Step Off the Stage
Kahlil Gibran says, “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” Unfortunately, beauty pageants do not value the “the light in the heart.” Instead, young children and grown women face the challenges of creating and embracing talents. Pageants require contestants to obtain two key factors: confidence and beauty. They also demand contestants to wear a full-face of makeup and thriving hair. These requirements could drain a bank account. Is the money and expenses put into the contests worth not winning? The answer is no; entering a pageant is not worth the money and expenses to have a chance to win a tiara. Although beauty pageants provide luxurious prizes, they objectify women, exploit children, and lower confidence for all participants.
Beauty pageants offer various prizes, such as cash, bikes, grants, scholarships, and even tiaras. For example, the article, “Introduction to Beauty Pageants: At Issue” describes the Miss America pageant and its gracious scholarship funds: “First held in Atlantic City in 1921 as solely a beauty contest, the Miss America Organization currently emphasizes the scholarship-granting component of its pageant, offering over $40 million in cash and tuition scholarship assistance each year” (“Introduction to Beauty Pageants: At Issue” par. 2). Even though illuminating prizes are tempting, contestants spend countless amounts of money and risk winning nothing in return.
Furthermore, beauty pageants objectify the women participating through body image and appearance. Although officials claim beauty is not of huge importance, the participants mainly focus on their looks. Kim Lunman, reporter for Sun Media, says, “Of course, looks matter. It's called a beauty pageant, not an ugly pageant, for a reason” (Lunman par. 9).The Miss America and Miss Universe beauty pageants demonstrate this point. In both, the participants are required to “compete in eveningwear and in swimsuits” (“Introduction to Beauty Pageants: At Issue” par. 2). Participants are judged according to how they conduct themselves and portray their bodies. Further, there are derogatory requirements for all participants. For example, the Miss Universe competitors cannot be married, have children, or be older than 19. Similarly, The Miss USA pageant only allows women who are single, childless, and younger than 27 (“Introduction to Beauty: At Issue par. 3). In order to join the competitions, the women must emulate the beautiful and young Barbie doll, but ladies are not dolls nor objects. They are human beings that have faults. Although grants are advertised, the objectification of women in beauty pageants is a downfall.
In addition to objectifying women, these contests exploit children. Children parade around stages in swimsuits and provocative outfits. The makeup, outfits, and poses can sexualize children at a young age. Additionally, pageants can cut out a child’s play period. Professor Vernon R. Wiehe from University of Kentucky College says, “Children who participate in beauty pageants also miss out on playing, which is an important part of childhood development” (Wiehe par. 1). For instance, A popular TV show, Toddlers and Tiaras, show toddlers crying as parents stroll them through routine. Behind the scenes, the television show allows viewers to see the temper tantrums and toddlers throwing fits, along with the parents coaching them through what they expect. Are children not too young to be thrown on stage to be judged upon? They are, and these competitions exploit them.
Lastly, pageants leave the participants, who did not win, upset and uncomfortable with their self-image. Beauty pageants allow participants to believe their body is never adequate. After pageants are over, women struggle with their own self-image and some undertake eating disorders. Clinical psychologist and president of the Family Institute at Northwestern University, William Pinsof, says, "Being a little Barbie doll says your body has to be a certain way and your hair has to be a certain way. In girls particularly, this can unleash a whole complex of destructive self-experiences that can lead to eating disorders and all kinds of body distortions in terms of body image” (Nussbaum par. 10). While some women do not face these acute problems, most women struggle with their appearance.
In conclusion beauty pageants treat women as objects, use kids, and destroy the contestant’s spirit. Even though there is a chance of scholarship opportunities or enjoyable prizes, there is a more prominent chance of leaving empty handed. There is a relatable cliche quote for those situations: “Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.” Instead of having to prepare for the worst, the participants should embrace natural beauty and talents without judges. They need to step off the stage.
Works Cited
"Introduction to Beauty Pageants: At Issue." Beauty Pageants. Ed. Noël Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2015.
Lunman, Kim. "Beauty Pageant Winners Are Not Good Role Models." Beauty Pageants. Ed. Noël Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt. from "When Beauty Queens Go Bad."National Post (23 Dec. 2006): A22. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2015.
