagents are wrong. I think that the mothers of these children are absolutely self obsessed and are pretty much using their children to show off themselves. The amount of makeup used on these little kids is appaulling, do the parents not realise that it will ruin their childrens skin in the future. These mothers are also raising brats and it is their fault. By focasing their children on such materialistic and appearance based things, imagine the insecure, self obsessed teenagers these girls will become.
ReplyDeleteIn saying this however I think it would be okay if they had a cute little girls pagent (dressing as disney princeses and teaching the girls valuble life lessons like being kind and beauty is more than outside apearance its on the inside too)instead of competing like their children are horses at a race, that you bet on.
I think that this is a very interesting topic and something I had never looked into much until now, but you have raised some good points and given alot of insight and information on the topic.
Thanks for makng me think!:)
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