Are beauty pageants sexist or empowering for woman?

1. 60

   cindybarrymoreposted 14 years ago

   Are beauty pageants sexist or empowering for woman?
   
   Whatever your answer, please state why you feel that way.

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2. 66

   Thunder Vixenposted 14 years ago

   Neither...I feel that they can be fun for some women and they aren't really sexist to me at all I think people go over board on that stuff...Also no woman has ever really been empowered by a pageant.

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3. 61

   dabeanerposted 14 years ago

   Yeah, they exploit horny men.

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4. 75

   Mom Katposted 14 years ago

   I believe they are attempting to become more PC than before, but yes - I believe they are and always will be sexist.  My reason for saying this is because I have never seen an equal pageant created for men.  This is strictly something that women have chosen to subject themselves to.
   I don't watch them (I have, but I chose not to because they bother me too much) and I wouldn't watch them if they actually did create a male version.
   While flipping through the channels one day I saw a "hooter's girls" pageant. Every outfit worn for every different section were just different colored bikinis - how on earth can you think they are interested in a woman's mind, political views, or community contributions if you're just parading her around in different suim suits the whole show?

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5. 61

   evvy_09posted 14 years ago

   Maybe a little. But one big like the miss universe pageant will put a woman in the public eye and give her opportunities to make a difference. It really is the woman's choice how she wants to show all her strengths. (that includes beauty, brains, as well as the physical strength)

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6. 61

   couturepopcafeposted 14 years ago

   I believe they can be whatever someone wants them to be.  Women are not forced into pageants out of need.  If a woman can handle it, go for it.  Win some money, scholarships, or whatever.  But if you do, you'd better know why you're doing it and stand up for what you believe.  If you think it's sexist and do it anyway, you will reinforce that belief.  If you're doing it to gain confidence, I would suggest doing something else.  Pageants are cutthroat competitions, nothing more.  The difference between pageants and athletic or academic competitions is that 70% of it is based on appearance, something over which you have little control.  Poise and talent can be learned but this is a small part of pageant competition, regardless of what anyone says.  Any empowerment which comes from winning is rooted in ego.  The experience of big pageantry however, if it's something you're into, is unbeatable.

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