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Arguments Against Children's Beauty Pageants

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Arguments Against Children's Beauty Pageants
Children's beauty pageants have been around for a long time. I admit that as someone raised in the North and on the West Coast, I never really encountered this phenomenon in my daily life. Recently, two different reality shows have popped up on TLC that exposes the viewer to the works of pageants. The shows are titled "Little Miss Perfect" and "Toddlers and Tiaras". As I'm the mother of a pre-teen daughter, I watched both of these shows with a horrified curiosity. I have certainly garnered some opinions.

One of the arguments against children's beauty pageantshas to do with pedophilia and that this may encourage that. I honestly don't believe that argument has much merit. What I'm most concerned about is the message that it sends to girls …show more content…
These types of pageants involve full hair, makeup, tanning, lashes and costumes that make a drag show look tame. Its one thing to apply some lip gloss and a few hot rollers. It's quite another to make your 5 year old resemble a Vegas show girl. There is absolutely no reason that all of that is necessary! What is the point? Is it to prove who can apply the most makeup or who can paint on the best tan? If there is going to be a pageant for children that involves beauty, at least it should involve the child's natural beauty and …show more content…
I'm fascinated and horrified by the fact that they exist. I would also love to find out why the parents are drawn to this activity. One might say that they are living vicariously through their children. I honestly don't know if that is true. I don't believe that the girls on this show are in a healthy family situation or environment, even if that isn't the case. Either way, I wish them all the best.

"Little Miss Perfect" and "Toddlers and Tiaras" Give Us a Peek into the World of Beauty Pageants for Children
Have you seen the very popular reality television shows that focus on beauty pageants? These documentary type programs focus on two or three little girls (or occasionally a boy) and their mothers (or occasionally a father) who are set to compete in an upcoming beauty pageants.

One of these shows is on TLC and is titled "Toddlers and Tiaras." While the girls followed on the show aren't toddlers, they aren't far from it either. The other popular show is the slightly more campy "Little Miss Perfect" which airs on
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