Firstly, young girls should not enter beauty pageants because it teaches them the wrong values from an early age. We all know beauty pageants are all about the glitz and the outrageous costumes. This, however, causes girls to use artificial means to be beautiful, teaching them that looks are the most important asset to possess. Doing this is wrong because they will grow up with that same mentality and suffer from a variety of self-esteem issues. Also, while participating in these pageants, girls don’t learn the value of money. "When being prepared for these pageants, you need a fake tan, fake teeth, fake eyelashes, fake hair and dresses ornated with diamantes along with other jewels." (Kareen Nussbaum) This all costs between 5 and 10 thousand dollars, and, for these girls, it’s normal. They are so used to have their parents spend an immense amount of money on them in order to participate in these pageants that girls expect their parents to do so every day. "A child is not yet grown, they have not yet come to terms with who they are or what they really want. Give them the world, they will become spoiled." (Martina M. Cartwright Ph.D.) Teaching kids that constantly spending money where it isn’t needed will undoubtedly create bad habits in the future. Another thing beauty pageants teach is not to value friendships. For a lot of these girls, pageants become a full time job. At 5 or 6 years old, you’re supposed to be building healthy relationships with classmates or neighbours. Instead, they are constantly walking up and down a stage in ridiculous outfits, makeup and hairstyles. This teaches girls not to value the importance of friends because they never have time for any. In all, pageants teach the wrong values of life to its participants and should be banished.
Secondly, beauty pageants affect the emotional and mental health of its participants. To begin, the judging in pageants focus primarily on appearance, attire and hair styles. By doing this, it shows the children that they need to value their appearance in the eyes of others in order to become successful. For these reasons, girls train from an early age to value perfection. "Many experts agree that participating in activities that focus on physical appearance at an early age can influence teen and/or adult self-esteem body image and self-worth." (L, Sinpetru) "Consequently, this can lead to eating disorders and all kinds of destructive behaviours in girls." (Kareen Nussbaum) Another reason why pageants have an emotional toll on young girls is the great amount of pressure that is placed on them to be the best and win. As a result, they are exposed to high stress levels at an early age when they have yet to develop coping mechanisms. This could cause them to act out and throw temper tantrums because they still don’t know how to deal with the stress that is imposed on them. Kids at that age don’t know any better and will communicate through their behaviour. Lastly, another emotional and mental risk caused by beauty pageants is sexualisation. When entering kids in beauty pageants, they are expected to look like an adult would. Unfortunately, this sexualizes the children because they learn to gain attention and status when wearing revealing clothes. “By dressing young girls as mature women, the parents and organizers of these events are, however inadvertently, parading their children as objects.” (Myke Bartlett) By doing this, you send a message to the child stating that sexuality, expressed in clothing and makeup is appropriate and could even be something to exploit. "A young girl will learn this at a young age and carry it with her for the rest of her life, setting her up for depression and other mental illnesses." (Henry Giroux)
Lastly, kids should not be allowed to participate in beauty pageants because parents try to live through their kids. Parents who, at a young age, did not have the chance to participate in extracurricular activities because of their own strict parents, or lack of financial resources, usually have a tendency of living through their children. This happens often in kid beauty pageants, where we observe mothers yelling and ridiculing their children because they didn’t place as high as they would’ve hoped. "Parents seek fame and financial rewards from their child’s pageant achievements." (Zawn Villines) This causes them to overwork their kids. They spend an immense of time practicing and reciting, that they barely have time for anything else. This is what’s called achievement by proxy distortion. "It occurs when parents struggle to differentiate between their own needs and their children’s needs, and in order to achieve what they perceive as success, they may engage in risky behaviours." (Martina M. Cartwright, Ph.d.) Another reason why parents try and live through their children is because he or she might not have felt beautiful when they were younger. Due to this, they turn to extreme measures in order to make their child feel as beautiful as possible. The artificial beauty products used in pageants are not things 6 years old needs. But in the eyes of some, it’s necessary to insure success. In another order of ideas, parents get so competitive with other contestants mom’s that they feed their child unhealthy substances in order to keep them awake. "We see several parents giving their children caffeinated beverages and pixy stix candy to keep their energy levels high." (Kareen Nussbaum) Feeding young children with such foods will create bad eating habits in the future. In all child beauty pageants should not exist, because parents resort to extreme behaviours so that it insures their kid’s success.
