Child “beauty pageants” in Australia?
I’ve been watching the media coverage of Australia’s first US style beauty pageant for children. I don’t like the idea.
Australia has always had beautiful baby competitions, but they were always babies or toddlers competing as, well, BABIES or TODDLERS. Not primped and preened to within an inch of their adult lives, looking highly sexualised. As a mother, I just cannot condone these competitions.
I read an article some time ago, when the competition here was first announced, about parents from both sides of the argument actually threatening members of the “other side” of the debate. What are we becoming?
Children should be allowed to be children. No, I don’t see it as a “bit of fun” for the whole family at all. I see it as parents trying to live their dreams through their children, at the expense of their children’s innocence and childhood. The children would surely be better served by their parents listening to their reading or reading to them, than traipsing around being flaunted as mini-adults.
Am I being “old-fashioned”? No, I don’t think so. I think I’m being practical and responsible. You may have a different view. Please share!
Related articles
- Mums defend child beauty pageant (heraldsun.com.au)
- Picture-perfect kids in beauty pageants (heraldsun.com.au)
- Toddlers & Tiaras SHOULD NOT MIX (lifesableep.wordpress.com)
Quizzically Musing 
I think the parents of such unfortunate children must surely have issues. Its sad, wrong and motivated only by adults. What good values could such pagaents possibly instill in a child? None. Unless shallowness and keeping up with the jones’s is a virtue.
midaevalmaiden
August 9, 2011 at 11:05 am
I just do not understand it at all. I watched a documentary about the USA competitions.pageants once and thought the whole idea was awful. I haven’t changed my mind.
Team Oyeniyi
August 9, 2011 at 12:35 pm
I don’t agree with child beauty pageants either, parents prostituting their children out for a prize. It’s disgusting and it leads to those children growing up as superficial little brats.
Pete Howorth
July 31, 2011 at 9:18 am
Having not met any personally, I don’t know if they grow up as superficial little brats specifically, but I can certainly see that is a strong possibility! Thank you for stopping by and opening the discussion!
Team Oyeniyi
July 31, 2011 at 9:20 am