What do you think of child pageants?

[Cicero]

Like the pageants like "Toddlers & Tiaras". I personally think if the child is having fun thats what matters. Not winning. But I dislike how they make it look like the girls have boobs and such,I think that's degrading. Oh and how parents force their kids to practice 2+ hours

[Mirage]

This show is actually mildly entertaining, along with Dance Moms. :rolleyes:

But I also disagree with the portrayal of these girls. They PURPOSELY imply sexual things, like one time the dance they did was supposed to make the audience think they are nude. Is that wrong or what? Totally degrading...

I would love to see other's opinions, and you should probably make a poll to go along with this.

Cheers :D

[DarkHorses]

I don't think it's a bad thing when it's the child who enjoys them and chooses to participate in them. But on TV shows it generally seems like it's the parent who wants the child to engage in the pageants. The parent seems extremely happy to see their kids all beautified and competing, but the kids don't seem very enthused most of the time. And I find it sickening when they give them fake teeth and put them in those skimpy outfits. What happened to kids being kids?

[Dragon_Droppings]

This show is actually mildly entertaining, along with Dance Moms. :rolleyes:

But I also disagree with the portrayal of these girls. They PURPOSELY imply sexual things, like one time the dance they did was supposed to make the audience think they are nude. Is that wrong or what? Totally degrading...

I would love to see other's opinions, and you should probably make a poll to go along with this.

Cheers :D

This

[double r]

I thinks they are spoiling their children because they literally take over the parents and also parents force their children to enter the pageants

[Erasmus]

I think it's stupid because the kids are only being judged on how they look. If they're going to go to a competition, at least make it that they are doing some kind of talent...

[Iron Man]

It sounds like the moms had no life when they were children, and they want to force their unaccomplished dreams onto their offspring.

[SolarSolexis]

I don't think regular pageants for young girls are bad. But the ones that are on TV are awful. It's all about winning (Which should be a part of it, but not ALL of it), becoming fake (A lot of them Tan which has tons of negative side effects), and basically putting a false image of women into their heads. It's completely awful and degrading when they do such things. And not just with Pageants, either. It's everywhere young girls turn. They are always seeing "How they should look" or "What they should be" but when is there ever a sign or commercial or TV Show about "Just being you"?

[Kacey]

All I have to say is that shows like these can ruin kids teaching them to be "sexy" that young.... A little off topic but also look at others shows like especially On Disney, one by one each girl becomes fu**** up, from Lindsey Lohan to Demi lovato

[razorblade-wolfveins]

I don't agree with pageants at any level. There'll always be girls who feel left out, not pretty enough, not good enough, etc. Not to mention most pageants portray little girls as mini sex toys. I can remember being that age and my family wanting me to participate. I told them exactly what I tell you now. They're wrong and degrading.

[SugarPlumFairy]

Well I think the idea of it is sick, making children dress up all "sexy", but I still watch it because it's fucking hilarious to watch five year olds walk around like they are 20

[FojeJC]

I oppose them in every way. They're stupid and degrading for the children, turns the kids into spoiled teenagers later on. And the parents should be ashamed of themselves, its just another thing that disgusts me.

[Syvelocin]

If the kids want to do it, it's great. If they're being forced into it then I would like to slap the parents.

All I have to say is that shows like these can ruin kids teaching them to be "sexy" that young.... A little off topic but also look at others shows like especially On Disney, one by one each girl becomes fu**** up, from Lindsey Lohan to Demi lovato

It's any performance business in general that I think kids just can't handle. I'm waiting for Miley to shave her head and get arrested for possessing cocaine. She's almost there really. But especially kids that grow up with a parent who is famous, then become famous themselves at a ridiculously young age, they always have this obsession with looking older or wanting to be older. Whether it's pageants or films or music.

For instance. Remember that girl Jenna Rose? With the song "My Jeans" (it's not on youtube any more...) Well, it sucks. But she can't be older than thirteen and she came out with this:

YDPxd07I778

My issue is that parents complain about paedophiles when they let their children dress in skimpy shit. I mean, it's not their fault that there are paedophiles, but they're not helping. I can barely watch it honestly.

[KillerKing]

O good lord! I hate those shows. It really sickens me. I can stomach seeing genuine down to earth people who are like, 'yeah, we're just in it for the fun and experience and we want our child to have a good time and feel like a princess'. That's understandable! I hate seeing these moms who push and push their kids to do stuff they don't want too, put them in something which might as well be a bikini, slap lots of fake tan on 'em and make them peform their almost sexual routine which has been forcefully rehearsed for two hours a day prior to the event. Oh, and then when it shows you them in their homes with 6 year olds with 50+ trophies because she 'never loses' and she 'loves' doing it and beating the other girls. Obviously, you have to make them think competitively and make them want to win but not completely rule out the option of losing. It just spoils them and will later affect them in life where somebody tells them no, then they go have a bitch fit and rage!

Okay, didn't realise how much I actually hated them but my point remains! Parents really need to think about what morals they are drilling into their childrens minds!

[Texas warrior]

What do I think, one word, Loli.