Nussbaum, Kareen. "Children and Beauty Pageants." Children and Beauty Pageants. A Minor Consideration, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
Wiehe, Vernon R. "Beauty Pageants Are Not Appropriate for Young Children." Beauty Pageants. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Rpt. from "Nothing Pretty in Child Pageants." Kentucky.com. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2015.
Beauty pageants offer various prizes, such as cash, bikes, grants, scholarships, and even tiaras. For example, the article, “Introduction to Beauty Pageants: At Issue” describes the Miss America pageant and its gracious scholarship funds: “First held in Atlantic City in 1921 as solely a beauty contest, the Miss America Organization currently emphasizes the scholarship-granting component of its pageant, offering over $40 million in cash and tuition scholarship assistance each year” (“Introduction to Beauty Pageants: At Issue” par. 2). Even though illuminating prizes are tempting, contestants spend countless amounts of money and risk winning nothing in return.
Furthermore, beauty pageants objectify the women participating through body image and appearance. Although officials claim beauty is not of huge importance, the participants mainly focus on their looks. Kim Lunman, reporter for Sun Media, says, “Of course, looks matter. It's called a beauty pageant, not an ugly pageant, for a reason” (Lunman par. 9).The Miss America and Miss Universe beauty pageants demonstrate this point. In both, the participants are required to “compete in eveningwear and in swimsuits” (“Introduction to Beauty Pageants: At Issue” par. 2). Participants are judged according to how they conduct themselves and portray their bodies. Further, there are derogatory requirements for all participants. For example, the Miss Universe competitors cannot be married, have children, or be older than 19. Similarly, The Miss USA pageant only allows women who are single, childless, and younger than 27 (“Introduction to Beauty: At Issue par. 3). In order to join the competitions, the women must emulate the beautiful and young Barbie doll, but ladies are not dolls nor objects. They are human beings that have faults. Although grants are advertised, the objectification of women in beauty pageants is a downfall.
In addition to objectifying women, these contests exploit children. Children parade around stages in swimsuits and provocative outfits. The makeup, outfits, and poses can sexualize children at a young age. Additionally, pageants can cut out a child’s play period. Professor Vernon R. Wiehe from University of Kentucky College says, “Children who participate in beauty pageants also miss out on playing, which is an important part of childhood development” (Wiehe par. 1). For instance, A popular TV show, Toddlers and Tiaras, show toddlers crying as parents stroll them through routine. Behind the scenes, the television show allows viewers to see the temper tantrums and toddlers throwing fits, along with the parents coaching them through what they expect. Are children not too young to be thrown on stage to be judged upon? They are, and these competitions exploit them.
Lastly, pageants leave the participants, who did not win, upset and uncomfortable with their self-image. Beauty pageants allow participants to believe their body is never adequate. After pageants are over, women struggle with their own self-image and some undertake eating disorders. Clinical psychologist and president of the Family Institute at Northwestern University, William Pinsof, says, "Being a little Barbie doll says your body has to be a certain way and your hair has to be a certain way. In girls particularly, this can unleash a whole complex of destructive self-experiences that can lead to eating disorders and all kinds of body distortions in terms of body image” (Nussbaum par. 10). While some women do not face these acute problems, most women struggle with their appearance.
In conclusion beauty pageants treat women as objects, use kids, and destroy the contestant’s spirit. Even though there is a chance of scholarship opportunities or enjoyable prizes, there is a more prominent chance of leaving empty handed. There is a relatable cliche quote for those situations: “Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.” Instead of having to prepare for the worst, the participants should embrace natural beauty and talents without judges. They need to step off the stage.
Works Cited
"Introduction to Beauty Pageants: At Issue." Beauty Pageants. Ed. Noël Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2015.
Lunman, Kim. "Beauty Pageant Winners Are Not Good Role Models." Beauty Pageants. Ed. Noël Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt. from "When Beauty Queens Go Bad."National Post (23 Dec. 2006): A22. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2015.
Nussbaum, Kareen. "Children and Beauty Pageants." Children and Beauty Pageants. A Minor Consideration, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
Wiehe, Vernon R. "Beauty Pageants Are Not Appropriate for Young Children." Beauty Pageants. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Rpt. from "Nothing Pretty in Child Pageants." Kentucky.com. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2015.