I have been seeing an alarming increase in child beauty pageants in the U.S.A. These girls are dressing in provocative clothing designed for women over twice their age! On top of that they are doing seductive dances, and their parents and many other people applaud them for a job well done! These girls are kids for crying out loud. They should not even think about doing these things until much older, and unfortunately a lot of the time it's the parents who encourage their children. No wonder girls are having sex at younger and younger ages. These provocative displays of so called "beauty" are dispicable. Here's a great paper written by a college student about these beauty pageants and what they are actually about:

http://www.minorcon.org/pageants.html

Now granted, beauty pageants are supposedly not all about looks, it's still the biggest basis. If you're not "pretty" you're not going to win, plain and simple, and I think that ideology is disgusting. If adult women want to do this, fine, but influencing little kids to do it? Wrong in my opinion. The younger ones have no idea what they're doing and are being taught to show their bodies in sexually explicit ways at such a young age. I have nothing against the human body, but I have a problem with ignorant little kids being influenced to do these things. I have no idea what I was doing when I was six, I was just going with the flow, and so are these little kids. At 12, they know more about what's going on, but they were still heavily influenced by the media and/or parents to think what they want to do is ok. Here's a link that will give you a more visual idea of this perversion:

http://www.httexas.com/

Geez! You think they could wear any less clothes? This stuff is just ridiculous. So what do you think? Should little girls be learning how to be a sexually explicit woman at the age of six?

No.

Nor should these little children be forced to engage in this activity when they should be outside playing, learning what dirt feels like, looking at rainbows, and learning what letter comes after "A".

Please don't tell me there's plenty of time for them to do both - for many these pageants become an obsession.

Years ago we attending a 'baby beauty contest' in a wee village in England - and it was so, so different than those we see over here. There, the child was a natural as could be - and each won something, of course . Baby with reddest hair, baby with most teeth, baby with biggest 'cow lick' - all done with gentleness and huge laughter and all proceeds went to the local charity.

But here! To take little ones, often subjecting them to fake teeth, fake tans, coloured contact lenses, false eyeslashes and make up must border on abuse in some cases, surely.

Wonder how hard it is for a parent to realize that one is teaching innocent children that 'looks count' - a lot! - and the way you really look simply won't do. Nope, let's just tart you up and see if you can stroke mommy or daddy's ego by winning.

Anyone remember JonBenet Ramsey?

How could anyone forget JonBenet Ramsey.A tragic Story.
My thoughts are,anyone who puts their Child through these Pagents,at such a tender age,should be charged with Child Psychological Abuse.
What is this doing to the young child, every time her hopes are raised,only to have them dashed time after time,if the little girl is not quite pretty enough to win.
Every Parent is proud of their Child,but to subject them to travelling all over the Country,living out of Motels etc,to me is not in the Child's best interest.More feeding the Parents own EGO's in my opinion.
I'm sure the Child would much rather be at home in their own room,playing with their Barbie Dolls at this age.
Thankfully, it hasn't caught on here in a big way.

I have no idea but wonder if there is any law with teeth to prevent parents from pulling little ones out of school for these contests - and to ensure they are not being placed on 'diets' (dod forbid) and getting enough rest while being dragged from contest to contest, I wonder.

I think all pageants are a terrible example for girls and women, boys and men too for that matter. No wonder our culture is so image oriented. Without going into a lot of ranting detail. Yes I remember JonBenet Ramsey. They painted her up and covered her innocent beauty that was her own. An awful thing. Truly awful. Creepy even.

I couldn't agree with you more Pandy. I'm fighting the scholl board here. They want to teach sex ed to Kindergarten and the lower grades. Leave the kids ALONE.

I agree with all of the opinions above.

Kids should be kids. Beauty Pageants are big here in Australia (as pointed out by DSTM). I don't think I've actually ever been to one!

But the same ting is happening here, instead of wanting to be a princess, little girls are starting to want to wear lingerie!!!

What on earth is happening to the world? I bet it's all because of those companies exploiting children just to make some more dough.

I also agree with almost all reasons above..

I could never see myself exploiting my kid just to win.... then again i'm a guy what do I know bout beauty pagents >.<

I am not even sure I am old enough to wear lingerie

To see these little girls with heavy eyeliner on, all tarted up to the point you cannot even see what they really look like creeps me out. Why do the parents and pageant people think that looks good?

No idea. Lot of weird people and trends in the world.

I agree whole heartidly with all of the opinions expressed thus far. It is a hideous thing that "parents" are exposing their children to in a misguided and selfish attempt to live thru thier children their own dreams that went unrealized. Exactly how many photos of these innocent young children that are 5 etc. going on 25 make it to kiddie porn sites? The photos are usually public, i.e. newspapers,television, magazines etc. and there for the copying by anyone who wishes unsavory viewing and use of them. We do in fact live in a sick society these days and yet so many seem to forget this when it comes to slathering makeup with a putty knife on the faces of innocent little girls hiding the true beauty of them while striving to make them look like hideous minitures of alluring grown women just so mommy and daddy can gain bragging rites over the latest contest won. My own personal opinion is that it is borderline child abuse forcing the idea into young minds that this sort of competition is a way of life with little regard for thier possible feelings of inadequacy when they fail to win the big prize.

Eh, alot of things are the parents.

The fact that its the parents dreams gone unrealised is the biggest truth there is..

Im willing to bet about 400$ if you bugged the dressing rooms.. you would hear things that would make you want to rip your ears off.
I bet one of every... one room has a conversation similar to this.

