Preview

Argumentative Essay On Child Beauty Pageants

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
537 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Argumentative Essay On Child Beauty Pageants
The Different Views of Child Beauty Pageants.
“I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?” This is a quote by Jean Kerr. To fully understand and finalize ones argument against a controversial topic like Child Beauty Pageants, they must first be provided with all the current and historical background surrounding it, and also others personal views, which is the objective of this paper. Engaging in child beauty pageants puts many children at risk for psychological and social issues. This type of “entertainment” is not acceptable whenever parents are putting their children in danger and at risk for problems later in the future. Children are also led to eating disorders and poor self-esteem because they have been brought up to have endless perfection and once they see that they do not, they strive and do everything in their will to meet their goal. Banning this extracurricular activity would better enhance children. It would help them learn that looks are not what matters most and that having flaws is okay. While saying all of these things, many people would disagree when in reality pageants are not good for children. Allowing them to continue would become an
…show more content…
These three sides have views that counteract with each other but they also have view that are similar and coincide with one another. This argument is between the parents of children who are not in pageants, who have had contestants in the pageants before, psychologists, doctors, and the public who push for the banishment of the pageants; while on the other hand are the pageant moms, judges, anti- banishment public and past

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The author does not come right out and say, “Pageants are bad.” He draws the reader in with his descriptions of the activities of the children and their parents along with the pageant promoters. He opens by illustrating the transition of a young 6-year-old. Plenty of 6-year-olds have played dress up over the years by putting on mommy’s lipstick or high heels,…

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    She takes a neutral opinion about beauty pageants and sheds light on some positive effects surrounding beauty pageants as well as the negative on young girls. In the article, she writes about the different types of pageants. The first pageant discussed is one that involves contestants performing a talent and participating in an interview in order to win a prize aimed toward their education, such as a scholarship for college. The second type of pageant talked about is the pageant based only on the physical appearance of the contestant. These types of pageants often do not contain an education prize to the winner. She argues that the second type of pageant objectify young girls and make them believe that only outward beauty is important. She then opposes her statement by saying there is no reason that young girls should be ashamed of flaunting their physically beauty. I think this article has potential to be useful in my paper. It gives both a positive and negative view of beauty…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Toddlers and Tiaras affects childrens’ self-esteem around the world who believe that they have to live up to this “beauty” that is enforced by their Mom’s and they have to be as pretty and perfect as these other kids who they see in beauty pageants. I cannot find it in me to support little girls judged this way. Beauty? Talent? Making them stand onstage in front of a crowd of people where one girl's dream comes true and the others are crushed? This cannot be good for their self-esteem and with children that young, they never really know what could end leaving an emotional scar. Today there are more than 250,000 children who compete in pageants and 100,000 of those children being under the age of thirteen. At a young age you are influenced by things you see, people around you, and tend to have role models who are older. Some children also…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to ABC news, 3 million young girls around six months to sixteen years enter beauty pageants. Cheryl Critchley explains that other mothers try to challenge each other to see whose child is best with glitz and glamor. Imran Jalal, the author of “Strut, be Smart” informs us that parents often buy fake trophies overseas to boost their kids self esteem. Mothers who force their child into competing can be emotionally or physically abused. They are often overweight and usually go over the top to coach dance routines and win trophies towering over the kids reports Vernon R, Wiehe, author of “Beauty pageants are not appropriate for young children”. Justin O’Neill then describes that most mothers feed their daughters with 10 pixie sticks to help gain energy. Many parents also deny nap time or breaks from pageants because the parents often are scared that naps or breaks will ruin makeup and hair but most importantly pageant…

    • 619 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since 1945, Miss America has offered scholarships to winners and now to all the women who compete as well. Transitioning from simple contest of beauty, it has become become one of the largest providers of scholarships for young women in America. Testing contestants on current events, public speaking, talents and fitness, women must be well verse in all of these categories to compete in the pageant. Competing in beauty pageants, women are encouraged to better themselves by obtaining these qualities and sharpening them. Each year the newly crowned Miss america becomes a spokesperson, traveling the nation and spring awareness on current issues. This includes becoming an ambassador for Chidren's Miracle Network Hospitals, promising a sense of chatty and service. By empowering women with the aid of scholarships, Miss America…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Toddlers And Tiaras

