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."
A famously known child beauty pageant is Honey Boo-Boo child.
After watching many documentaries on the lifestyle of an average child beauty pageant, I finally came across a video of 'Honey Boo-Boo child's' 'special go-go juice'
Here is the video:
This video shows us how many competitors are put through different forms of abuse just to give them that extra 'edge'. This mother knowingly puts a mix of energy drink and fizzy drink into her child, for no other purpose than to exploit her in front of millions of viewers, just think of the physical effects this drink is having on this poor young girl!
Martina Cartwright (2011) states that "Many experts
agree that participation in activities that focus on physical appearance at an
early age can influence teen and/or adult self-esteem, body image and
self-worth. Issues with self-identity
after a child "retires" from the pageant scene in her teens are not
uncommon. Struggles with perfection,
dieting, eating disorders and body image can take their toll in
adulthood."
Though I do acknowledge that not all participants are put through this kind of thing, I think the cons outweigh the pros, this is not only physical abuse, but also emotional abuse. If a child is put through this kind of pressure at such a young age, I can only imagine the effect it will have on them in the future, all the insecurities.
Pictured above is two year old Mia, this young competitor recently competed in a show. The shocking thing about her costume is the fact that this costume was made famous by Madonna in her 'Like a virgin' song when performed on tour. For those who don't know, for her performance, Madonna performed sexually crude acts wearing this gold cone bra. Is this really what we should be having our children dressed up as? This just goes to show how much we are sexualising our kids by putting them through such competition.
One last video for this post:
I don't think much needs to be said on this video. This video is proof that some mothers will ignore their own children's fears just to make sure they are the prettiest. The most shocking part of this video is the mother saying that she would of held down her daughter herself and torn off the wax strips.
(Before continuing on, please note that I have no personal experience at all with beauty pageants, this blog is simply my own thoughts - and some others)
Child beauty pageants. Are we boosting the confidence of the participating children like some claim or are we just forcing our children to grow up too fast, too soon? Are we teaching participants poise or are we teaching them beauty is everything? (Helene Malmsio, 2013)
Many beauty pageant competitors are started off at a young and vulnerable age, so is it fair to be shoving them into such a world centered around beauty and competition?
So, what is a child beauty pageant? Miranda Barzey (2010) states that: "Essentially a beauty pageant is a contest over physical attractiveness.
Some contests have portions of that focus on talent and interview, but a
majority of the points come from the beauty and grace of the
contestants as well as their outfits. Contestants try to sway the judges
by having the brightest smile, cutest clothes, and prettiest hair."
It is debatable that beauty pageants have more pros than cons, (Helene Malmsio, 2013) as child beauty pageants can help a child build on their confidence, they can help them refine some of the skills they possess.
Whose confidence is child beauty pageants helping? surely not the child who came second or third and especially not a child who didn't place at all. What do you tell the runners up? "Sorry you aren't as pretty as that girl." Unlike other competitive sports where are losing team can improve the needed skills, a beauty pageants competitor can only look at their looks as the fault, and in a competition of 20, there is 19 'losers' left to wonder why they weren't beautiful enough to win.
Barzey, M. (2010). Child beauty pageants: Right or wrong? Retrieved from:
http://buildingatlantis.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/child-beauty-pageants-right-or-wrong/
Cartwright, M. (2011). Child beauty pageants: What are we teaching our girls? Retrieved from:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/food-thought/201108/child-beauty-pageants-what-
are-we-teaching-our-girls
Katalin, K. (2012). 'I was in beauty pageants as a child.' Retrieved from:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/beauty/8070376/I-was-in-beauty-pageants-as-a-child
Malmsio, H. (2013). Child beauty pageants pros and cons. Retrieved from:
http://www.squidoo.com/child-beauty-pageants-pros-and-cons
The week staff. (2012). 5 Reasons child pageants are bad for kids. Retrieved from:
http://theweek.com/article/index/225572/5-reasons-child-pageants-are-bad-for-kids
