There are many things that rub me the wrong way. And beauty pageants are one of them. As a woman, what’s the appeal of posing on a stage, dressed in something sparkly, while standing with other women at a chance to compete for a crown? But do you know what’s worse than this? Having children compete in beauty pageants!
Not only are such competitions rooted in blatant sexism, but the most concerning part of this is also how children are reduced just to their looks and appearances. One’s hair must be styled, nails perfectly manicured, and one must wear elegant dresses to even be considered as a contestant in such pageants. And if something is not perfect, then this can cause one to be deducted points just for not appearing a certain way. And at such young and impressionable ages, beauty pageants reinforce the harmful notion that beauty is the most important thing. Especially for little girls, this message just cements a harmful and negative message that girls are only valuable based on their looks and nothing more.
And moving past this, does anyone else see how wrong it is that children are judged by adults for beauty pageants? At the very least, during regular beauty pageants, when adults are contestants, they are being judged by fellow adults. However, when children are the contestants being judged by adults… Need I say more on how wrong that just sounds?
Children should not compete in beauty pageants. Not only do such competitions subject children to harmful messages on beauty and appearances, but potentially expose them to being viewed inappropriately by adults as the judges. Plain and simple.
