Sexualization in child beauty pageants: Difference between revisions
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'''Sexualization''' occurs in '''child beauty pageants''' because the contestants compete for prizes and are judged on the way they look, their style, and how they act on stage, similar to the judgment criteria in adult [[beauty pageant]]s. The way that the children look often detracts from their natural appearances due to heavy stage makeup and flashy attire, including [[Eyelash extensions|false eyelashes]], bright [[lipstick]], and wigs or [[Artificial hair integrations|hair extensions]]. |
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Many parents attribute confidence-building as one of the reasons they enter their children in [[beauty pageant]]s, but critics argue that the negative effects of beauty pageantry, including the over-[[sexualization]] of young children, outweigh any positive intentions. |
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==Sexualization in pageants== |
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There are several components to sexualization that set it apart from healthy [[Human sexuality|sexuality]]. Sexualization occurs when a person’s value comes only from his or her [[sexual appeal]] or [[behavior]], to the exclusion of other characteristics.<ref>{{cite book|last=Oppliger|first=Patrice|title=Girls Gone Skank: The Sexualization of Girls in American Culture|year=2008|publisher=McFarland and Company Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, NC|isbn=9780786435227|pages=1–2|url=http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-3522-7}}</ref> A report by the [[American Psychological Association]] more specifically cites sexuality that is imposed on someone, rather than undertaken by choice, as evidence of sexualization.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls|url=http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx}}</ref> In the United States, legal adulthood and ability to give [[consent]] typically does not come until age 18,{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} yet in child beauty pageants, the children's consenting parents permit them to participate, pay their entry fees, dress them, and train them to perform on stage in front of judges and an audience. |
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Karen De Witt, writer for the [[New York Times]], criticized child beauty pageants because participants and viewers impose adulthood on children while still expecting them to radiate innocence.<ref name=Karen>{{cite web|last=De Witt|first=Karen|title=Never Too Young to Be Perfect|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/12/weekinreview/never-too-young-to-be-perfect.html|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=27 April 2012}}</ref> |
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Many view the child's appearance as obscene or inappropriate. As Vernon R. Wiehe, professor in the [[University of Kentucky]] College of Social Work, states, "sexualization occurs through little girls wearing adult women's clothing in diminutive sizes, the use of makeup which often is applied by makeup consultants, spray tanning the body, the dying of hair and the use of hair extensions, and assuming provocative postures more appropriate for adult models".<ref name=Vernon>{{cite web|last=Vernon|first=Wiehe|title=Nothing Pretty in Child Pageants|url=http://www.kentucky.com/2011/08/14/1844981/nothing-pretty-in-child-pageants.html|publisher=kentucky.com|accessdate=18 April 2012}}</ref> |
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They are dressed in revealing clothes or evening gowns, and some children wear high heels. Children are in “Child Beauty Pageants” only because of their age. These children are judged along the same criteria as an adult pageant woman would be judged on. Stated by Laura Pappano, in a New York Times featuring child pageants, "beauty pageants in particular blur the lines between what is cute and what is sensual.<ref name=Karen>{{cite web |last=De Witt |first=Karen |title=Never Too Young to Be Perfect |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/12/weekinreview/never-too-young-to-be-perfect.html |publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=27 April 2012}}</ref> "This is not about cutest baby contests, which most people would see as harmless enough, but rather about adult-like competitions featuring kids pretending to be sexy adults".<ref>{{cite web|last=Korn|first=Neer|title=Nanny state ok when it comes to kids and sex|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/nanny-state-ok-when-it-comes-to-kids-and-sex-20110517-1eqnl.html|accessdate=27 April 2012}}</ref> |
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== Support for participation == |
