by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: March 13, 2009   Last Updated: March 17, 2010

There has always been an expectation on women to make the most of themselves and to look good, but it seems that this is being extended to young girls when really they would be better off playing outside, not focusing on what they look like and how to cover up their supposed flaws. Children are being sexualised at a younger age, and the beauty pageant world seems to increase the pressure that is placed on young girls to spend a significant amount of time on their appearance in order to look older than their years. Most women may be trying to hold back the years, but they seem to have no qualms in getting their children to wear provocative outfits and wear makeup in order to appear as if they are young women, rather than children.

The debate surrounding children's beauty pageants therefore stems from a concern that young girls are being exploited to make money for the pageant's organisers and in order to fulfil the wishes of parents, particularly mothers. In so doing these women help to perpetuate the notion that the female of the species is designed to be judged by their exterior and not for their character or ability. Of course, women who take their daughters to beauty pageants will be quick to defend their actions. As far as they are concerned their daughters are learning grace, poise, manners, and gaining confidence on the public stage. All little girls love playing 'dress up', so why shouldn't they be able to dress up before walking out on stage, with the added bonus that they might actually win a prize?

However, do beauty pageants really boost the confidence of youngsters? The majority of teenagers and young women have poor body image and low self-esteem, and are very conscious of how they are perceived by their peers. Beauty pageants for children surely emphasise how much appearance matters. For those who fail to measure up to an unrealistic standard there is a good chance they may feel as if they have failed, and because they have become defined by their looks, it can be difficult for them to feel good about themselves as they approach adolescence.

Children shouldn't be worrying about how they look, since it's not as if they should be aiming to attract members of the opposite sex at such a young age, anyway, and so they should be able to enjoy running around getting dirty without being too preoccupied with their appearance. Beauty pageants run contrary to this line of thought, though, as their whole reason for being is to promote a very restricted conception of beauty which girls have to conform to in order to be successful. With so much emphasis on beauty' this must eventually have a detrimental effect on the individuals concerned as well as perpetuating a certain notion of femininity which doesn't necessarily ring true.

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