In conclusion, children should not be allowed to enter beauty pageants because they are taught the wrong values from an early age, they affect the emotional and mental health of its participant and they cause parents to live through their children. Pageants focus primarily on looks, which teaches the next generation of kids to value their appearance in the eyes of others. By doing this, what are we really teaching our kids? Pageants bring no good to society so parents should stop entering their kids.
Bibliography
Bartlett, Myke (2008). "Sex Sells: Child Sexualization and the Media". Screen Education. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
Buildingatlantis, "Child beauty pageants: Right or wrong", (online), retrieved from http://buildingatlantis.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/child-beauty-pageants-right-or- wrong/, March 15th 2013. Giroux, H. A. (2009, May 11). Child beauty pageants: A scene from the “other America.” Truthout. Retrieved from http://archive.truthout.org/051109A, March 15th 2013.
Hansen, Rachel," Child beauty pageants are not ok", Retrieved from http://www.rachelhansen.org/1/post/2011/08/child-beauty-pageants-are-not-ok.html , March 15th 2013.
Nauert, R, "Child beauty pageants may be more about parents." Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/10/29/child-beauty-pageants-may-be-more-about- parents/46818.html, March 15th 2013.
Nassbaum, Kareen, "Children and beauty pageants", Retrieved from http://www.minorcon.org/pageants.html, March 15th 2013.
Sinpetru, L. (n.d.)" Child beauty pageants foster adult body dissatisfaction, eating disorders." Retrieved from http://news.softpedia.com/news/Child-Beauty-Pageants-Foster-Adult- Body-Dissatisfaction-Eating-Disorders-302540.shtml, March 15th 2013.
Villines, Zawn, "Beauty pageant and children: It’s not always pretty", Retrieved from http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/beauty-pageant-children-effects-1115127, March 16th 2013.
Bibliography: Bartlett, Myke (2008). "Sex Sells: Child Sexualization and the Media". Screen Education. Retrieved 18 March 2013. Buildingatlantis, "Child beauty pageants: Right or wrong", (online), retrieved from http://buildingatlantis.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/child-beauty-pageants-right-or- wrong/, March 15th 2013. Giroux, H. A. (2009, May 11). Child beauty pageants: A scene from the “other America.” Truthout. Retrieved from http://archive.truthout.org/051109A, March 15th 2013. Hansen, Rachel," Child beauty pageants are not ok", Retrieved from http://www.rachelhansen.org/1/post/2011/08/child-beauty-pageants-are-not-ok.html , March 15th 2013. Nauert, R, "Child beauty pageants may be more about parents." Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/10/29/child-beauty-pageants-may-be-more-about- parents/46818.html, March 15th 2013. Nassbaum, Kareen, "Children and beauty pageants", Retrieved from http://www.minorcon.org/pageants.html, March 15th 2013. Sinpetru, L. (n.d.)" Child beauty pageants foster adult body dissatisfaction, eating disorders." Retrieved from http://news.softpedia.com/news/Child-Beauty-Pageants-Foster-Adult- Body-Dissatisfaction-Eating-Disorders-302540.shtml, March 15th 2013. Villines, Zawn, "Beauty pageant and children: It’s not always pretty", Retrieved from http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/beauty-pageant-children-effects-1115127, March 16th 2013.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Ethics 03/19/2016 Child Pageants make Young Girls look like Sex Objects The idea of child pageants creates much conflict and discouragement to others whom do not have children. Young girls whom participate in this activity are portrayed as sex objects just as women are as models because they are subjected to looking older and much more sensual. However, in some cases having children in child pageants creates social skills along with comfortability performing in front of others. The idea of little girls being entered into child pageants is intimidating to most people due to the fact that children are not supposed to look like adults until they are old enough. Many people frown upon the whole concept of a child being exposed to older men and women having them wear makeup and flirtatious outfits. As older women are also involved in beauty pageants, they too go through extreme acts of body changes making it harder for parents to fathom. Restricting little girls from engaging in beauty pageants or contests protects them from dangerous people along with remaining pure with their self-worth, learning to live as a child and not a woman, and retaining a healthy emotional mind.…
- 1117 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Should child beauty pageants be banned in the United States? What better “sport” for girls who are afraid to break a nail than Beauty Pageants?…
- 1464 Words
- 5 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
False lashes, spray tans, fake hair, nails, pounds of make-up and flashy costumes are all…
- 558 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Destruction of the child’s self esteem and constant attentiveness to appearance are major cons that continue to grow. Cons of unremarkable expenses, loss of educational interest and loss of innocence also remain, strengthening the fact that beauty pageants are harmful to children who compete in them.…
- 348 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Jesus Cifuentes Professor Ashkiani English 115 June 19, 2013 CHILD BEAUTY PAGEANTS Children are masters of fantastical ideas, and these pageants can be a plentiful playground for their fantasies to come to life. But these fantasies can come at a high price and self worth. Child beauty pageants are contests that feature children less than eighteen years of age. These competitions are categorized in talent, interview, casual wear etcetera; contestants wear makeup and elaborate complex hairstyles and fitted outfits to represent their routines. But how does it develop the child while they grow into becoming adults as these beauty pageants could harm the child’s well-being as the child looses their sense of their childhood.…
- 958 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
What do beauty pageants necessarily entail that makes them immoral, that makes it seem horrible to the populace? The ideas I seem to find most interesting for me to answer are many which I will list and the reader will read as they are introduced, which is to say they will not all be announced in one clump. Now, for someone to be an apologist or attacker of this topic, a description ought to be provided which I do so here “A child beauty pageant is a beauty contest featuring contestants under 16 years of age. Competition categories may include talent, interview, sportswear, casual wear, swim wear, western wear, theme wear, outfit of choice, decade wear, and evening wear. Depending on the type of pageant system (glitz/natural), contestants…
- 578 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
One would believe that a life of glamorous hair and make-up, beautiful gowns, and sparkling tiaras would be every young girls dream, unfortunately, for many, this dream often turns into a nightmare. For nearly fifty years children have been subjected to the world of beauty pageants where they have been forced to behave as young adults rather than the five year olds that they actually are. Young children spend numerous hours every day practicing speeches and model walks for upcoming pageants rather than focusing on schoolwork and playing with friends. With an emphasis placed on appearance in beauty contests, children become devastatingly concerned with the way that they look before many of them can walk. The lifestyle of child beauty pageant participants has proven to be one full of stress and negative self-evaluation which can ultimately lead to a number of mental and physical disorders as the children become older. While it is clear that beauty pageants can be damaging to its participants, especially ones who begin their career of pageantry at a young age, nothing is being done to solve this problem. Every pageant is independently organized and rules are specifically developed for each one. This variance in rules and guidelines allows an opportunity for anyone of any age to enter into beauty pageants. Pageant promoters, with little more than how much money they can obtain, do nothing to curb or change the aspects of pageants which lead to easily influenced children developing issues with their appearance and self-esteem. In order to put a stop to the lifelong negative effects of beauty pageants on young children, state laws need to be established, putting minimum age requirements and event restrictions on beauty pageants throughout the United States. Beauty pageants have continued to grow in popularity ever since they were first created in the 1920's, however, they involve a much deeper level of commitment and work than many people are aware of. With nearly…
- 2050 Words
- 9 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Inside the Living Dolls’ World: The Ugly Truth about Child Beauty Pageants A stage full of dolled-up or Barbie-like little girls who with their fabulous mini gowns or dresses, or tiny swimsuits being worn, walk that stage flashing a million dollar smile on their little faces with all the poise and projection, judges eyeing them, an audience applauding and with their pushy parents cheering for them at the corner. That would be a typical child beauty pageant scene. Basically, a beauty pageant is an assemblage of girls or women at which judges select the most beautiful (Cartwright, 2011). Beauty pageants mainly are divided into categories such as the talent portion, the modeling portion and the personal interview or the question and answer portion. Beauty pageant winners are so-called beauty queens and awards for these beauty contests include titles, tiaras or crowns, sashes, and cash prizes. Indeed today, beauty pageants for young girls are gaining more and more popularity. However, it has not only attracted popularity, but howls of criticisms too. I truly believe that beauty pageants are exploitative and detrimental to the child’s overall well-being in a way that it damages the child’s health, it exposes the child to the danger of pedophiles/being in public eye and lastly it instills a message to the child that physical beauty is the primary judge of one’s character therefore reducing one’s self-worth to appearances.…
- 1716 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
