Opinion Post #2

Child Beauty Pageants   Chow   March 20, 2017

Child beauty pageants have been around since 1855 where P.T. Barnum has created “The National Baby Show”, a contest in which young girls are judged by their appearances (Moss, 2016). With the heavy makeup, sequin outfits, and attention these young girls are getting, it seems like they are living the dream. However, it is nothing like a dream. For example, the reality show from TLC network, “Toddlers and Tiaras” can be funny to watch at times but it is not always for laughs as it documents the lives of children under beauty pressures. Children who are trained to look like dolls for the public eye go through a lot of stress because at an early age they believe that physical attributes mean everything. This can lead to physical and mental health problems. Furthermore, these pageants encourage traditional female stereotypes where girls are viewed as objects. Therefore, child beauty pageants should be banned.

Contestants participating in child beauty pageants are too young to understand what they are going through. With their whole face covering in makeup and wearing a revealing outfit, this is how they catch the audience’s attention. With that being said, this is teaching children that natural beauty is unimportant. According to the British Journal of Psychology, “half of all six-year-olds think they are fat, and that by nine, half have been on a diet. For girls of 11 to 17, being thinner is their biggest wish,” (Roche, 2013, para.11). Not only will their physical health be affected but also their mental health. Parents who are former beauty pageants have forced their daughters to follow their footsteps while taking away their simple childhood and leaving them distressed. 6% of beauty pageant girls have suffered from depression (Statistic Brain, 2016). Child beauty pageants teach children about impossible beauty standards which can impact their health negatively.

A contest in which girls are judged by their physical attributes sends out the wrong message to society. Beauty pageants help promote the notion that women are nothing more than something to look at. At an early age, parents put their daughters in revealing outfits and teach them how to pose and catwalk seductively so they can impress the judges and possibly win money. Some believe this is a chance for young girls to play dress up and have fun, however, do parents even realize that they are sexualizing their children? “Parents assume the sexual content and innuendo in the programming they are watching will go over their child's head.. [but] in reality, they are teaching their children what kind of behavior will help them get noticed,” (Henson, 2011, para.5). Parents should teach young girls that their appearances are not meant to be assessed.   

Child beauty pageants might be entertaining for the parents and audience to watch, but it can impact the child negatively. Sexualizing children and causing them to develop health problems are two factors of why child beauty pageants should be banned.    

References:

Henson, M. (2011, September 13). ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ and sexualizing 3-year-olds. CNN. Retrieved March 20, 2017 from http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/12/opinion/henson-toddlers-tiaras/

Moss, G. (2016, September 14). What’s the history of child pageants?. Bustle. Retrieved March 20, 2017 from https://www.bustle.com/articles/183975-whats-the-history-of-child-pageants

Roche, R. (2015, September 8). The ugly side of child beauty pageants. Irish Examiner. Retrieved March 20, 2017 from http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/the-ugly-side-of-child-beauty-pageants-242192.html

Statistic Brain. (2016, January 24). Beauty pageant statistics. Statistic Brain. Retrieved March 20, 2017 from http://www.statisticbrain.com/beauty-pageant-statistics/