Child beauty pagents. Look at this one and express your opinion.

[Adatise]

What do you think? Are child beauty pageants right or wrong? This one was recently featured on an internet alternative news channel is how I was introduced to it. Penny for your thoughts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwcZXmLptTs

[GUA]

Kids that young should be out playing on the playground... not dressing up like whores.

[draggar]

Kids that young should be out playing on the playground... not dressing up like whores.

I agree. If most of the world frowns upon exploiting children then why do they all support this?

Plus - it's training the girls to act like objects, not people.

[tristanperry]

Very sad to see. As above, this just teaches children (both males and females) that females and objects and not Humans. Not good.

[south]

Agreed with above comments. Ridiculous. I have problems comprehending why the parents do this to their children.

[HarveyJ]

Gives a pretty conflicting message about child porn, IMO.
Then again, so does most fashion advertising.
Most of those girls in ads with the pouty lips that you'd love to have wrapped around a certain part of your anatomy tend to be 13-14 years old and they've dolled them up to look 18-20.

[tekz999]

Crazy. Totally wrong. Morally wrong. Path to an opening can of child molesters.

[Adatise]

Gives a pretty conflicting message about child porn, IMO.
Then again, so does most fashion advertising.
Most of those girls in ads with the pouty lips that you'd love to have wrapped around a certain part of your anatomy tend to be 13-14 years old and they've dolled them up to look 18-20.

I thought models in most fashion advertising programs had to be 18 or older now but I could be wrong?

[south]

I thought models in most fashion advertising programs had to be 18 or older now but I could be wrong?

Nope, Harvey is right. They start recruiting them when they're around 14. I have 2 daughters and 1 step daughter. Most of the "agencies" are scams as well.

[tattoos]

What do you think? Are child beauty pageants right or wrong?

Penny for your thoughts.

I'm a little bit too shocked to think ATM, so I'm sorry, I can't offer you my thoughts...
But I like sharing my opinion, and I can share it for free! no Penny necessary

I'm shocked at the responses in this thread. Not the video.
My opinions are different from the others so far, please no one take offense, or think I am trolling.
Just sharing my opinion.

If kids are forced to enter a beauty pageant or if they are being exploited in any way, then its obviously wrong. Stands to reason.

But if their doing something they want to do, they like doing, are having fun, and nobody's getting hurt, then I can't see anything wrong with it.

What I do think is wrong, is the pushy parents making their kids enter all sorts of competitions. When the parents want the win more than the kid, then its time to rethink.
But whats just as wrong is when people spread ill advised, misinformed, unjust ideals and push them onto society, all in the name of "saving" kids.. From what exactly? From something they like doing, from something that installs in them respect, confidence, self belief and self esteem.

Some reasons given by those that think its wrong, I just can't understand (Not meaning just in this thread).
I do try to understand their point of view, but I just can't.

Kids that young should be out playing on the playground...

Have you ever thought that some kids may prefer a stage to a playground?
"My playground was the theatre. I'd sit and watch my mother pretend for a living. As a young girl, that's pretty seductive."
Gwyneth Paltrow

not dressing up like whores.

WTF?
If my daughter was on a stage, beaming in confidence, big smile, glowing in self esteem and I heard someone trying to bring her down by saying she dresses like a whore... they wouldn't get time to apologize.

If kids beauty pageants are morally corrupt, then so are baby competitions, kids photo competitions, child actors/actresses, acting classes, dances, dancing classes, models, modeling classes, etc etc.

I mean how bad can it be for them.. look at how well balanced Britney Spears turned out

Cheers
James

Disclaimer: My opinions are dynamic.
Some are formed over time; some are formed in an instant.
All are subject to change without any given notice.

[draggar]

I thought models in most fashion advertising programs had to be 18 or older now but I could be wrong?

It is extremely easy to get around that with parental consent.

If kids are forced to enter a beauty pageant or if they are being exploited in any way, then its obviously wrong. Stands to reason.

But if their doing something they want to do, they like doing, are having fun, and nobody's getting hurt, then I can't see anything wrong with it.

What I do think is wrong, is the pushy parents making their kids enter all sorts of competitions. When the parents want the win more than the kid, then its time to rethink.
But whats just as wrong is when people spread ill advised, misinformed, unjust ideals and push them onto society, all in the name of "saving" kids.. From what exactly? From something they like doing, from something that installs in them respect, confidence, self belief and self esteem.

I can see that to a point. If they enjoy doing it then they should do it but I'm willing to bet most of them are there because their parents want them to be there (to fill in some void from the parents' lives?).

Have you ever thought that some kids may prefer a stage to a playground?
"My playground was the theatre. I'd sit and watch my mother pretend for a living. As a young girl, that's pretty seductive."
Gwyneth Paltrow


WTF?
If my daughter was on a stage, beaming in confidence, big smile, glowing in self esteem and I heard someone trying to bring her down by saying she dresses like a whore... they wouldn't get time to apologize.

IMO there is a huge difference between acting on a stage and a child beauty pageant (and I was in the theatre for a long time in school and college).

Not many parents force their kids into the theatre. Most people involved are there because they enjoy it. Yes, I am sure there are some in the pageants who enjoy it but I think this area has the highest amount of parental pressure which puts too much stress on the children.

