Are Beauty Pageants Unhealthy For Young Children A review of the literature Surk College English, ENG 4C1 Mrs. Stronach February 25, 2010 Word count: 1,410
- 1 Abstract In this report I il1 be discussing the issues that are based around children beauty pageants. The problems of how they affect a child s self esteem and confidence, how it effects their health and personality and their overall view of the world and themselves.
Review of the literature Are beauty pageants unhealthy for children? There has always been controversy regarding beauty pageants that are set up for young children, It is said that beauty pageants give our children poise and confidence in themselves but I believe that real beaut comes from with in, and not just from outer appearance. In the article Debate around children beauty pageants by Carolyn Lanier (Lanier, 2007), it is discussed that beauty pageants for children are all just based on beauty. As much as the parents or the people that host the pageants say that it is based on personality, it is not being seen that way from the observers, The author talks about how young children with down syndrome or autism have personalities, poise and could win scholarships why aren t they ever entered or accepted? Simply because there is no chance that thex would be accepted in a beauty pageant, because it purely based on beauty. The article Beauty Pageants, Tamm Mcdaniel lull (Hill, 2008) discusses hox beaut pageants in oung girls can cause eating disorders, depression and lo self esteem. Beaut, thinness and talent aie all that is poitra ed in beaut pageants and oung girls that ant t be the next b aut queen, ho ill the do that and at v hat cost? She sa s that there is pressure e erhere for oung girls to look sex and thinner. In our societ fifteen perc ent ha e some kind of disordered eating pattern. One pci cent of female
themselves to death. She thinks that beauty pageants are guilty because of what they promote. Striving to be a beauty queen is not only a danger to the physical health of a person but also the mental health. Nine out of ten girls age fourteen and fifteen claim to have suffered depression with six percent saving life just is not worth living. Top sources of what produced this feeling was pressure to look good, that s ninety four percent of our girls trying to fit into the beauty queen image. Beauty Pageants Pro and Cons by Madha Godbole (Godbole, 2009) takes a completely different view about beauty pageants and how they could potentially have positive effects Ofl young children, She says that getting into a beauty pageant, presenting yourself flawlessly and gracefully can be a fantastic confidence booster. A pageant can help individuals become go getters and achieve what they want. Consequently, those who win are brimming with confidence, Like it was stated previously beau pageants trigger the self confidence and the poise, scholarships are also given to the winner, She says that beauty pageant representatives sa that your intelligence and congeniality is tested, but you never know what the judges have on their mind, But there are some u ho intensely claim that the judges do test the intelligence of the contestants and there are acti ities where they can displa their intelligence. So bcaut pageants arc strictl bascd on bcaut Similarly to the prex ions article, Some Pros to beauh paaeants b Heidi 11, (11, 2008) discusses hon beauh pageants can hell) learn grace. poise, self esteem, and the abilitx to remain calm under pressure The offer scholarships, Lrc r Ito t pi
cause great bonding experience for families, with traveling, socializing, and spending time together. When you are walking on the cat walk or proving yourself the judges, they can teach one to have great confidence. It can teach a child to have patient and how to handle being let down or told no. e don t like you. They teach one to speak with confidence in front of an audience and be confident when all eyes are on the person. It can build courage, allos one to meet new people and make new friends without being afraid, and encourages the contestant of inner beauty, The author says that it can show that the contestant has a supportive relationship with person and it help overcome shyness. In the article Beauty Pageants for kinds border lines pornography, Ian Gillespie ( Gillespie, 2008) speaks strongly about how young girls strut their stuff on then runway and skimpy bathing suits and makeup pasted thickly on their face and their onh about six ears of age. MaryAnne Andrusysz) n, a lady that is mentioned in Gillespie s article says that beaut pageants are a t pe of child abuse. She says it s a mild form of pornography because the girls do sexual pelvic thrusts towards the audience and their two years old. Little babies are being put on air and their not old enough to kno what they re doing or the are being recognized for. And that sets them up for all kind of problems in the future. In an article b Gianna Ferazzi titled Debate around children in beaut pagcants (Ft razzi, 200j te Is thc same na as Ian Gillcspic, stating that chiidrn beautx pageants consist of signs of child abuse, Sexed up little girls sashaving down a cat ialk or stage in full makeup with teased haii and glitz dresses isn t amusing or cute. She sa s that it doesn t matter whether or not we
- 5 - feet down and say no. She feels that parents shouldn t allow their daughters or sons to be objectified at such a young age, when their confidence and self-imagine can be thoroughly damaged. Peoples view on beauty pageants are differently if you are looking at the parents view, and the people hosting the pageants think it s a wonderful idea and a perfect way for kids to endure confidence and poise in their everyday living. Its obvious that this will always be a hot topic to discuss. Analysis and Conclusion The sources that I used for my research had very passionate and blunt feelings, comments or concerns relating to beauty pageants and how they do effect children at a young age, or even older, when the are placed into beauty pageants. Some of the authors believed that putting a child in a beauty pageant can formulate low self esteem and confidence towards their body and physical appearance. They feel that the pageants can cause not only physical damage, but also mental health issues. Beauty Pageants suck up money from families, and causes fights amongst parents. and can sometimes cause a major negati e push on the relationship of the child and their parents On thc other side of the spectrum, some authors felt that, pageants can ha e a pos1ti e effect on a children s self esteem, poise and teaches them ho to remain calm in o eru helming amounts of pressure. The belie e that pageants bring families closer together, and gie them opportunities to be aarded
- 6 lnmv opinion. beauty pageants are very unhealthy for children and young children should be unable to join beauty pageants until they are at an age where they at least know what they are doing. Many young pageant stars, are put into the pageants because of their parents. some don t know what they are getting themselves into. I think they should at least be at an age where they are able to understand and agree with their parents. I agree with Gianna Ferazzi, that beauty pageants is a way of child abuse, because young girls are being all sexed-up and they are being forced to strut their stuff, as they walk down the cat walk in skanky outfits and too much make up. Young children should be able to play in the mud and not worry about how their posture is, or if their face is flawless. I just feel that its unfair, for the young children being placed into pageants. some against their will, so their parents can live through their children. My overall conclusion regarding beau pageants for children is that beauty pageants should let young children live their life without being forced to grow up so fast.