Firstly, body experts warn that children competing in pageants become obsessed with appearance. The children obsession can promote health risks such as eating disorders, or may be so unhappy with their appearance and turn to plastic surgery in the future. Dr. Martina Cartwright, a psychologist and nutritionist says "You see a high rate of dissatisfaction with their looks when they are…
- 1038 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Argumentative Essay - Beauty Pageants - Exploitative? A beauty pageant is a competition that is based solely on physical attributes but often includes talent, personality and question and answer portions. Most beauty pageants are made for women especially young girls at the age of five. Although beauty pageants are seemingly harmless and just provokes the competitive side of women, it should not be welcomed to young girls at age ten and below because (a) beauty pageants set their own definition of what is beautiful, (b) it may affect their future outlook in life, and (c) it is a form of abuse to young girls.…
- 757 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In 2005, a study conducted by Anna Wonderlich, of the University of Minnesota, eleven women who took part in child beauty pageants were compared to eleven women who did not. The study found pageant contestants score higher on body dissatisfaction, interpersonal…
- 983 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In the article “Child Beauty Pageants ‘About Parents Feeling Good, Not Kids’”, a registered dietician named Martina M. Cartwright was interviewed about her pageant experience and she said, “”Everything was based on what these kids look like and the way that children were displayed or dressed. They were fully made up; they looked like adult women, pint-size. They were judged on personality, but none spoke a word.” The statement that these girls are being judged on their personalities, but never speak a single word, truly shows how corrupt these pageants are. Pageants show kids that a person can be beautiful on the outside, but hideous on the inside, and still succeed in life. If kids grow up with the mentality that they can get everything just because they have a pretty face, they will not get very far. Children should be taught that a great personality, and intelligence will help them get what they need, because one day when they’re old, and can’t rely on their looks to get the job done, what will they do? How can people just sit back while these little girls are taught such poor…
- 699 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Throughout the average kid’s childhood, children are taught to respect education, and that appearances do not define a person. However, beauty pageants interfere with this mindset. A Beauty pageant is “a contest in which people judge a group of women or girls and decide which one is the most beautiful”("Dictionary."). There are 2.5 million girls that compete in the hundred thousand beauty pageants held each year. Child pageants were first started in 1921 when the Atlantic City hotel owner came up with the idea that would help tourism. The Little Miss America pageants began in New Jersey in the 1960’s. Originally pageants were designed for ages thirteen to seventeen, but since there were too many people, they had to make age groups (“Statistic…
- 1671 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Beauty pageants made their first appearances in America during the 1920’s, where women flaunted around casinos, determined to win a crown for their physical attractiveness. The owner of the casino where these activities occurred, figured that this would attract more tourists. Throughout the years, more modern pageants were formed, like Ms. USA and Ms. America. Following in the footsteps of its adult form, child beauty pageants merged into the 1960’s. Child beauty pageants usually consist of modeling sportswear, evening wear, and showing off any special talent they may have. Judges critique the girls individually, based on their physical looks, poise, confidence, and perfection. To the judges, this is called “the complete package.” Although the objective of most child pageants is to build confidence and self-worth, beauty pageants can be considered exploitive to minors by causing them to believe in unrealistic ideas about beauty.…
- 482 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Are pageants good for kids? As the child beauty pageants started in the 1960s, I imagine that the founders did not picture the idea of the pageants being compromised as it is today. (Nussbaum) Parents and families, of the pageant contestants, have taken it to a new extreme when it comes to beauty and perfection in their children. This can be seen in many reality TV shows on air today, but TLCs “Toddlers & Tiaras” has received more controversy than any other. In such cases as 3 year old pageant princess “Peppermint Paisley”, who made national news for what her mother dressed her as in a pageant competition. The mother thought that it was appropriate for her daughter to be dressed as Julia Roberts’s role in “Pretty Woman”. (McKay) As many know she was a hooker on this film, which is not appropriate for a 3 year old. Her mother sadly still defends her decision of the role, and says she would repeat it. This is why I don’t agree with the extremity of the parents of these children obsessing over their fame and outward beauty.…
- 846 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays