Pardon me while I rant incessantly: pageants
image courtesy of photobucket.com
I have resisted the urge to write about this topic for a few reasons, but I happened to be watching a little train wreck of a show on TLC called Toddler and Tiaras yesterday afternoon, and I’m sorry–but I’ve gotta get my rant on. The quality of the this video is not great, but it was the only one I found that would allow embedding. If you’ve never seen the show, this gives you a brief introduction. This disturbs me on so many levels:
I’ve never been a fan of beauty pageants. One could argue they provide scholarships, platforms for worthy causes, and that the interview and talent portions are important. But I don’t ever recall seeing any homely gals on there rallying for world peace. Let’s be honest–the prettiest girl wins. Which is fine with me–just don’t pretend it’s anything more noble than that.
Even though I don’t care for Miss America, Miss USA, et al, at least the contestants are old enough to understand what they’re involved in. Such is not the case with these child pageants. On one episode I watched yesterday, the youngest contestant was three days old. Yes, they have an infant category. I’ve watched several episodes of this series, and I have yet to personally hear a parent say that their daughter didn’t love being in these pageants. I’ve also heard mothers say if their daughters wanted to quit they would allow them to do so. But I can’t help but think many of these girls would equate not competing with disappointing their moms, and I wonder if many of the moms aren’t trying to live vicariously through their daughters. I’m trying to understand what the point of these pageants are. One of the pageants they featured on the show yesterday had a grand prize of $600. A pageant dress can cost around $1,200. Then there’s hairpieces, make-up, flippers (false teeth the girls wear over their own teeth), tanning, manicures, pedicures, dance classes, pageant coaches, etc. I’m sorry. I just don’t get it.
Here’s a quote from one of the judges: “I’m looking at the little girl–not the hair, or the fancy costumes or the make-up.”
Oh, really? Then what’s with the hair and the fancy costumes and the make-up? My 8 year old came home from a friend’s house the other day wearing eye liner and it really bothered me. I want her to enjoy being a little girl while she’s got the chance. There’s plenty of time for make-up when she’s older. Please explain to me why it’s okay to spray tan a 5 year old, put make-up and false eyelashes on her, and parade her around a stage in a bikini and an evening gown that costs more than my son’s braces?
If you want to have child beauty pageants, then fine. But enough with the false teeth, pancake make-up and spray tans. They’re not miniature adults. They’re children. And they grow up much too fast as it is.
I could say a whole lot more about how these little girls are made up to look like women, but I won’t. Because despite how some people may view them, they are still children, and I want to respect that.
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“I’m looking at the little girl–not the hair, or the fancy costumes or the make-up.”
That still seems almost as creepy
I also catch this show from time to time and it turns my stomach- for all the reasons you mentioned here.
I SAVORED the moments when my children were growing up- I was more inclined to try to stifle the maturing process…. I love CHILDREN. “Child-like” is becoming obsolete.
I think there will be some major regrets.
.-= sherri´s last blog ..Bonnaroo? Bonna-who? =-.
I’d like to know what’s wrong with sweaty smiles and mismatched clothes? This is wrong and creepy on so many levels. Ugh.
.-= Candy´s last blog ..Yet Another Tweetup =-.
I was in ONE pageant when I was growing up. I was about 8 years old and I remember spending the whole time thinking that I was the ugliest girl there and that there was no way I was going to win. And I didn’t. I got first runner-up, but to me, that just meant First Loser. It crushed me, but I had to stand there in front of all those people and smile while I was losing. (Do you get the idea that it was a traumatic experience?) I can’t bring myself to even watch the commercials for these shows because they turn my stomach so much. WHY would these mothers think that it’s okay to reduce their child to a piece of meat? To make their daughters feel that their worth is based on how they look? To make them perform to earn love? WHY?!
.-= Sarah Salter´s last blog ..When God Isn’t Fair =-.
I always find it pretty ridiculous when these beauty pageant parents or parents of actor children insist that the kids love it, and made the decision themselves. The parents had nothing to do with it. Really?! What kind of parents let their toddlers or grade school age children make their own major life decisions? “Oh-you want to move to Hollywood? Sure. Let me just pack a bag and I’ll drive you to the airport.”
.-= Barbara Brink´s last blog ..Martha Versus Reality =-.
It’s a disgusting industry, and it continues because it makes money, and it makes money because it has an audience.
.-= Maureen´s last blog ..Hit List: Summer Reading =-.
There is an article at ImageJournal this morning on this subject:
http://imagejournal.org/page/blog/an-ordinary-dream
.-= Maureen´s last blog ..Hit List: Summer Reading =-.
Thanks, Maureen. What a wonderful article!
Being culturally illiterate because of my lack of TV watching ……the chunks on that video are vomit. Mine. Groaning, aching heart. Rant on.
.-= Kathleen´s last blog ..Heart Racing =-.
This brings to mind a certain little girl named JonBenet Ramsey. God only knows what happened to that little girl.
I think this is disgusting. It tells your little girl that beauty is high man on the totem pole, and if she’s not the prettiest, she’s a loser.
I think girls have enough pressure to look like a Barbie without mothers entering them into these types of contests. Nothing like giving bulemia and anorexia a head start.
Rant on, girlfriend!!
And P.S. What mother would want their little girl being evaluated (judged? drooled over?) by grown men like that? That kinda freaks me out ….
.-= ~Brenda´s last blog ..just write =-.
These poor little girls are learning that their self-worth is all about how they look. And some of them have moves and facial expressions of a 20yr. old.
And when the mom’s say, “she loves it and wants to do it.” How can a child at that age even make a decision like that. As parents, we are to protect them from themselves. I agree with Barbara Brink on that one.
I want to throw a blanket over those little girls and scoop them up and take them to safety.
This is worth ranting about. Thanks, Katdish!
.-= Cynthia Schuerr´s last blog ..The Beautiful Blogger Award =-.
So bizarre. No comprendo.
Not to come off all creepy, but when I watched the video, I was like, “This girls are really pretty!”
Then I realized they were 6 years old. And THAT creeped me out. And it should be illegal for a girl to wear a bikini at that age. When they grow up and don’t make much of their lives, I’d like to point a finger at the parents and say, “Told ya!”
.-= Duane Scott´s last blog ..awkward compassion =-.
Ridiculous. And I think the momma’s are living vicariously through their kids.
.-= Annie K´s last blog ..Thank You Veterans =-.
How is a 5 year old girl supposed to feel beautiful if she doesn’t go to salons, dress up with 5 inches of make-up on and perform for some’judges’?
I ask you…
.-= Peter P´s last blog ..Rediscovering a Hurting Church =-.
Toddlers and Tiaras often makes it into The Soup and it’s ALWAYS pedophile comments. Creepy dudes staring at littler girls in bathing suits…? Seriously?!
.-= bman´s last blog ..A Missions Conference =-.
As a father of two lovely girl (8 and 19) this stuff gets me angry. What I don’t understand is how mothers can do this to their kids…it’s really awful.
Jay
.-= Jay Cookingham´s last blog ..Faith Heroes – A Classroom with Heart =-.
Yeah, whoever the tool was that came up with this idea… well… I question their motivation and borderline hope they experienced a painful death. mostly kidding but you’re entirely right, these poor children are subjected to something awful that might impact them for the rest of their lives. Boo.
.-= Jake´s last blog ..Life of the Believer 2: Sweat =-.