More than two million young and innocent children get forced into pageants every year in the U.S alone. With each pageant having several unique yet disastrous ethical issues for every participant. Children competing in pageants is a problem.Children competing in pageants is a problem. Due to the majority of time spent in childhood will be for preparation or actual competing. Many will argue that kids have time to be kids after the competition is over. While it is true that some children get breaks. In which normal kid activities will be include, not all children can be as fortunate. “Its estimated that 250,000 children compete in more than 5,000 pageants in the United States each year.”
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'The Problem of Children Competing in Pageants'
These children also dedicate several weeks into preparation. For example, the first part of a pageant is the talent part in which the children practice 15 hours a week. It must be hard for the children to juggle school, pageant practice, pageants, and time to be a normal child. With 15+ hours of work a week, for several weeks, going into practice. It is unimaginable how exhausted those children must be every day and unable to enjoy play time. It is more than likely that play time turns into nap time for these children. The lack of free time and the amount of tedious goals put into those kids is mind-blowing.
Children competing in pageants is also a problem because kids have physical limitations. Children can only do so much for so long before their little body cannot handle anymore. Pageant parents will argue that kids push themselves to the limit all the time. Which, without a doubt, is true, but it is different when it is at the child's own free will. When the child fights sleep by choice it is usually to stay up and play. This concludes to be a self-rewarding situation. But when a parent forces a child to remain active from 7 in the morning to 6/10 at night for days. The outcome will never be "rewarding" for anyone, especially not the child. If an outsider was looking into said child’s position at the time, what kind of feedback would result? It will be negative because the child will become agitated and drained. Exhausting these children to such an extent can lead to serious repercussions. Children competing in pageants is a problem because desperate parents make desperate choices. These desperate choices lead to putting the child's health at risk. Several adults will argue that a parent would never put a child in harm's way to win. While this is true, there are some parents that are willing to take peculiar measures to win. There is evidence of a child who had taken a drink concoction of Red bull and Mountain Dew, referred to as "Go Go juice." According to Good Morning America, one cup of Go Go Juice is equal to two cups of Coffee. The mother, defending her actions said, "there are far worse things…I could be giving her alcohol.” The administration of a concoction with so much caffeine, to a child as young as these are could lead to serious side-effects. These side effects include uncontrollable tremors, anxiety, migraines, and abnormal blood pressure. If a parent is so desperate to win that they give a lethal drink to a child, then a reevaluation is in order.
Children competing in pageants is in fact a problem. Due to disagreements and anger being quick to arise among the parents. While a few disagree that not all parents go crazy during competitions. But that with as much as parents invest, you would think they have earned the right to take it so "businesslike". While the parents have a right to be rigorous, it is imperative to remember who the pageants are for. Former judges are quick to tell reporters of how the parents of the children act during pageants. Once on TLC’s Toddlers & Tiaras “a child was on stage and reportedly cut off mid performance. The mother had a meltdown, screaming and crying while her children looked on, unaffected by the scene”. Depending on the child's age, how a parent acts can result in different reactions. For comprehensive children it tends to be embarrassment and resentment towards the parent. Especially when the embarrassing act gets broadcaster all over television, never to forget.
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Children competing in pageants is a problem because it will result in a distorted idea of beauty. Many will point out that there will be reality checks received from the parents. Which can be true, but who is to say that every child will listen and see the truth in what is being said. Experts agree that children's activities focused on physical appearance will influence self-esteem. The influential standpoint of pageants can lead to negative effects. These effects include, but not limited to, eating disorders and insecurities. Due to parents pushing fillers, false lashes, butt glue, and makeup down their throats at such a ripe age. No child deserves to think they need all these artificial add-ons to be beautiful.Children competing in pageants is a problem because due to the inhumane amount of dedication, over exhaustion, health risks, unacceptable behavior, and distorted ideas of beauty. Let the elimination of children in pageants bring justice to these problems.
