Child Pageants - Are You For or Against?

[Science Friction]

The Jon Benet case has me once again thinking about these pageants. Let me say first that I know moms and kids who enjoy participating in these things. The kids are adorable and most of them seem to have a lot of fun with it. The moms I know who have done these pageants says it helps the kids in a number of ways - poise, self-confidence, competitiveness, etc... I'm sure that most all of the Miss America and Miss Universe contestants were in pageants from the time they were young. Most of them seem to be successful and well-adjusted young women.

 

So, I get all of that. I see the positives and how kids could benefit from it. What bothers me(and it bothers me a lot) is the sexualizing of these children, particularly the little girls. As AllTell mentioned the other day, little girls shouldn't be made up to look like women, because they are not. I find it very disturbing that a six year-old child like Jon Benet was dressed and made up to appear as though she was 12 or 13. There is something really creepy about this pageant world that parades these children out on a stage in very provocative clothing and, in many cases, encouraging them to make very provocative gyrations. Investigators of crimes against children will tell you that pedophiles and child predators like John Mark Karr and Gary Howard Oliva(both are known pedophiles who were obsessed with Jon Benet) are drawn to these child pageants.

 

There is some good and some bad about most everything, I guess, and the same is true with pageants. What are your thoughts? Are there benefits for pageant kids that outweigh the negatives? Should these things be done away with? Does it seem to you that many of the moms are more into the pageant madness than the kids are? It seems as if they are living vicariously through their children(Ever watch "Toddlers & Tiaras"?). Again, I know some of the kids have a lot of fun with pageants, but I hate seeing kids be made to grow up too soon. From what I've read, little Jon Benet was just a typical little girl who liked to play and jump in a pile of leaves. I wish we would just let children be children.

 

What are your thoughts?

[Run To State]

Against it. To me, it feels like a form of whoring your child out.

[TheDeuce]

I think they can be extremely disturbing and not healthy for young girls.

[Science Friction]

Gary Howard Oliva loves child pageants. He had pictures of Jon Benet all over his house. He was recently arrested on child porn charges.

 

[Science Friction]

This guy(who claims he was with JB when she died) is also a fan of child pageants:

 

[halfback20]

There are a lot of child molesters in this world. Im sure these events attract some of those people.

 

I'll most likely never put my daughter in one. I don't really like them but people can do what they want with their own kids i guess.

[Jumper_Dad]

Not a fan of them. I have friends and family that have been very successful in these, I'm just not a big fan.

 

But in many ways it's no worse on the kids than being forced to play travel ball all year.

[Sportsaholic Mamaw]

Not a fan.

[gchs_uk9]

Hate them. Bottom line, you're telling your daughter she really needs to be pretty to be successful. And I know there are other parts to pageants, but it comes down to looks. And no child should ever be judged on looks.

[FarBeyondDriven]

To each his own, but I think they are a bit creepy.

[HammerTime]

I find them very disturbing.

[B-Ball-fan]

Gary Howard Oliva loves child pageants. He had pictures of Jon Benet all over his house. He was recently arrested on child porn charges.

 

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This guy(who claims he was with JB when she died) is also a fan of child pageants:

 

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Both of these guys look pretty creepy, but the second one has a big extra dose of smarmy to go with it . :eek:

[TAC]

Not a fan of them. I have friends and family that have been very successful in these, I'm just not a big fan.

 

But in many ways it's no worse on the kids than being forced to play travel ball all year.

 

Beat me to it Jumper. Same thoughts. No different.

[halfback20]

Both of these guys look pretty creepy, but the second one has a big extra dose of smarmy to go with it . :eek:

 

You should see a more recent pic. He is creepy.

[Fear the Nation]

Against it 1000%. Teaches little girls that your looks are the only important thing you posses. Have you observed the peagant moms in action? If you ever thought football dads were bad you have not seen a mom wanting that tiara.