Why Should Child Beauty Pageants Be Banned

Child Beauty Pageants: Should They Be Outlawed?

The USA pushes to ban self-expression in young children, restrict basic parental authority, and deny youth opportunities for growth and success. Anyone would find that statement a bit disconcerting. Thankfully, it isn’t actually the case, but it could be if we decided to outlaw child beauty pageants. When speaking about the morality of child beauty pageants, concerns for the oversexualization of children is often brought up. Additionally, the public believes that beauty pageants are teaching children the wrong values all together. The motivation to outlaw the competitions is understandable, but it is not the answers to these concerns. Child beauty pageants promote confidence and high self-esteem

and even offer them great opportunities for the future. The competitions are not something the government should dictate as right or wrong and stronger rules and regulations provide a much more reasonable solution.
In the first place, It is not up to the government to decide whether or not beauty pageants should be allowed, it is up to the parents to make the right decision for their children. Sociologist Hilary Levey Friedman, a research associate at the Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy, suggest that a ban like this isn’t something Americans would stand for. "Historically and legally, our system defers to parents to make the right decision for their child," she says. "We see the family as more of a private entity." What is appropriate for a child to partake in is a decision for a parent to make and should be respected and trusted. Tish Howard, a former elementary school principal, may not be a fan of beauty pageants, but even she understands why the government should not be deciding force in this problem. "I think outlawing them is a slippery slope where the government starts dictating what activities parents can or cannot make available to children," said Howard. Equally important, child beauty pageants help young girls and boys gain confidence and self esteem. Confidence issues and overcoming challenges is struggle most individuals go through in life. Life would be easier if people faced these problems and learn to overcome them, at a young age when they have less responsibilities. The understanding and motivation that is gained through participating in beauty pageants, provides benefits for growth and lifelong success. Moreover, pageants provide boundless opportunities to their participants. Stephanie Warren, a self-described "pageant girl-turned-pageant director-turned pageant mom" says the potential for scholarship money is a huge bonus of the competition. Her daughter, Alexis, 7, has already earned $2,500 toward her college education via natural pageant competitions. Many of the top beauty pageants do not award cash prizes for the winners, instead they usually give awards like college scholarships. There are also good opportunities to travel the world and make new connections. With this in mind, the government outlawing youth pageants would be an inappropriate solution to the public’s concerns and a major loss for children with interest.
In addition, child beauty pageants need to have regulated and have set rules for all to competitions to abide by and the positive aspects of it need to be highlighted in media.

For instance, Anna Berry compares well run pageants to other sports, suggesting that it would be unfair to ban one and not the other. In other sports, there are nationwide rules set in play to keep things safe, something pageants lack currently.Tish Howard also says, "I do believe we could set guidelines on what does and does not constitute promoting sexual exploitation of children as far as routines and dress." In order to protect the children without punishing them for their hobbies and interests, beauty pageants need to be modified, not banned. To keep those who oppose pageants happy and away from protest, as well as keep the children safe, effective acts working towards a solution that addresses the issue, need to be set in play. Individuals who care about protecting young children from exploitation and oversexualization and also see the positive side of beauty pageants, should start and sign petitions pushing towards nationwide rules and

guidelines.
As a matter of fact, one of the main points brought up to support the outlaw of beauty pageants, is the idea that beauty pageants oversexualize children and that they should not be wearing makeup.

Saying that all beauty pageants oversexualize young children just isn’t true. It’s important to realize, that natural beauty pageants are hardly taken into account by the public. These pageants focus on the interview, talent and community service aspects of pageants. Competitors are even docked points for wearing make-up. A pageant with rules and standards to prevent the oversexualiization of children, shouldn’t be outlawed due to other pageants that take things too far. Point often overlooked, it is reality shows like "Toddlers and Tiaras" and "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" that are the ones introducing millions to the pageant world. These shows aren’t accurate depictions of what child beauty pageants are all about. On the positive side, individuals like Anna Berry and her daughter Ashley, long term pageant competitors, consider pageantry a hobby and suggest it’s not all the media makes it out to be. In Berry’s perspective, reality tv shows provide the public with a sensationalized view but fail to reveal the positive aspects and effects that can be seen within young girls who choose to do pageantry as a hobby. "I understand why public perspective tends to be so negative about the competitions, because they are little girls. I wish the public saw more about the experience we get,"

Berry said. There’s so much more to pageants than what meets the eye and in most cases, oversexualization isn’t a problem; the media is.
Another point often brought up, is that pageants teach young children the wrong values and cause them to become obsessed with beauty. However, to say all beauty pageants teach young girls the wrong values is plain unfair. A case point, Ashley Berry was strongly influenced by pageants and now is helping prevent bullying and making a difference in her community. She was guided down this path by her experience in pageants. They teach girls discipline and patience required to have in competitions. They allow young boys and girls to test and explore their talents. Pageants teach these children to be strong, confident individuals. With all of this in mind, it is clear that many pageants lean towards the emphasis on positive values rather than negative ones.
All things considered, child beauty pageants are helping children gain confidence, skills, and opportunities to lead them down the path of success. The morality of the competitions should be left out of the hands of the government. Regulating and setting rules for beauty pageants, is what people need to focus on; not outlawing them. The public’s view through can be changed. Don’t let the dreams and goals of these children be taken away from them. Child beauty pageants should continue to act as a positive influence on children for years to come.