Beauty Pageants: Positive or Poisonous?
Macee Payne
Mrs. Teague
English III
12 March 2013
Beauty Pageants: Positive or Poisonous? There is no doubt that beauty pageants have a negative connotation in today’s society. Who hasn’t seen the hit television show “Toddlers & Tiaras”? Those television producers only want the viewers to see the worst moments, though, so they can get the highest ratings possible. They care only about their income, not the reputation of pageants. Most of the people who believe the pageant world is one of disgust have no clue about what really goes on outside the illusion of television. There are many opposing arguments against pageants and pageant contestants. Feminists believe that they are degrading and sexist towards the female gender, because they should not be judged on their “womanly” attributes and rewarded for their looks. Parents, on the other hand, argue that allowing daughters to participate in a beauty pageant is a horrible parenting mistake, claiming that it teaches them to only rely on their outside appearance because that is all that matters if they want to succeed in life. All of those beliefs are completely incorrect. Beauty pageants are beneficial to those competing because they provide them with a safe extracurricular activity, help prepare them for the future, and affect them in a positive way. First off, even with the aid of modern technology, most parents do not know where their child is at all times, and that can be scary. Anything can happen. Any parent could be oblivious that his/her child is out doing illegal and/or dangerous activities, including underage alcohol consumption, drug use, or simply hanging out with the wrong crowd. Pageants provide many children with a fun, safe, extracurricular activity. Since most participants have a mother or guardian accompanying them while preparing and competing, there is ample time for bonding. Going shopping, choreographing routines, practicing poise, doing hair and makeup, and going through the
Mrs. Teague
English III
12 March 2013
Beauty Pageants: Positive or Poisonous? There is no doubt that beauty pageants have a negative connotation in today’s society. Who hasn’t seen the hit television show “Toddlers & Tiaras”? Those television producers only want the viewers to see the worst moments, though, so they can get the highest ratings possible. They care only about their income, not the reputation of pageants. Most of the people who believe the pageant world is one of disgust have no clue about what really goes on outside the illusion of television. There are many opposing arguments against pageants and pageant contestants. Feminists believe that they are degrading and sexist towards the female gender, because they should not be judged on their “womanly” attributes and rewarded for their looks. Parents, on the other hand, argue that allowing daughters to participate in a beauty pageant is a horrible parenting mistake, claiming that it teaches them to only rely on their outside appearance because that is all that matters if they want to succeed in life. All of those beliefs are completely incorrect. Beauty pageants are beneficial to those competing because they provide them with a safe extracurricular activity, help prepare them for the future, and affect them in a positive way. First off, even with the aid of modern technology, most parents do not know where their child is at all times, and that can be scary. Anything can happen. Any parent could be oblivious that his/her child is out doing illegal and/or dangerous activities, including underage alcohol consumption, drug use, or simply hanging out with the wrong crowd. Pageants provide many children with a fun, safe, extracurricular activity. Since most participants have a mother or guardian accompanying them while preparing and competing, there is ample time for bonding. Going shopping, choreographing routines, practicing poise, doing hair and makeup, and going through the