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages

    the author informs us that “Psychologists and psychiatrists largely agree that pageants, such as “Toddlers and Tiaras,” reinforce negative female body image issues that result in eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. As evidence of this they mental health experts point out the trend towards the onset of eating disorders at much younger ages than ever before” (Schwartz). Being part of a beauty pageant the producers emphasize the “Barbie doll” image of what children need to look like in order to win. It is not possible for a human being to look like a Barbie it’s too overemphasized. For beauty pageant girl’s looks are number…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Annotated Bibliography

    • 482 Words
    • 2 Pages

    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
  • Better Essays

    Some corroborate that pageants help to frame children’s public speaking and determination. Creating unique friendships is another idea for parents to think about when enrolling their girls. Finally, mothers believe that pageants are a type of sport like cheerleading or football, due to the fact that it contains commitment that pageants call for and training both physically and…

    • 1843 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Positives in Pageants

    • 1807 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The debate about beauty pageants is as varied as the kind of beauty pageants which are in existence today. Pageants go anywhere from the traditional late teens, early twenties, type pageant; to children’s pageants; to pageants for the disabled; and pageants for everything in between. No matter what kind of pageant it is, beauty is always a factor in determining the pageant’s outcome. That does not necessarily mean exterior beauty though; some pageants focus on inner beauty and strength.…

    • 1807 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    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
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The saying “Never judge a book by its cover” simply means don’t judge a person based only on appearance; however, in a beauty pageant it is hard to follow that phrase. In many of the glitz pageants, children are seen wearing heavy make up, spray tans, fake eyelashes, hair extensions, and flippers. Having contestants endure in all these beauty changes, demonstrates how natural beauty is not pretty. In Laura Agadoni article “How Do Child Beauty Pageants Affect a Child’s Development?” TV talk show host and psychologist Phil McGraw told pageant moms to explain to their children that a beauty pageant is a fantasy (Agadoni, 2003). McGraw said, “Children can easily believe after competing in pageants that they should concentrate too much on external…

    • 221 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    People who are against the pageants complain that they should be eliminated because they exploit children and place them in harm’s way. They claim because of major dangers; no one under the age of eighteen should be placed in a beauty pageant. The children who are in the pageants are dressed up in adult’s clothing, have piles of make up on, and are harming their bodies. They are harming their bodies by putting the make up on and tanning. By putting make up on at such young of an age, their face ages faster. By tanning, they begin to get that urge that some adults have to tan, which makes their skin age and have wrinkles early. It also puts them at the risk of having skin cancer at an early age. They say it also appeals the children to sexual predators. When a child is half naked on stage and sometimes on TV, these sexual predators see them and may even try to meet them. Sexual predators are only part of the problem. Studies show that every child who may benefit from the competition, hundreds of others suffer damage to their self-esteem and have warped self-vision of themselves and their bodies. Many times, they use JonBenet, a young child who competed in these pageants at the age of six. She was murdered in the basement of her home by a sexual predator. The suspect claimed he became aware of her by the pageants being on television.…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Beauty

    • 1147 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Child Beauty Pageants: What Are We Teaching Our Girls?The princess syndrome, self-image and eating disorders…

    • 1147 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • 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
  • Good Essays

    Societal influences have the potential to negatively impact one’s body image, particularly through participation in a Child Beauty Pageant. This “extracurricular activity” introduces unrealistic ideal images to children at such a young age; children, particularly females, are impacted psychologically and physically from this controversial practice, as well as from the undesirable parenting behind it. Society as a whole is also impacted by the airing of sexualized shows such as Toddlers and Tiaras. The early introduction and exposure to a sexist and sexualized competition will ultimately damage that child’s mental health in the future. This will result in a prolonged, destructive sense of self leading into adulthood. In Henry A. Giroux’s article,…

    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays