Child Beauty Pageants....just harmless fun or sexualising children?

AudreyHepburn

http://www.closeronline.co.uk/RealLife/Reallifestories/four-year-old-beauty-queen-with-fake-tan-and-hair-extensions.aspx?dateonline=Tuesday+12+January+2010

Hi all I hope this is in the right place. If not apologies mods and please move it wherever it should be!

I read this article today in Closer magazine and am curious about people's views on Child Beauty Pageants?

Do you see it as harmless fun or do you think it's sexualising children way before they're ready?

Do you think that these little girls really to do be such shows or are they being pushed into by their mothers, many of whom are, like the mother in this story, failed beauty queens?

Does placing a child into a pageant put her at risk from paedophiles?

All opinions welcome but lets try to keep it civil!

jimmycrackcorm

The mothers didn't get enough dolls to play with when they were children themselves. then as a grown up they get one that doesn't need batteries.

Gran Hermano

Jonbenet Ramsey

/thread.

Dravokivich

anyone who puts a kid into this shit and dolls them up like a tart is a sadictis cunt!

on the other hand... if they still look like they are kids... no problems there...

just watch out for the bástards in the anoraks at the back row...

- Drav!

Danbo!

Ugly mothers living dreams through their kids. Weirdos.

Dr_Teeth

I think these competitions are distasteful and I'd never want my daughter to be in one, but your poll asks should they be "allowed".. ie should the government stick its nose in and ban yet another thing.. this is something else entirely imo.

mikom

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

All opinions welcome but lets try to keep it civil!

Superfreak by Rick James....... that is all...

j1974

yeah I agree, these things are very very creepy and sad!!! the mothers are the worst i feel, you often see them telling (not asking) the child, how much they like it!!! they oftern blow kisses and even flirt with judges by pouting. I even feel like gary glitter just watching, all those pagents and pre-teen model agencies should be banned. if for nothing else but attracting the wrong element, via PC or TV. they shouldnt even allow video cameras at them.

My name is URL

I don't think it sexualises children, but it does help them become shallow idiot adults.. just like thier parents

brummytom

They're weird.

Don't let them enter until they're at least 14, that's when girls start getting fit anyway.

Yer one in the article looks like a cabbage patch doll

SeaFields

They are the freakiest things Ive ever seen (the kids that is). Watched a documentary on the whole industry a few months back.

Shur what do we expect anyway - they're yanks. :rolleyes:

Anyone who hasn't seen it get the film "Little Miss Sunshine". Totally pulls the piss out of the whole thing and a good watch.

*giggles*

Little Miss Sunshine anyone?

Buford T Justice

I think they are disgusting, and yes they do sexualise children, My girls won't be in one thats for feckin sure

I've seen a recent documentary on Channel Four about it in america. Europe is bad enough, but you know the Americans, they have to go one better than the rest of the world. Going round the country dragging kids to every pagent there is. Its a disgrace, depriving them of their childhood

Michael Jackson was deprived of his childhood, look what it did to him

Borneo Fnctn

It's more than a bit fucked up alright. Banning them, I'm not so sure about. You can't stop weirdos from raising children and I think these beauty pheasants are just the tip of the iceberg regarding bad parenting.

yerayeah

Didn't read the article but the people who put their children in these are usually white trash types I think. Think I saw a biography of Britney Spears once and she entered them as a child...

dvpower

76% say we should ban child beauty pagents?:eek:

Kipperhell

I was in Disney World and the hotel was holding beauty pageant for girls about 6-15. It appears it is just about money making for the people involved. Every kid won some prize and apparently that is the case with many of them.

One guy was telling me the kids clothes for the show were over $1000 each (had 3 doing it) for each show and they get new ones for each one they do. Very few just do one a year apparently.

Generally it was like an Irish dancing thing with mother running around making the kids look like Barbie dolls.

I was chatting to the photographer who said he was able to afford a matrix (the whole camera angel changing thing while in motion) camera set up because he made so much from the shows with it. Practicly every parent buys the photos and video for their show reels.

Lots of the kids end up doing "modelling" and "TV". Essentially they do local TV adverts and local newspaper stuff.

The kids were all extremely polite to the point it was not real. Lots of fake smiles and "Beautiful day" type comments. As their can be judges in the hotel they have to keep the pretence on all the time. It was kind of creepy in a Village of the Damned way

AudreyHepburn

Good to see so many sensible people here!

I for one think it's completely wrong and actually quite disturbing the way these little girls are made dress in costume most grown women wouldn't wear!

Not only does mark them out as prime target for all kinds of sickos but it in my opinion in reinforces stereotypes of what beauty is and should be and that only the prettiest girls get anywhere in life.

plein de force

ohhh fúck i ticked yes, should've been a no

it's extrememly creepy looking to say the least. Also that kind of upbringing, not letting them be proper children really must lead to serious problems in later life as they're brought up to be perfect little human beings which is obviously not achieveable

Captain_Generic

“But Eden hated having her earrings changed and her fake nails applied. So I came up with the idea of a fingernail and earring fairy.''

Thats one creepy bitch

Bandit12

It's horrible in all honesty.

OutlawPete

Dravokivich wrote: »

on the other hand... if they still look like they are kids... no problems there..!

The kids in 'War Babies' sure weren't supposed to look like kids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orq4LqX7WEE

Dravokivich

OutlawPete wrote: »

The kids in 'War Babies' sure weren't supposed to look like kids

NSFW!!!!

btw... Buttermilk Pete's... yers?

:P

- Drav!

TheIrishGrover

TBH, I actually feel physically sick when I glimpse documentaries on these things on television. I think there is NO place for them in the world. There is absolutely no justification for them at all. I think the morals suggested by these shows are completely wrong: To sexualise young young girls physically and attitudewise. Any child that says they want to be part of these is just being a mouthpiece for their parent (normally mother which is also disturbing). In this day and age when we are all aware of all kinds of sexual predators, how these minor-sexual-showcase presentations can be allowed is byond me. It may be a bit extreme but in my opinion anyone who enters these shows or tries to justify these shows is deluding themselves as to the danger and is actively participating in a form of paedophilia.

Dublin141

I'm sure there are harmless versions where the children look and act like children (or so I've been told) but the ones that are well publicised are quite disgusting. I've watched a good few documentaries now and they all chill me because of how far the parents are willing to go to make their child a winner. What kind of a person turns their child into a miniature adult and teaches her to swing her hips and pose provocatively for adults. Not to mention the clothes, makeup, tan, nails, etc. And the mothers swearing that they only bring their daughters to pageants because they insist upon it.

Any child who is taught to be sexual at an early age has to grow up with some sort of major issue later on. Actually, Britney Spears is a good example, between the pageants and the school uniform, she was prepped to be this woman child who was overtly sexual and innocent at the same time. That combination has to attract a bad vibe.

My daughter loves to dress up and put on makeup, that's a normal childish act but those pageants take it way to far. The village of the damned comment was spot on. It's creepy when any child doesn't act child-like. The constant act they have to put on freaks me out bigtime. I find it unsettling when I see a teeny child basically flirting with an adult so they will judge her favourably. It's icky...I just don't get it I suppose.

TheIrishGrover

Dublin141 wrote: »

My daughter loves to dress up and put on makeup, that's a normal childish act

True words. But unfortunately that's the justification these people use.

BraziliaNZ

just wait till they're 18 and parade them around in their underwear, sounds much better to me

Queen-Mise

I feel physically sick at the thought of putting my four year old in one of them. Dressing up in one thing but there is something perverse in those pangeants.

Kold

Not necessarily either but they are certainly not harmless. Putting your child up to be judged. What the f*ck is wrong with you?

Biggins

Something I totally disagree with.
Is there any other country that does this disgusting display of innocent young children besides America?

pablomakaveli

I think these pageants are pretty disturbing. Seeing children dressed up like that is just creepy.

They lampooned the child pageants on South Park recently which was very funny.

Morlar

Always seem to be full of creepy, pushy under achieving parents stressing their kids out for a non academic non sports related trophy. Freakish imo. Putting 5 yr old girls in full adult female makeup etc is just wrong. 'Let them have their childhood' and all that.

jimi_t

Biggins wrote: »

Is there any other country that does this disgusting display of innocent young children besides America?

No, plenty just marry them off. (Also See: Japanese Culture)

jumpguy

It's very weird and I think it's wrong. Being a child should be growing up innocent fun, and not dolling themselves up. It only turns the child in on themselves, makes the self-conscious and far too self-aware, and if they win, an up-their-own hole pompous air-headed idiot when they're older, obsessed by how they look.

Ultimately, they'll end up being one of those weird adults who enter their children to beauty contests, are as thick as shít, only care about looks and when they get older will inject themselves with so much botox they'll look like aliens.

OutlawPete

jumpguy wrote: »

air-headed idiot when they're older.

Hhhmmmmmm... :cool:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB8kgdvbVNg

Gone Drinking

What the hell is with all the humanity threads on AH today...

Its fcuking GAY

AudreyHepburn

Gone Drinking wrote: »

What the hell is with all the humanity threads on AH today...

Its fcuking GAY

If they annoy you so much then don't read them! And why bother commenting on them?

monkeypants

Morlar wrote: »

Putting 5 yr old girls in full adult female makeup etc is just wrong.

That sums it up for me. Ballroom dancing for kids is also creepy.

Biggins

Gone Drinking wrote: »

What the hell is with all the humanity threads on AH today...
Its fcuking GAY

Meh!
Its just as well then I didn't start a thread about the passing of one brave lady very recently.
It might have upset you more.

(Anyone interested - see my signature)

pickarooney

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Good to see so many sensible people here!

I for one think it's completely wrong and actually quite disturbing the way these little girls are made dress in costume most grown women wouldn't wear!

Not only does mark them out as prime target for all kinds of sickos but it in my opinion in reinforces stereotypes of what beauty is and should be and that only the prettiest girls get anywhere in life.

Are 'sickos' not attracted to the childishness of children as opposed to the fake adult costumes?

Essentially these parents are protecting their children by disguising them as adults, no?

Biggins

pickarooney wrote: »

...Essentially these parents are protecting their children by disguising them as adults, no?

Dear god, what a view... jeasus!
I totally disagree.

AudreyHepburn

pickarooney wrote: »

Are 'sickos' not attracted to the childishness of children as opposed to the fake adult costumes?

Essentially these parents are protecting their children by disguising them as adults, no?

Well I would have thought since these 'people' look at children in a sexual way, dressing them up in provocative clothes and making them in provocative ways, as happens in these comps, it would only make them more shall we say appealing.

Cuddlesworth

Damm sexy kids....

pickarooney

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Well I would have thought since these 'people' look at children in a sexual way, dressing them up in provocative clothes and making them in provocative ways, as happens in these comps, it would only make them more shall we say appealing.

(assuming you're straight) Would dressing a man up as a woman make him more appealing to you or would you prefer he looked like a man, i.e. what you're naturally attracted to?

BTW Biggins, it's Gies

Biggins

pickarooney wrote: »

(assuming you're straight) Would dressing a man up as a woman make him more appealing to you or would you prefer he looked like a man, i.e. what you're naturally attracted to?

Thats cross-dressing and a totally separate sexual attraction completely from dressing a child up as an adult of the same sex.

pickarooney wrote: »

BTW Biggins, it's Gies

Cheers, I missed that typo.

pickarooney

Biggins wrote: »

Thats cross-dressing and a totally separate sexual attraction completely from dressing a child up as an adult of the same sex.

I'm not sure you're getting my point (It's total devil's advocacy, if that's not obvious, but not trolling).

My suggestion is that a paedophile is attracted to children as they are and a heterosexual woman is attracted to adult males as they are.

Dressing a child up as an adult would not make her more sexually attractive to a paedophile in the same way that dressing a man up as a ladywould not make him more attractive to a straight woman or, crudely, disguising a stunner as a minger would not make a man want her more.

panda100

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

just wait till they're 18 and parade them around in their underwear, sounds much better to me

Tottally, the whole concept of beauty contests is pretty warped. Whether its adults filled with plastic and waxed within an inch of their life, or a kid plastered with fake tan and makeup, the whole concept is freakish and its worrying how much attention they are given in mainstream media.

Dublin141

pickarooney wrote: »

I'm not sure you're getting my point (It's total devil's advocacy, if that's not obvious, but not trolling).

My suggestion is that a paedophile is attracted to children as they are and a heterosexual woman is attracted to adult males as they are.

Dressing a child up as an adult would not make her more sexually attractive to a paedophile in the same way that dressing a man up as a ladywould not make him more attractive to a straight woman or, crudely, disguising a stunner as a minger would not make a man want her more.

I see what you're saying but I think the way a paedophile is attracted to children is more complex than them looking childish. It can be partly the power, the innocence of the child and the knowledge that it is wrong. I read an article on criminal psychology recently and it mentioned that paedophiles tend to use porn before they move on to abuse and as part of the abuse. But, partly because "real" child porn isn't (or wasn't) that widely available and partly because it has to be hidden, they used forms of child erotica (creating collections) as a replacement which can be anything remotely resembling or reminding them of sex with a child. It doesn't have to be obvious (which is why some take normal photos of children on beaches for example).

The pageants can be seen as a form of erotica because there are children basically on display wearing provacative clothing and acting in a sexualised manner. It doesn't matter that they are dressed up as adults because they are still children and have children's bodies but one school of thought reckons that they could make it easier for a paedophile to create fantasies about these children because they are paraded in front of them. And some paedophiles force their victims to parade around, pose or act/dress like an adult. Some dress them up. I'm not explaining it very well, I know.

There is also the idea that some paedophiles are interested in children because they don't have the guts or maturity or ability (or whatever) to be in a relationship with an adult and if that is so then it's possible that these child beauty queens could be providing the best of both worlds by mimicing an adult but still being, in their eyes, a controllable lesser being because they are a child. Some paedophiles get obsessed with these little girls but you have to remember that we're talking about a mind set that isn't exactly on the normal scale. What might seem logical won't necessarily follow for someone with a compulsion to rape and/or murder little girls. Someone who has actually studied this would explain it much more clearly and precisely.

Lia_lia

Reminds me of my Irish dancing days. All that make-up. And tan. Shudder.

BraziliaNZ

Miss Teen USA is where it's at though

http://images.google.ie/images?sourceid=chrome&q=miss%20teen%20usa&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

Lia_lia

^ They are teens? They are look way older than me and I'm 21!