Essay on The Advantages and Disadvantages of Child Beauty Pageants

This topic could be argued either way. There are people that believe that pageants have positive effects on children and there are people who think they are just terrible. The points in these articles reveal the truth behind beauty pageants and what they are all about.

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].

While people may believe that children do not perceive pageants as superficial, the ideas of what society expects is instilled into their minds. They are taught to go out on a stage and aggressively compete for the spot of Most Beautiful. Most competitors are young girls with a fake tan, wearing fake teeth, eyelashes, and hair in order to gain notoriety and success. It teaches them the wrong values.

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,

Children should not be allowed to participate in beauty pageants at such a young age. Preparing children for beauty pageants is physically harmful. Beauty pageants are also psychologically harmful to children. Children raised in beauty pageants lead them to believe that life is superficial. Competing in pageants can potentially lead to three major mental health problems— eating

“Toddlers and Tiaras” was a hit television show that premiered on the channel TLC on December 12, 2008.  “Toddlers and Tiaras” ranked up a number of two million viewers per episode, which went on for seven seasons.  This show was so successful that a sequel called “Another Toddlers and Tiaras” aired on August 24, 2016.  “Toddlers and Tiaras”, not surprisingly, took a look into the lives of young pageant queens and what goes on behind the stage and all the makeup.  Many, but not all, young girls love to dress up and wear their mother’s high heels, but this trend has been taken up a notch in the last few decades with prizes and money now at stake.  Some people consider, what is being called child beauty pageants, cute, while some believe that it is disgusting and ruining children.  In this article, the different viewpoints on child beauty pageants can show as to why it can affect a child’s development positively and negatively.

Next, beauty pageants affect child development, when striving for physical perfection physical harm is inevitable. Some parents go over the edge and make their children get tans. There are three forms of tanning sun bathing, tanning beds and tanning sprays. Tanning is extremely dangerous to anyone the UV rays from the sun or tanning beds can cause skin cancer. Tanning sprays are harmful because they contain the same

Beauty Pageants over sexualizes little girls at a young age. As it seen in “Toddlers and Tiaras” a show by TLC show, little girls are being sexualized at a young age, by introducing them to hair extensions, make up, flippers (fake teeth), sexualized dresses. According to Paul Peterson, president and founder of A Minor Consideration, beauty pageants are “feeding the sex industry (Agadoni).” Girls are not physically ready to wear make up or hair extensions, and all of that just hides the natural beauty of a child making them more self conscious about themselves at such a young age. Little girls are going to think of themselves as not beautiful because they hide their real selves behind a ton of make up.

Tanning for children can put them at a risk for short-term or long-term eye damage. The experts believe that all types of tanning damages the skin and there is no safe way to tan. Tanning can cause premature skin aging immune system suppression and eventual development of skin cancer. “It is particularly important to prevent sunburns in young children by limiting sun exposure and using sunscreen or sunblock” (Gale). Unprotected skin can be damaged by 15 minutes of sun exposure, although a sunburn is not apparent until at least 12 hour later. The parent that let their children and teens have a greater risk for skin cancer and premature skin. “Experts now generally believe that all tanning damages the skin and that no degree of tanning can be considered safe” (Gale). 71 percent of tanning bed companies promote their unlimited tanning packages and will allow teenagers, and most of the tanning places don’t need the parents permission. Parents should stop promoting their children and teens to tan because parents don’t know what it does to the children and teens body.

Picture if you will John Bennet Ramsey and Honey Boo Boo. Both are beauty pageant princesses on different sides of the spectrum. As you look at both of these girls, you see their features are very different. Is one more favorable than the other? Why? We have all been pre-programed from a young age to believe that beauty is perceived in one certain way. When we all think of beauty, we all have very similar ideas. But it’s so subliminal that you don’t even know it’s happening, until one day you realize that you all think the same. The detriments of child beauty pageants can be seen over and over through child psyche all the way through adulthood.

Julie Costello Pre-College English #7 Mrs. Flynn March 9, 2015 Child Beauty Pageants (Little Miss Perfect) Most people believe that child beauty pageants are ridiculous and should be banned. They feel this way because these girls do not have a choice to be in the pageants. “Beauty pageants started in the 1920s in Atlantic City. The business owners needed a way to keep tourists there past Labor Day so they introduced pageantry.”

Beauty pageants have been around in America for decades; however, they have not gained notoriety until the show "Toddlers and Tiaras" aired on national television. The airing of "Toddlers and Tiaras" has brought child pageants to the attention of many Americans. Not many people were aware of what took place in beauty pageants, but ever since the show debuted in 2009 there has been an intense controversy about children as young as newborns being entered into pageants. Some people say that pageants raise self-esteem and teach responsibility, whereas others say that pageants are necessary and children should take advantage of their youth. Although pageants teach etiquette and communication skills, ultimately they carry a vastly high

Although they seem undisputed and lighthearted, child beauty pageants are one of the most contentious and criticized of all children's activities. While all other types of beauty contests are often viewed as distasteful, child beauty contests yield an even greater unfavorable response. Many individuals go as far as critiquing the pageants as being child abuse. Some say the beauty pageants sexualize the young girls and place unnecessary expectations of beauty at too early of an age. Contributors argue that the pageants help to build confidence and to teach the girls traits such as having poise and self control. Child beauty pageants are contests constructed to reward adolescence for their looks and charisma. There are many different components to every pageant. The children are often judged on how well they do during their interview, they're judge on their appearance, then on their talents. The events are set up by age groups, such as 0 to 6, so the criticism is fair. Each age division winner usually wins a crown or a trophy.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the negative effects of children beauty contest on its contestants. Although many people argue that there are some benefits of this contest such as build up the confidence, self-esteem, public speaking skills, tact, and poised it is also true that it can result to negative psychological effects and interferes in child development worldwide. The Toddlers and Tiaras, and Little Miss Perfect are popular reality TV shows that features young girls the real hardship and obstacles from their mother’s pressure or preparation for the pageant. They are ages from 1 to 12 years old, with main goal of winning and get the tiara and money or ribbon or teddy bears. Generally, the parents of these young girls believe and make decision that the beauty pageant is okay. Pageants, particularly those designed for younger children, focus primarily on appearance, attire, and perceived “cuteness.”

The TLC Show, “Toddlers and Tiaras,” is not an accurate representation of all that goes into preparing children for pageants. The show dramatizes the mostly the negative side of childhood beauty pageants. It depicts competitors that want to win strictly based on appearance. Despite the bad reputation that beauty pageants have, they equip young men and women with skills and opportunities such as chances to win scholarships, improving self-confidence and promoting social skills.