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Despite criticism of [[child beauty pageant]]s, contestants' parents continue to argue for the positive impact these competitions have on their children's personal development. Supporters often cite self-confidence and poise as attributes that children learn during the pageant process, and still more defend pageants as being similar to other athletic, music, or educational programs. Since young girls like playing dress up and enjoy participating in beauty pageants, they argue, they are positive events.<ref name=Michael /> |
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One critic debunks these claims by questioning the age-appropriateness of these pageants, whether they achieve any positive outcomes or not. After all, playing [[dress-up]] does not result in one winner and many losers, and children may enjoy appeasing parents rather than the activity itself.<ref name=Vernon /> |
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==A positive outlook on child pageants== |
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The Pageant Director for the Cities of America preliminary pageant system explains why pageants are good for girls. "At times our operation or communications may stumble in execution, or may not be delivered as intended. However, we believe and are told by many that our Pageants are truly successful in helping to promote self-confidence through genuine effort, participation in a fair and open competition, and simply the fun experience of meeting so many others who are equally passionate about success."<ref>{{cite web|first=Jen|title=Pageantry With Purpose|url=http://nationalsteenpageants.wordpress.com/about/|accessdate=18 April 2012}}</ref> Being able to communicate with others and network yourself is an important skill that children learn at a young age when participating in beauty pageants. Through pageants, children will also learn how to communicate with adults.<ref name="Kids Formal" /> Traci Eschenberger, the mother of Taralyn Eschenberger, who was recently featured on the TLC show Toddlers & Tiaras says, “the truth is that pageants have helped Taralyn gain [[poise]], [[confidence]], [[Showmanship (performing)|showmanship]], [[discipline]] and grace. She loves the stage and loves to perform in front of people”.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Beauty Pageants Are Good For Girls|url=http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/why-beauty-pageants-are-good-for-girls-2447925.html|publisher=Shine from Yahoo|accessdate=18 APril 2012}}</ref> The attitude of the contestant derives from the parent. When the parents have the right attitude, the children will too. In these cases, pageants can teach children how to be gracious winners and good losers. They will learn the aspects of rules, and fair play. Pageants teach children how to be calm, cool, and collected in front of crowds. "Learning how to be a good sport is something every child should be taught how to do. After all, no one ever wins everything in life…we all fail at some point and have to learn how to get back up. Child beauty pageants teach children this lesson as not every contestant will go home with a trophy. The good thing is that young contestants learn that with hard work and determination they can earn a trophy, and when they do, the win is that much more valuable to them."<ref name="Kids Formal">{{cite web|title=Benefits of Child Beauty Pageants|url=http://www.kidsformal.com/product-p/benefits%20of%20child%20beauty%20pagea.htm|publisher=Kids Formal|accessdate=27 April 2012}}</ref> |
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Child pageant contestant Allie Richardson, from Lexington, South Carolina, says that pageants initiate a way to bond with different people her age. '“I like doing the pageants because they’re fun and I like making new friends. Sometimes I get to be in other pageants with my friends. And when my friends win, then I’m really happy for them". “I like winning, too,” the well-spoken child added. “But winning isn’t everything.”'<ref name=Michael>{{cite web|last=Inbar|first=Michael|title=Parents defend Putting their kids in beauty pageants|url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28873086/ns/today-parenting_and_family/t/parents-defend-putting-their-kids-beauty-pageants/#.T5SX0hxztZ4|publisher=Today Parenting|accessdate=23 April 2012}}</ref> |
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==Consequences== |
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In preparation for these beauty pageants, children have their appearances altered by costumes, makeup, and other products to the point that they resemble dolls, which [[objectification|objectifies]] them at a very young age.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bartlett|first=Myke|title=Sex Sells: Child Sexualization and the Media|journal=Screen Education|year=2008|accessdate=8. Feb. 2012}}</ref> The child perceives that sexuality is not only encouraged but can be a means to an end.<ref name=Vernon /> The child pageant industry involves thousands of contestants and $5 billion a year in revenue,<ref name=Truthout>{{cite web|last=Giroux|first=Henry A.|title=Child Beauty Pageants: A Scene From the "Other America"|url=http://archive.truthout.org/051109a|work=Truthout|accessdate=10 April 2013}}</ref> and television networks air in-demand shows like ''[[Toddlers & Tiaras]]'' and ''[[Little Miss Perfect]]''. The parents who endorse their children's participation and the television viewership implies that many adults not only condone these activities but also the view of children as sexual objects.<ref name=Vernon /> |
