Why do parents allow their young daughters to compete in pageants?

1. 67

   JRScarbroughposted 11 years ago

   Why do parents allow their young daughters to compete in pageants?
   
   It seems to me to be bad for children to compete in these beauty contests. What do you think? It almost seems to be sexualizing them and making them believe their appearance is what matters.
   
   Isn’t this unhealthy? What’s you opinion?

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2. 80

   bethperryposted 11 years ago

   I only entered one of my children in a "beauty" pageant once and it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing (at a local Walmart) - and she was just a toddler and her attire was definitely NOT sexualized (she wore one of her own dresses -one appropriate to her age- and I didn't put any make-up on her). However, I imagine there are a variety of reasons some parents push their children to pursue these kind of things. I hold off judgement about them unless the child is being forced to dress or behave in an age-inappropriate manner, or if it is evident the child wants nothing to do with it. I feel about pageants like I feel about sports and other activities: it should be something that makes the child happy. If the activity is pursued to satisfy the parent's desire for bragging rights or  to recapture a limelight they feel they missed out in their own childhood, then it is not healthy for their child.

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3. 69

   Alastar Packerposted 11 years ago

   A good many of these child dance shows proves to me that unfortunately some of the children will have problems as they mature. Many of the mothers seen to live vicariously through their children. Not making judgement's about what is proper or not. Many of the kids appear to love and then there are those who clearly would rather be somewhere else.

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4. 46

   DDEposted 11 years ago

   Most parents who do this are selfish  they think about themselves and  of what they could not do and place this burden on their children. If their dreams  have failed they feel  by  getting their children into pageants it would make it all better for hem what these parents don't realize is how much of pressure their children feel in taking part in these contests. My hub on this topic and totally disagree with parents in these situations.

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5. 83

   Edward J. Palumboposted 11 years ago

   In truth, I can't think of any way this would benefit a child's development. I see more pitfalls than benefits for the child because it places undue emphasis on appearance and superficial issues. The parent(s) seem to be driving these competitions, and I wonder what their perception may be. I hope this question elicits a response from a parent whose child competes in these contests. My daughter is 28 and it never occurred to either her mother or I to choose that path, but a neighbor (a "Hollywood Mom") made a different choice and relentlessly promoted her daughter into modeling and commercials. In truth, both mother and (unfortunately) the child became insufferable as time passed. Let children be children for as long as they can enjoy that.

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