Little girl: But mommy I dont want to do this!! ( starts crying )
Mother: Lucy you little **** your going to do this or your kitten dies!!
Little girl: (screams in fright ) No dont hurt muffin!!
Mother: Now do as I say and put this on.
Mother: Now isnt that better? See how much prettier you feel?
Little girl: ( speechless.. just simply dies on the inside )

Yep... thats probably the type of conversation that goes on.

Now as for the topic of sex ed... eh who cares. I knew all about sex sence I was 8 because I simply found out on my own. Its nothing special and I dont see what the big deal is. I find it when it comes to a child being molested.. it doesnt matter. A "predetor" is going to go after its prey weather it knows what its doing or not. The only thing I can see is that parents know where there kids are at all times. Its really not hard... my mom always knows were I am I simply tell her where im going. To me, every answer people come up with really does seem like a big DUUH.

I think these pageants are more degrading to woman than most porn.

These pageants teach women and young girls all the "false senses" of reality. Like really wins these and helps the rain forest, or stops global warming?

They should be learning about life and not all these false teachings of how you must look pretty, or using make-up to think you're pretty.

Excellent point I fully agree with.

Well, I don't know what little girls SHOULD be doing, but I do have a problem for this reason...

The double standard that exists in our culture. On one hand, we have little girls dressing up to see who is the most attractive, and then we give them awards and praise for it. And on the other hand, we generally classify people who find these girls attractive and act on their sexual desires as some of the most despicable people alive.

Let me see if I have this right...if a mother dresses her daughter up as an adult and enters her in a beauty contest this justifies some pervert molesting them?

Here's hoping dc3 didn't get it right.

Oh I think dc3 pretty much hit the nail on the head and the nail is the only thing that's lucky to have been hit as far as I'm concerned. If you detect sarcasm,indignation, and a distinct distaste for someone elses opinion on my behalf you're right and the nail has been hit on the head again!!



I offer my apologise to all concerned for what I have posted this day. It was neither the time or the place for the kind of action and total disregard for other peoples opinions that I took today in my posts.

Regards,
Iodine

'ryan_w_quick',We are all entitled to an opinion,but I find your Posted opinions, quite disturbing.
Wondering are these your serious opinions,or are you merely Posting for Shock Value.

um, if that's how you feel, ok.

"um, if that's how you feel, ok."

Your answer is too ambiguous to render any meaning, if you are inferring that I'm entitled to my opinion then you are only being elusive, come on...fess up, are you of the aforementioned persuasion?

haha. lol. I do like young beautiful women, but not little girls.

Oh dear. Sadly there is no humour - none - when it comes to wee ones being paraded around like 'tarts' - and as others have said, what an odd lesson society seems to be teaching little girls when this is widely approved of in so many areas, not just for the slathering on of makeup but for the other far more lasting lessons competitions can represent.

I suspect no harm was meant when trying to introduce 'humour' into the thread but geesh!

PM to Iodine ... re: "I offer my apologise to all concerned for what I have posted this day" ... I seem to be befuddled as I can't find anything offensive that you've posted. Gentle smile.

Guess I'm going to have to apologize too -

I pretty much agree with what Iodine has posted.

In this world, you should never apologize for your own opinion. And you shouldn't worry about if your opinion hurts others, because you really just can't make everyone happy. lol, I can't even make my mom happy.

Do agree that we are entitled to our beliefs and thoughts and need not apologise for having them, after all they are what make us 'us' - gentle smile.

But when we express these opinions, I think there are times when we do need to apologise - and worry - if our opinions hurt others. Having our opinions or individual beliefs does not give us the right to harm people - protect ourselves from harm, yes - but not to harm others.

Personally,I will be glad when we see an end to Child Beauty Pageants.Not enough Positives and too many Negatives.
The only thing it does is boosts the Parents ego.If the child wins,then the child thinks she is a cut above her Schoolfriends.If the Child loses,then I think it could affect her Psychologically,even at this early age,to a small degree.I have seen Parents put down their child repeatedly,and the Child starts to withdraw socially,so I think it could have an effect on the Child.IMHO.

Well, I don't see a point in apologizing for your opinions. I would actually rather someone not apologize to me, if we have conflicting opinions, because I don't want someone feeling sorry for something that they truly believe in. You are doing yourself and everyone around you a great injustice if you apologize for how you feel.

'ryan_w_quick' I think what 'MaraM' is saying,and I agree,is if you Post your opinion,for example about somebody,and it offends,and belittles that person,in public, then an opology is in order. However,if you Post a generalized opinion,then no one should take offense at your opinion,no matter how controversial it may be.
Wondering if we can get back to discussing the Topic,originally Posted.

I'm going to warn our BC friends just one more time.

Continue to make it personal, and I'll not only shut down and remove the posts, but BC will censor you also.

Last warning.

Back to the topic;

As for beauty pageants. Do you think that this influences or affects the views/opinions of the same aged boys?

Let's say if you have a beauty pageant for a bunch of 15 year olds, do you think this influences or affects the views/opinions of the boys (15 years old) towards women?

Hi 'Yano',Your a young Virile, switched on Male.I would like to hear your Opinion,on this subject.

EDIT. Spelling,again.LOL

Stressing the aspects of "beauty" to 15 year old girls would only seem to enforce that importance to boys of the same age.

I don't think that beauty contests at age 15 have any affect on boys or girls. I think that however a kid has been raised by the time they enter middle school (about 7th grade), is as much as a parent can hope to influence them. I think the child pageants that cause the most damage are when children are much younger than this.

And when children are very young, I think that the boys view of girls will not change too much. Because young boys just aren't that into girls, at least sexually, and many don't even start having friends that are girls until middle school.

I really think that this is something that mostly affects the little girls.