National Context
The negative impacts of beauty pageants have been seen nationally through the media of today. Shows such as Toddlers and Tiaras closely show what type of dehumanization comes along with being in a beauty pageant at a very young age. For instance, “During the talent/routine portion, the contestants strut across the stage, blowing kisses and winking, posing and twirling for the judges. The poses that the girls are taught are most often sexual, accentuating their hips and bottom. On one of the episodes of Toddlers and Tiaras, a 3 year old was dressed up as the prostitute played by Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman,” complete with patent leather knee-high boots, a mid-drift baring shirt, and short skirt. By dressing up little girls in sexy outfits and parading them across the stage, we are not only damaging their childhood, but we are also creating unhealthy habits. This illustrates the type of negative environment these young girls grow accustomed to all because a misconception of beauty. Furthermore, “An estimated 250,000 children participate in child beauty pageants every year, and the number is only rising because of shows like Toddlers and Tiaras. The industry is now one of the largest growing businesses in America, and on average beauty pageants are grossing over 5 billion dollars. With numbers like these, child beauty pageants aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so it’s only fair to ask the government to regulate these competitions, in the hope of saving the childhoods of many little girls and boys.” This explains that in the years to come, more girls will have to face the torment that can be created by the pressure they experience in beauty pageants. Nevertheless, beauty pageants and its harm to children will continue to expand in the United States as fast growing organizations that create destructions to a child’s perception of beauty.
The negative impacts of beauty pageants have been seen nationally through the media of today. Shows such as Toddlers and Tiaras closely show what type of dehumanization comes along with being in a beauty pageant at a very young age. For instance, “During the talent/routine portion, the contestants strut across the stage, blowing kisses and winking, posing and twirling for the judges. The poses that the girls are taught are most often sexual, accentuating their hips and bottom. On one of the episodes of Toddlers and Tiaras, a 3 year old was dressed up as the prostitute played by Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman,” complete with patent leather knee-high boots, a mid-drift baring shirt, and short skirt. By dressing up little girls in sexy outfits and parading them across the stage, we are not only damaging their childhood, but we are also creating unhealthy habits. This illustrates the type of negative environment these young girls grow accustomed to all because a misconception of beauty. Furthermore, “An estimated 250,000 children participate in child beauty pageants every year, and the number is only rising because of shows like Toddlers and Tiaras. The industry is now one of the largest growing businesses in America, and on average beauty pageants are grossing over 5 billion dollars. With numbers like these, child beauty pageants aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so it’s only fair to ask the government to regulate these competitions, in the hope of saving the childhoods of many little girls and boys.” This explains that in the years to come, more girls will have to face the torment that can be created by the pressure they experience in beauty pageants. Nevertheless, beauty pageants and its harm to children will continue to expand in the United States as fast growing organizations that create destructions to a child’s perception of beauty.