Stop Child Beauty Pageants

Child Beauty Pageants- noun: Young girls (under the age of 13) participating in competitions for public entertainment, consisting of a procession of people in elaborate, colorful costumes.

Child beauty pageants are detrimental to young girls everywhere. Especially when girls under the age of 13 are allowed to participate in these competitions. Most of the girls under 13 that are involved in the pageant world are forced in to it by their parents. Do they even want to participate? Not only do these competitions have a major impact on the girls participating in them, but they also have an effect on girls that have never stepped foot in a pageant, and here's why.

1.       Pageants lead to the sexualization of young girls

With the recent rise in popularity of child beauty pageant shows on TV there has also been a rise in fashion magazines displaying photos of young girls dressed and posing in risqué manners, there has been growing concern that girls are becoming sexualized. An example of this is in a photo-shoot Vogue recently did of a girl no older than ten years old dressed in black stilettos, a white backless gown, heavy eye makeup, and red lipstick. This fear of the sexualization of young girls has grown so much that countries, like France, are trying to ban beauty pageants all together. Alissa J. Rubin recently wrote an article in the New York Times saying even though child beauty pageants in France are “far less frequent and intense than in the United States. And France has no equivalent of American reality shows like ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’ and its spinoff, ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’” there’s still the fear of hyper- sexualizing young girls. Now before someone goes off about how this is only one side of beauty pageants and that there are pageants that don’t require girls to dress in inappropriate clothing or wear makeup (like in natural beauty pageants) let me reiterate that these competitions are still harmful to young children because they still emphasize physical appearance and perfectly executed performances as the utmost important thing, see point two for more explanation.

2.       They emphasize physical appearance should be the most important thing to girls

In order to win a beauty pageant these girls must look perfect and execute their dance/ talent routine perfectly. This puts a huge emphasis on physical perfection. “Many experts agree that participation in activities that focus on physical appearance at an early age can influence teen and/or adult self-esteem, body image and self-worth.  Issues with self-identity after a child "retires" from the pageant scene in her teens are not uncommon.  Struggles with perfection, dieting, eating disorders and body image can take their toll in adulthood” (PsychologyToday.com).  Why would any parent want to subject their daughter to self- esteem issues? Probably because they are putting their daughters through beauty pageants for all the wrong reasons, see point three.

3.       Pageants lead to the exploitation of children

With the rise in child beauty pageants being broadcasted on television there is growing concern these girls are being exploited. Many believe these mothers (or fathers) are signing their daughters up for shows like “Toddlers & Tiaras” are not for wholesome reasons. And with good cause. These parents are making money off their daughters. “If you research the meaning of exploitation you will find that it means that one person benefits from another's vulnerability. These parents are making money from the innocence and "beauty" of their children” (Brighthubeducation.com). It’s easy money for these parents because how is a five year old going to fight against their parent, they aren’t. It is sad to see young girls being subjected to sexualization amongst other things just so their parents can make a quick buck.  

All in all, we need to stop young girls from being able to participate in beauty pageants. They do more harm than good for today’s youth for a multitude of reasons. So let’s hop on the bandwagon with countries like France and let’s begin a movement to restrict girls under the age of 13 from being able to participate in these detrimental competitions. Let’s stop letting people sexualize young girls. Let’s stop letting parents destroy their daughters self- esteem. Let’s stop child beauty pageants.