[Smeagol]

I just think that it is bad for the little kids. Kids at such a young age are sexualized for the judges and they are brought up to have a very sexualized form of portraying themselves.

[BrassMonkey]

If your kid wants to do it, let them do it. Dont make them do it because you want them to. I can tell if some kids like it, or if their parents are making them. Also, you need to keep your child a fair player (I guess you would say), which means they are nice to other contestants, and are not boasting and stuff like that.

[Error 404]

Well, i must say i didn't read everything.My opinion-its sick.

[Mortal Coil]

As many others have already said, it over-sexualizes these kids. It's sickening. Also, it sends out the message at such an early age of what exactly these kids are supposed to be like. Are there ideals in society? Yes. Should there be more room for variety? Definitely. Does every single guy on the planet find that vapid sluttiness attractive? Hell no. Well, I hope not.

[Error 404]

Exactly my point.And this...ugh.Just sick.

http://www.chicagonow.com/when-you-put-it-that-way/2011/05/toddlers-and-tiaras-and-botox/

[DerBear]

I only read the first post so sorry If I am stating anything that has already been said.

So here is my opinion. As long as the child is willing and having fun doing so. I believe it should be more than okay. However if you have one of these pushy mums who want their child to go into the pageant for the "oh look my daughters so perfect" and things like that I would then say it's been cruel on the child and then disagree with the stuff overall.

[Genghis Khan]

Child pageants are the worst thing the world has seen after Christopher Hitchens.

[randomme]

Some of the children are as young as two! As a result they do not even know what is really happening. That is wrong

[NotYourSombrero]

Those kids should be playing in mud, eating dirt, or napping. Behind the scenes the moms yell up and down out these little kids. :(

[Church]

It really disturbs me to see stuff like that, moms dressing their daughters like sluts and parading them around, its borderline child abuse

[Jet.]

I completely disagree with it. Teaching a child that beauty is what matters most, think of how they must feel when they lose? I think that some parents take it completely over the top, to levels where it is just plain wrong. It's alot of pressure and emotional distress that it has over some children, although i understand that alot only see it as fun.

[CrossingtheCourtyard]

They are absolutely disturbing.

[purplepeopleeater]

They make me sick. It's pathetic and sad that they get their children to think they have to look good at such a young age. Let them have their fun before they get self conscious and worry about their looks.. >.>

[WickedWeekend]

I personally don't mind them, as long as the child wants to do it. I understand the parent can make them do anything, since they ARE the parent. But putting them through that is not right.

In some cases I think the parents are trying to make up for something they never had.

[Cicero]

Exactly my point.And this...ugh.Just sick.

http://www.chicagonow.com/when-you-put-it-that-way/2011/05/toddlers-and-tiaras-and-botox/

That makes me sick, I think that the mothers should be arrested for doing that to their kids. Botox is actually a poison, so those mothers are putting poison in their kids. Which, Botox and become deadly.

[Abnormal]

I think those child pageants are a little overwhelming to me, can you imagine what it would be like for those little girls? I don't know, I think there's something odd with dolling up little girls and parading them around for everyone to see. I mean, that's just weird. Why not just let those little girls be little girls and let them worry about playing grown up later? Putting make up on them, no doubt having some of them go on diets and stuffing them in over-sized dresses all day can't be something a little girl would love.

[Shadowhunter]

I'm not for it at all. At that young of an age I just don't think it's right to be dressing your kids up to show them off in these pageants let alone any really. (not a fan of pageants in general) I mean what kind of message does that send to them? As someone else already stated they are bound at some point like anyone else to get self conscious about how they look so why I start them off so young with the mentality of dressing up like that? I think it's even worse when the kid doesnt want to do it at all and the parent is basically living through their kid. I don't know I'm jut not a fan of them at all.

[Electra Heart]

Eh... I don't particularly like watching the shows, and all. The parents are usually complete nutters. As long as the kids are enjoying what they're doing, fine, whatever. It's when they're doing the shit, and they're miserable where I draw the line.

[aaayyoo_avery]

i think thats good for them if theyre happy.. especially when they grow up they will have confidence in themselves and maybe turn out to be profesional models, dancers, singers..ect :D

[Neverender]

I believe they're absolutely disgusting. It's child abuse wrapped up in a bow tie.

[RedViper]

I despise them.

[Wiltedrose2394]

At the very least, ~ALL CHILDREN'S PAGEANTS AND DANCE SHOWS SHOULD NOT BE TELEVISED!!!!~ I cannot stress this enough! When you objectify a child, no matter if it's a boy or girl, you can potentially ruin their lives. Besides putting them at risk for abuse/assault/rape etc, you are teaching them nothing. (NO, worse yet, you are teaching them something: if you're pretty enough, you will get want you want.)
I think children shouldn't be allowed to participate in degrading events until they are old enough to comprehend their true meaning. And even then, only if they want to participate!!!
I've seen these pushy old harpys emotionally damage their kids by FORCING their kids to participate!!! (And most of the time, it's because these parents are desperately trying to live out their own dreams by living vicariously through their offspring. It's sad and pathetic)