Beauty pageants have been regularly held for adults over a long period of time now. The recent trend, however, has been to start it for the kids also! Is this something positive or is it negative? That is the debate that rages on with arguments from both sides. The television program, ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ has stirred up a hornet’s nest of controversy with people openly coming out against it and also some supporting it. Here we shall examine in some depth, the arguments that exist on both sides.
It’s all about learning through glam and glitz
Like any new development, the motivation and way things are done, determine their goodness or ugliness. The supporters feel that beauty pageants for children and self-esteem in children go hand in hand. Facing large crowds at a young age, the kid get comfortable with this type of scenario. This kind of confidence and comfort will start showing in other activities and spheres of life too.
Whether the child takes up to dancing, painting or any other hobbies, it is more likely to succeed due to the confidence. Children get to meet other children and friendships grow between them. Competitions at a young age can teach the children the subtle nuances of winning graciously and losing gracefully.
The pageants also provide an atmosphere of fun and frolic. The kids get exposed to a lot of activity. They also learn the art of competing and handling pressure. When kids are being put to school and other classes at ages like 3 and 4, why not help them cultivate the other adult qualities too?
That apart, there is a lot of prize money involved in the pageants. The child could earn some quick and neat money too! Becoming a princess for a day, the little girl is definitely going to love the experience.
The ugly truth
But there is another side to this too. Using the camouflage of glitz, glamour, self-confidence and fun, the parents of the children in pageants are actually damaging the very same qualities that they claim to inculcate in their kids. The winner of the pageant definitely feels good but remember that all the other kids become ‘losers’! This is not a healthy feeling to inculcate. The parents treat their kids as adults and forget that the children are actually children!
Please remember that there is a time for everything. There is a reason why the baby takes nine months to get out of the womb. You cannot fast-forward natural processes of aging without facing dire consequences. The very thought of small girls wearing make-up, mascara and sexualized outfits to compete is revolting and disgusting. The competition is definitely not healthy and it encourages a kind of ‘diva’ behavior even in small girls.At an age when the children must be taught the values of truth, righteousness, love, tolerance and friendship, they are being thrown into a rat race and cut throat competition.
The pageants are often misused by parents to impress their needs and insecurities and clear them up through their daughters. The parents claim that their daughters feel happy participating in such events. Children are mere mirrors! They mirror the happiness of the significant people in their lives. The parent feeling happy makes the child happy. We have seen kids crying and throwing tantrums before going on stage in spite of pleas from parents. Have we ever seen a child go against the parents who do not want it to walk the ramp? This in itself should silence those who claim their children feeling’happy’ doing pageants.
If it is being done for fun, there are dozens of other avenues where the kids can have more fun and frolic without having to bare the flesh. Thinking of extremes, will this not be an open invitation and attraction for pedophiles? Any battering or infamy suffered at such a tender age is sure to leave a scar on the child for life!
The bottom line
There is enough on our planet’s for everyone’s need but not for anyone’s wants! Adults frequently make the mistake between need and want. When it comes to child beauty pageants, neither is it a need nor is it a want for the child. The parent’s want is projected on to the child. Praising and rewarding intellectual and athletic pursuits would be much better ways to enhance the self-esteem and confidence of the child. Help the child make healthy friendships and treat it with love and compassion. For heaven’s sake, do not take away from any child, the childhood which it is rightfully entitled to!
