Debating Beauty Pageants includes different quotes and ideas from on-lookers of society. The article itself states, Pageants push girls to put on airs and wear facades. The answers they give to the questions are rehearsed and meaningless. We should not be applauding the foolishness of pageantry. We all wear evening clothes to special occasions, or swimsuits to the pool. What do we need pageants for? It's easy to walk: put one foot in front of the other and move away from the pageants.

Christine Von Wangenheim believes that apart from being degrading, pageants are a huge money-making racket. Most girls have to be ''graduated'' toward the coveted crown; hence they attend the same kind of pageant over and over. Usually this is to the tune of thousands of dollars.

Questions: 

Why are these competitions so costly, yet so appealing?

Citation: 

VON WANGENHEIM, C. (1997, February 9). New york times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/09/nyregion/debating-beauty-pageants.html

In Pros and Cons - PAGEANTS 101 they state, "While the discussion on child beauty pageants pros and cons are getting hotter day by day, one can imagine the intensity of destruction, this could do to a child's self esteem. What does a child need? Independence of eating and standing on her own and confidence that her parents love her. Aren't we oblivious to those needs? Child beauty pageants facts are sometimes more horrifying than the most horror movies. The mothers pressurize their children to work on their appearance to look like a barbie doll. The cost of entering a child beauty pageant is quite expensive. The cost includes entry fees, training program, accommodation and hair and make-up services by a professional. The irony of the situation is that, parents prefer to spend money on designer dresses than on the child's education. The whole education system is a failure in the US as the interest of the child is diverted to some irrelevant beauty pageants. This is total betrayal of the trust the child has in her parents to provide a secure future. There is a lot of pressure on children to perform on the stage. If the child happens to lose, frustrations creep in. The frustration leads to depression and other psychological complication. Child beauty pageants effects are disastrous on the child's body and mind. A child's innocence is marred by fake plastic smiles, false eyelashes and polished appearance. Children grow up to think that the only way to earn money is through exploitation of their bodies, which is not true. Children develop eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia to make their bodies look perfect."  


By entering children into these beauty pageants, one is only setting them up for depression and eating disorders in the future. Of course there are winners and woman who grow up to be symbols of peace, but only one out of thousands end up leading that lifestyle. Parents pressure their child at a young age to engage in competitions that normally lead to negative outcomes. It is ironic, in fact, that parents who enter their children into beauty pageants pay ridiculous amounts of money for beauty rather than education. These pageants do more harm, than good and really impact these children's lives in the long run.

Reflection Questions:

Why do parents pay so much money for beauty?
How did parents get so caught up in the pageant frenzy?

Citation:

Mads, M. (n.d.). Pageants 101. Retrieved from http://pageants101.weebly.com/pros-and-cons.html

In Anti Children's Beauty Pageants they state, "I know everyone thinks their child is the most beautiful in the entire world. It’s natural and healthy to feel that way. It’s part of loving someone with the same unselfish love that you were given as a child. There’s something just so inviting and beautiful about babies, both human and animal, and it seems likely that the Creator made them so attractive so we’ve feel driven to take care of the young. However, is allowing your child to participate in pageants protecting and caring for your child in the best way possible? Is perverting the natural beauty found in every child to some impossible painted standard best adhered to by drag queens beneficial to your child’s well being?"



Parents obsess over these pageants and shouldn't put as much pressure as they do on their children. Schooling and socializing as a child is important in the child's process of adolescence. This child's mindset and priorities can be influenced to be in the wrong direction in the future. Being happy and comfortable with one's self is most important. 


Reflection Questions:

Do parents actually push their children so hard that they neglect their academic studies?
Don't parents think of the negatives before putting their children in these rigorous pageants?


Citation:


Titkemeyer, L. (2008). Adeeperbeauty.com. Retrieved from http://www.adeeperbeauty.com/pagent_negatives.htm