The Negative Effects of Child Beauty Pageants
Beauty pageants have been around in America for decades; however, they have not gained notoriety until the show "Toddlers and Tiaras" aired on national television. The airing of "Toddlers and Tiaras" has brought child pageants to the attention of many Americans. Not many people were aware of what took place in beauty pageants, but ever since the show debuted in 2009 there has been an intense controversy about children as young as newborns being entered into pageants. Some people say that pageants raise self-esteem and teach responsibility, whereas others say that pageants are necessary and children should take advantage of their youth. Although pageants teach etiquette and communication skills, ultimately they carry a vastly high risk of potentially damaging the psychological and physical health of the participating children, as well as their development of strong morals. A child that participates in pageants is at risk for developing mental disorders for several reasons. The children are constantly being compared to each other and given negative criticism. "A child, especially a female that is going to pay so much attention to her looks and that knows she is being assessed for it, is very prone to develop eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia (Grosaru)." Eating disorders start mentally, but once the victim loses control of their thoughts, it is highly likely that it will develop into a physical illness. They are competing solely based on physical beauty; therefore, they are likely to feel inferior about their appearances, which leads to misconceptions about themselves. Beauty pageants unknowingly expose the misconception that to be perfect one must be slim, tan, poised, and facially gifted. When a child steps on the stage to perform in front of the judges, they sense that they must be "perfect" in order to win, and this "perfection" is based on a fake and impossible standard to reach. Losing a beauty contest can make a child feel inferior
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