Toddlers In Tiaras Skip Hollandsworth Analysis

Destiny Velez
Prof. Banks
English Comp. 1
09/13/14
Summary Response Essay on “Toddlers in Tiaras”

The article “Toddlers in Tiaras” was written by Skip Hollandsworth which appeared in Good Housekeeping on August 2011. Hollandsworth’s report is used as an argument to persuade the readers to have a negative view on childrens’ beauty pageants. He wrote this article in response to the TLC series of “Toddlers and Tiaras” and the negative effects it has on children and adults. This article can be divided into six sections. Hollandsworth opens the article describing Eden Wood’s pageant transformation. From early morning hair and make-up to retouching up her spray tan, Eden is ready to strut her $3,000.00 bubble gum pink
Always reminded by her mother that her job is to make everyone love her. Following this section, Hollandsworth reminds the reader of the tragic Christmas murder of Jon Benet Ramsey that took place in Boulder, Colorado and the irony that people remember her more as the famous pageant girl that looked like a baby Marilyn Monroe than the much publicized murder case of a six year old girl that has never been solved. Hollandsworth also presents the reader with a few negative sources of information. The first, through the eyes of a former child contestant that competed with Jon Benet that did not want to be associated with pageants. Also, the trust worthy comments of a reporter that compared Jon Benet pageant videos to “kiddie porn” (Hollandsworth 491). In the third section Hollandsworth presents the reader with the idea of a promise that sells “a tiara.” The writer reminds the reader of the first televised broadcast of the Miss America pageant in 1954 and how that pageant connected princesses to pageants, causing kiddie pageants to emerge in the U.S.A. He also goes on a lengthy description of the high
It also contributes to precocious sexualization by encouraging flirtatious behavior in the pageants; teaching these girls to be objects for others’ pleasures. These children are learning that acting sexy will get others’ attention, a problem young girls are having even though it is not their intention to come across with that connotation. He blames reality T.V. for making these girls focus more on physical appearance rather than their self – esteem. Even though pageant life can be relentless according to Hollandsworth, in section five, he blames the mothers and pageant agents for depriving these pageant girls from having a so call “normal child life.” He also presents the reader with the question of who are these girls doing pageants for? For themselves or their mothers? These pageants according to Hollandsworth present a Kate Middleton moment to live the princess story for both the mothers and children. He also makes a contrast of the simple life of Eden versus her celebrity life and the plenty of criticism she receives because she wants to be a star. He also talks about the financial cost Eden’s parents are undergoing for her to experience life outside Taylor, Arkansas. Hollandsworth ends up the article by presenting contestant’s comments such as,