Arguments against and for Children’s Beauty Pageants

Children’s beauty pageants have been around for a long time. Toddlers and Tiaras is a show, based on mothers living their dream lives through their children. The mothers dress their young girls as if they are grown models. My out look on the whole situation is that little 5 year old girls, should not be competing in beauty pagents. Fake teeth, tans, eye lashes, and hair make these children look as though they are in their teens. No child should have to compete in looking “beautiful” or “the best”. Children their ages should be happy and not care what people think.
Most children in their age groups are playing outside, not caring what their hair and makeup looks like. They are little girls, not teenagers. The parents of these little girls expect more from these children then they should. The outer beauty of these girls, seems more important than inner. I don’t agree with the way these children are being raised, but it’s the parents who choose to do this to their children. As for these children, as they grow up they will be held high above everyone and will not understand what it’s like to work for things.
One of the arguments against children’s beauty pageants has to do with pedophilia and that this may encourage that. What I’m most concerned about is the message that it sends to girls and the unhealthy relationships that it perpetuates between parent and child. The worst part of the whole situation is that the children are going on stage dancing provocatively and “flirting” with the judges. As young as these children are they should not even know how to dance or “flirt” like they do. While I don’t believe that it encourages pedophilia, it certainly will give that child a warped sense of the importance of female sexuality.

Throughout the show there are many pageants distributed, but the ones that I’ve seen on the shows are the “Glitz” pageants. During the “Glitz” pageants the girls are expected to have spray tans, pounds of makeup, flippers; fake teeth, and fake hair. Its one thing to apply some lip gloss and a few hot rollers. It’s another to make a 5 year old resemble a Vegas show girl. If there is going to be a pageant for children that involves beauty, at least it should involve the child’s natural beauty and features.
One of the arguments for pageants is that it promotes self confidence and that the children have fun doing it. As this may be true, the children are being taught at a very young age that it is okay to dress, dance and act inappropriate to get attention. The only thing these pageants are teaching children is that wearing pounds of makeup, and looking like a Barbie doll, is okay. As these children grow, they will hold themselves above everyone, and will expect everyone to treat them as if they are perfect.