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"'Some critics contend that the child beauty pageant culture fails to acknowledge that "sexualized images of little girls may have dangerous implications in a world where 450,000 American children were reported as victims of sexual abuse in 1993."<ref>Giroux, Henry. "Child Beauty Pageants and the Politics of Innocence." ''Nymphatic ''Fantasies'''' 16 (1998). Print.</ref> |
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Also, if the child is winning constantly in a competition that is based primarily on her looks, she is more likely to develop [[psychological]] issues later on in life. As Lucia Grosaru states, in her Everyday Psychology article, “contests promote physical beauty as a main value, complimented of course by the “special talent” and “warm hearts”. A child, especially a female that is going to pay so much attention to her looks and that knows she is being assessed for it, is very prone to develop [[eating disorder]]s, such as [[Anorexia nervosa|anorexia]] or [[Bulimia nervosa|bulimia]]”.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grosaru|first=Lucia|title=Toddlers and Children Beauty Pageants- Risk Factors for Severe Psychological Turmoils|url=http://psychologycorner.com/toddlers-and-children-beauty-pageants-–-risk-factors-for- severe-psychological-turmoils/|publisher=Psychology Corner|accessdate=27 Feb 2012}}</ref> |
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Hundreds and thousands of dollars are spent on [[costumes]], [[cosmetics]], and even beauty consultants. "Parents certainly have a right to spend their money on children as they wish, but if this expenditure of money and effort is for the ultimate goal of the child winning the contest and the child fails to do so, what is the emotional cost to the child? What happens to the child's self-esteem?"<ref name=Vernon /> Martina M. Cartwright, an adjunct professor of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Arizona, states in her article on child beauty pageants, “many experts agree that participation in activities that focus on physical appearance at an early age can influence teen and/or adult self-esteem, body image and self-worth. Issues with self-identity after a child "retires" from the pageant scene in her teens are not uncommon. Struggles with perfection, dieting, eating disorders and body image can take their toll in adulthood”.<ref name=Martina>{{cite web|last=Cartwright|first=Martina|title=Child Beauty Pageants: What Are We Teaching Our Girls?|url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/food-thought/201108/child-beauty-pageants-what-are-we-teaching-our-girls|publisher=Psychology Today|accessdate=18 April 2012}}</ref> Mothers are usually involved in their child's participation in pageants, so there's a lot of information regarding their outlook on the contests. To pull from a fathers point of view, an [http://thefatherfactor.blogspot.com/2012/03/no-child-beauty-pageants-for-my.html internet blog], "The Father Factor", has an interesting perspective on the topic of child beauty pageants. One father writes, "the mothers of the young pageant contestants all push their girls, some young as two, to emotional and physical limits. They parade the little girls around in makeup, big hairdos, and even bathing suits...I don’t see how a beauty pageant, especially at such young ages, promotes anything other than [[vanity]]."<ref name=D.L.>{{cite web|last=Chandler|first=D.L.|title=No Child Beauty Pageants For My Daughter Please|url=http://thefatherfactor.blogspot.com/2012/03/no-child-beauty-pageants-for-my.html|accessdate=23 April 2012}}</ref> In France, after a 10-year old girl was featured on the cover of [[Vogue Paris]] in an inappropriate outfit- not fit for a child, lawmakers banned child beauty pageants all together.<ref name=D.L. /> |
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So much effort and time goes into the preparation for a pageant. Children must constantly be practicing their routines, and creating their pageant look. The children have limited time to play. "Play is an important factor in children's early development because, through play, they learn skills for adulthood".<ref name=Vernon /> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==See also== |
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[[Sexualization (as a political term)]] |
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[[Category:Child sexual abuse]] |
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[[Category:Sexualization]] |
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[[Category:Beauty pageants]] |
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