I cannot accept the sports analogy. Clearly, if there is anything demeaning or dangerous about a sport, I think a parent should take their child out, and that isn't done nearly often enough. However, I don't see anything inherently inappropriate about teaching tots to play soccer or t-ball.
I DO see something (many things!) inherently inappropriate about many of these pageants. First, to display little girls like grown women is unacceptable in my eyes. There is no need for a child to wear a woman's makeup, a woman's swimwear, a woman's gown and to take on the affects of a fully grown woman. These children are taught bedroom eyes and sexual and flirtatious walks, talks and postures.
They are also taught to value looks over all else. How else could one realistically argue for fake tans, fake teeth, full makeup and age-inappropriate clothing? If these parents or pageants were interested in cultivating talent and poise, none of those things would be necessary.
I am sure there are some casual, non-competitive, girls-playing-dress-up beauty contests for kids. I don't have any issue with those. But no sane parent could compare those to the national, ultra-competitive pageants. A crazed parent is never a good thing, whether it is in regards to sports or grades. But a crazed parent intent on having their preschooler look and act like a prostitute is a whole different ballgame as far as I am concerned.
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I cannot accept the sports analogy. Clearly, if there is anything demeaning or dangerous about a sport, I think a parent should take their child out, and that isn't done nearly often enough. However, I don't see anything inherently inappropriate about teaching tots to play soccer or t-ball.
I DO see something (many things!) inherently inappropriate about many of these pageants. First, to display little girls like grown women is unacceptable in my eyes. There is no need for a child to wear a woman's makeup, a woman's swimwear, a woman's gown and to take on the affects of a fully grown woman. These children are taught bedroom eyes and sexual and flirtatious walks, talks and postures.
They are also taught to value looks over all else. How else could one realistically argue for fake tans, fake teeth, full makeup and age-inappropriate clothing? If these parents or pageants were interested in cultivating talent and poise, none of those things would be necessary.
I am sure there are some casual, non-competitive, girls-playing-dress-up beauty contests for kids. I don't have any issue with those. But no sane parent could compare those to the national, ultra-competitive pageants. A crazed parent is never a good thing, whether it is in regards to sports or grades. But a crazed parent intent on having their preschooler look and act like a prostitute is a whole different ballgame as far as I am concerned.
April 30, 2008 - 5:51pmThis Comment
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