If kids beauty pageants are morally corrupt, then so are baby competitions, kids photo competitions, child actors/actresses, acting classes, dances, dancing classes, models, modeling classes, etc etc.

IMO there is a very fine line between morally corrupt and acceptable. Children should be allowed to do what they want to do. Parents who force their kids into things they don't want to do, or pressure them too much (whether it is beauty pageants, dancing, ice skating, cheer leading, band, football, baseball, match club, chess club, etc..) is wrong and that is plain and simple. If the child doesn't enjoy something, then they shouldn't be forced into it.

[tattoos]

IMO there is a huge difference between acting on a stage and a child beauty pageant (and I was in the theatre for a long time in school and college).

Not many parents force their kids into the theatre. Most people involved are there because they enjoy it. Yes, I am sure there are some in the pageants who enjoy it but I think this area has the highest amount of parental pressure which puts too much stress on the children.

Your right, there is a difference, but they both are acts played out on a stage.
Both install confidence in an individual and enable them to get up in front of an audience and play their part.
That's a valuable skill to have.

I wonder what % of pageant goers move into theatre compared to non pageant goers.

IMO there is a very fine line between morally corrupt and acceptable. Children should be allowed to do what they want to do. Parents who force their kids into things they don't want to do, or pressure them too much (whether it is beauty pageants, dancing, ice skating, cheer leading, band, football, baseball, match club, chess club, etc..) is wrong and that is plain and simple. If the child doesn't enjoy something, then they shouldn't be forced into it.

100% agree, Couldn't have said it better myself.

Cheers
James


Disclaimer: Children should not be allowed to drink and drive, even if they want to.
Forcing children to tidy there rooms when they don't enjoy it, may be acceptable

[ufocafe]

I'm not trying to flame but to just add my thoughts to this issue.

Why don't the parents just let kids be kids. I don't believe the kids are initiating the requests to be in these contests.

How about this Domain. (Motherswithlowselfesteem.com) These little (mostly girls) have tremendous stress because of the pressures to perform and to be perfect. And yes, in many cases, they end up looking like lilttle street walkers.

If one of these little girls were walking down the sidewalk in costume, in any major city, what impression do you think the general public would have?

It's really a shame that the mothers have no other outlet for their own lack of fulfillment. Interview the kids and they will repeat exactly what their mothers have trained them to say when asked if they really enjoy participating in these contests.

Now I know that most little girls love to "dress up" and that's completly normal. But many of these so called beauty pageants have them looking many times their age and that's what is so very scary and controversial about these so called beauty pageants or contests.

And what type of person enjoys watching little girls dressing up, in a sexy pose, to look two or three times their age?

[draggar]

I had to shake my head while I was at Target today.

I saw some clothes in the girl's department (note: GIRLS's department, not teen / pre-teen, not women's, GIRL'S - meaning children).

Pants that has "LITTLE SLUT" and "MY ASS" on the back of them (I'm sure you can guess where the words were). Shirts that have very similar phrases on the front. WTF? What's next, crotchless panties?? Objectifying little girls is not just at child pageants, it's even in the clothes at the local Target (and I'm sure Walmart, too).

[Anthony Ng]

Pants that has "LITTLE SLUT" and "MY ASS" on the back of them

I once saw a chick wearing some hot pants with the words "JUICY" boldly showing across her ... behind. The girl was not young, 20 something, but she was of Asian descent, so I wasn't sure if she truly understood the meaning of those alphabets. I almost got up and asked her, except that she was too unattractive to start a conversation with.

More to the topic of child pageants, remember the Ramsey girl? Enough said.

[Focus]

Ahhh if they were only all 18....

[tattoos]

IMO there is a very fine line between morally corrupt and acceptable.

Pants that has "LITTLE SLUT" and "MY ASS" on the back of them

I would call that "line crossed" there is no way that can be considered acceptable. (IMHO)

I think some of the stuff written on kids shirts is okay (again IMHO).
Like the shirt my mates kid is wearing.



Because its Oh so true
(That's dad in the foreground)

More to the topic of child pageants, remember the Ramsey girl? Enough said.

Its such a shame when that sort of crap happens to "any" child.
Its also a shame when people start pointing the finger, and saying things like, if you didn't dress that way, or look that way, this wouldn't have happened. As if to shift some of the blame away from the sicko that commented the crime and place it on the victims.

Unfortunately, banning pageants will not cure the world from the sick @#$!'s out there that are capable of those sorts of crimes.
5grams of lead in their left ear, is the only cure for them.

Cheers
James

[Focus]

Or balls hacked off with a cleaver for that matter and fed to them..with salt of course.

[Anthony Ng]

Its such a shame when that sort of crap happens to "any" child.
Its also a shame when people start pointing the finger, and saying things like, if you didn't dress that way, or look that way, this wouldn't have happened. As if to shift some of the blame away from the sicko that commented the crime and place it on the victims.

Unfortunately, banning pageants will not cure the world from the sick @#$!'s out there that are capable of those sorts of crimes.
5grams of lead in their left ear, is the only cure for them.

If you ask me, parents who encourage their teenage children or endorse their adult daughters to compete in pagaents deserve less respect, but those who enter their pre-teen children to those kiddie pagaents ARE sick @#$!'s.

[Focus]

When I was a kid we used to go fishing and shoot bb guns.