Beauty Pageants Bad Or Bad

Beauty pageants have been around for a long time, making people believe that nothing could go wrong in such events. Nevertheless, when I consider women who glide across the stage, I recall skinny women, in specific, who appear to have unrealistic features such as: perfect teeth, skin, and bodies, putting pressure as only women who appear that way are in magazines, television, and movies. Subsequently, this begins when young women participate in beauty pageants. [ Dante Ultius] Society today thinks that entering young children in beauty pageants can help self esteem. Society believes it will make them feel beautiful, perfect, socially involved, discipline, self confidence, and so on. Well it turns out thatś the exact opposite of what they think. Putting children in beauty pageants at a young age can cause health issues like depression, low self of esteem, anxiety, eating disorder, and also the absense of a normal childhood. Research shows that over the past 10 years, there has been a 270% increase in the number of girls being hospitalized for eating disorders, some of these girls are as young as 7 years old [Kelly Kammer]. Competitions can display adult body dissatisfaction in their later years, and that it is also possible for them to suffer from various eating disorders [Psychologist Martina Cartwright].

The opinion that beauty pageants are all fun and games is a very dangerous one to have. The lives of participating children are never the same because of the long term emotional and psychological effects that are brought on by early

Each year, around three million children, ages 6 to 16, will compete in a beauty pageant. When a child enters to compete in a beauty pageant, it not only damages the child now, but as well as later in life. Also, the standards that these children are held to while competing in a beauty pageant is affecting their development.

First, we will talk about how child beauty pageants started. The upbringing of child beauty pageants is very interesting. It started off with “Pageants celebrating female beauty and charm being fixture at fairs and festivals the U.S. since the 19th century”(Hilboldt), and then “Their rise in popularity probably dates back to 1954, when the miss America pageants was first broadcasted on TV”(Hilboldt). “In 1960, a miami broadcaster hosted the first locally televised pageant for children, Little Miss universes”(Hilboldt). Around “The 1980’s child pageants had become an inextricable part of life in the South…”(Hilboldt). Pageants have dated back for centuries, but did not rise in popularity until it was first broadcasted on TV. Furthermore, the number of kids that participate in beauty pageants is eminence. A majority of little girls wanted to be in pageants, because “They began dreaming of one day becoming Miss America”(Hilboldt). With so many kids in pageants “It’s estimated that 25,000 children compete in more than 5,000 pageants in the U.S. each year”(Hilboldt). It is crazy how many little girls participate in beauty pageants each year just so they can hopefully become the next Miss America. While beauty pageants are still relevant and legal in the U.S. France is trying to ban them. “France is considering a move to ban beauty pageants for girls under 16 as a way to fight the hyper-sexualization of children”(“France”). While,“Under the proposal, organizers of beauty pageants aimed at young children...could face up to two years in prison and fines of $40,000”(“France”). Also, “The measure is a part of of a wider law on gender equality and was approved by the French Senate after garnering 197 votes in favor of the ban,

Pageants with beautiful little girls that look as if they could be in their twenties can catch the eye of anyone. Dating back to the 1960’s when beauty pageants first started out, young girls have been participating in them, showing off their looks and talents to the world. Ever since the beginning, pageants have been very popular and the popularity is always growing. Most people watch the movies and tv shows about it and even attend these pageants and do not see anything wrong with what is going on. However, these pageants are harmful to the little girls and cause body image and self-esteem issues in the adult years of the competitors. As you watch the pageant as it is going on, you never think of what the outcome of these little girls will be like in 10, 20 or even 30 years. Makeup, hairspray and spray tans are extremely harmful to the skin and health of anyone let alone a small child. These girls grow up with body dissatisfaction when they are applauded on how gorgeous they look with their hair and a face full of makeup. Sooner rather than later they begin to feel as if they are not good enough without the aide of makeup, tan skin and beautifully done hair. Whether it is a current problem or something that is going to come about later on in life, child beauty pageants are harming the lives of little girls all around us. The focus on appearance, issues in adult years and being forced out of their childhood are the three most harmful

Despite what many people expect about beauty pageants, beauty is not the number one factor considered when judging. According to the Miss.America website, the final competition is judged 25% on physical appearances and the rest is other factors like talent and on stage questions. The questions asked on stage are commonly about politics and controversial topics like Planned Parenthood and gun violence. In order to answer these questions and do well contestants

Beauty pageants have been around for some time and have even become apart of our American society, however parents don't realize or comprehend the risk they are taking with their children. Society has made the beauty pageant industry seem appealing, especially with shows like "Toddlers and Tiaras". Meanwhile, young girls are being forced to grow up in an environment where they are taught to look and act like adults. Instead of having normal encounters with costumes, high heels, and makeup, they are being forced by their mothers to wear tight sexualizing dresses, more makeup than most women, and even false teeth to present themselves as beautiful. These factors could lead these children to have depression,

Unfortunately, the negative effects only continue, becoming increasingly harmful. In addition to being ripped away from friends and missing out on chances to have a regular lifestyle, a 2013 study done by the American Psychological Association asserts that all pageants do is teach young girls “to see themselves as objects to be looked at and evaluated for their appearance.” Children who enter the pageant world are suddenly drilled with unrealistic beauty expectations, telling young kids with impressionable minds that they can only win if they are pretty. This negative ideology only contributes to negative body image, which can be extremely detrimental and have long term consequences. For instance, the British Journal of Psychology reported

Everyday across the country thousands of children are dress up to compete in pageants based on who is the cutest. The children are judged on their personalities, goals, and outfits. This does not seem so bad at first glance and really it is not. The problem starts when children are put in make up padded bras high heels and swim suits then sent down a catwalk with hundreds of people looking at them. This is where child beauty pageants cross the line.

Many children throughout the United States are in high-end glitz beauty pageants. Children can start competing at the age of 12 months and keep competing until they are 17, then they move up to an adult beauty competition. Children beauty pageants have been banned in different countries, due to the negative aspects. Many Americans do not see that beauty pageants can be harmful to children, and the pageants get worse and worse each year. They utilize many tools adults do and use on an everyday basis, do things that adults do, and wear artificial cosmetics that are not healthy for them (Cromie).

Beauty competitions date as far back as Ancient Greece. Greek Mythology tells the story of a dispute amongst the goddesses Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena, whom were arguing over who was the most beautiful. The three goddesses called upon Alexandros to decide which of the three had the most attractive looks. Each of the goddesses bribed him until he selected Aphrodite who promised him Helen of Troy. Chaos erupted and eventually, the Trojan War was set off. (People and Events: The Origins of the Beauty Pageant). The origins of modern day pageants date back to the early 1920s. An Atlantic City hotel owner hosted a contest to determine which little girl was the prettiest attracted the attention of hundreds and was used as a marketing tool. The contest was very relaxed and the young girls would dress very conservatively in church-like dresses and wear little to no makeup (Evolution of Beauty Pageants). Present day beauty pageants are completely different from the pageants of the past. Instead of leading to war, they are a war. Pageant girls today prepare for highly competitive contests with weeks, sometimes even months of grueling training. The girls compete for awards such as trophies, cash prizes, and scholarships. With such a tough competition, females indulge in grooming choices that cause young girls to look like grown women. At each contest, there is only one winner, crushing all confidence any of the other participants may had had because they were not chosen. Beauty contests

The controversy on whether or not to ban beauty pageants has been the topic of discussion since the 1920s. Even though the media portrays beauty pageants as being helpful to young women, they neglect to reveal the negative consequences that come with the glamorous lifestyle. They glorify superficial aspects of humanity, destroys the morale of the girls involved and the girls indirectly involved, and can cause harm mentally and physically to girls of all ages.

I. It is 6:00 a.m. on Friday morning, and Sharon is about to awaken her two year old daughter, Jessica, to prepare for a 4 hour car ride. Jessica has not gotten much sleep in the past few days due to long hours of practice and is now very cranky. The only time Jessica will get to nap is during the 4 hour drive but then must stay awake the rest of the day. They pack the car with numerous suitcases all containing loads of make-up, hair supplies, and costumes, all for Jessica. The family has a long and busy day ahead of them. Sharon is one of the many over-demanding parents who put young and innocent children into beauty pageants each year.

Although there are massive amounts of negatives that go along with child beauty pageants, there are also some positive aspects to them. Some women have gained a great deal of success from entering into beauty

Beauty pageants send the message to contestants that appearance is the most important thing about a person. Children will think that they need to spend thousands of dollars to make themselves look good. They will only desire to try and look beautiful and they won't care about more important things like paying bills and saving money for future things like a new house, cars, and many other things that are more important than just beauty. Pageants also encourage girls to fit narrow invented standards of beauty. Girls try and act like adult celebrities; dressing and walking like them across the stage.