The Effect of the Jon Benet Ramsey Case on the Child Pageant Systems
Following are the questions asked and how I feel about them according to my observations in my daughter's time as a pageant contestant. (She is preparing to go the National competition in what will be her second pageant).
Question: Has the Jon Benet Ramsey case affected your view of children's beauty pageants and has the children's pageant industry suffered as a result?
Answer: Personally, I would not say that the industry as a whole has suffered. In fact, I feel that the industry has benefited (unfortunately at the cost of a child). The pageants I have been involved in stresses natural looking children. Now, clothing is age appropriate, and no makeup is allowed under age 13. What a huge improvement! You can almost imagine how some sick person would "claim" to "be in love" with a little girl, dressed like a cheap adult, makeup, and all.
Just like myself, I am sure that many parents, like me looked at the image of the young beauty queen and decided they would never dress their child like that.
Question: The image the public has of child pageantry is all about pushy parents and provocatively dressed offspring, and as the Jon Benet images showed, children performing in what is perceived by many to be unsuitable for their age. What is it really like?
Answer: Anywhere you have precocious children in the public eye you will have pushy parents. You can spot them a mile away, and learn to avoid them. In the pageant system my daughter is in, provocative dressing get low scores, so it is silently discouraged.
Question: What does your daughter get out of the pageant system?
Answer: I can say that my previously fearless child has become even more bold and outgoing. She is now thinking about goals in life and forming opinions on things that matter like war and environment. I feel that the interview process of the pageant is priceless in getting children to think about things that will affect them in the future.
Question: One of the main criticisms of pageantry (Most especially the Jon Benet Case) is that it sexualizes children and plays into the hands of pedophiles. Is this true?
Answer: I believe it did because of the way the girls were made up and dressed. As a whole, I do not believe that it still does. As for pedophiles, parents should be especially diligent and keep their kids closer than normal at these events and even every day if they win.
Published by A. Hermitt
Andrea Hermitt is an artist by nature and an educator by necessity. As a homeschooling mom of 10 years, she stays current in all things educational, and cutting edge to help her homeschool her children, and... View profile
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- I believe the child's pageant system has improved since the Jon Benet Ramsey case.
- I do not believe the child pageant system sexualizes children, any more.
- I do believe child pageants can attract pedophiles, and that parents should be especially diligent.
12 Comments
Post a CommentI think another pageant parent has killed Jon Benet through jealousy. Just reading another Blog whose mothers 2 children were in the same pageant and when reporters wanted to stake out Pasty she would not let them use her place as she could not have cared about Jon Benet as she claimed that Patsy broke the rules. Alarm bells have started ringing for me.
so your 14 years old and your cussing online? so that is a result of what pageants do to children. thats a great example. and beaut isn't everything. its about intelligence and presentation. i sure wouldn't want my 14 year old talking like that.
oh yea beauty is every thing
i agree but i also think that when little girls where makeup in pageants and such that it shouldnt be directed towards jonbenet ramsey when there are clearly more young girls who have done that in the past
i agree.... why teach your children young that beauty is everything? like this world isn't already filled with vain little airheads that keep spreading their legs and then getting abortions cause they were never taught values or morals.... come on people. you ought to be a shamed and i hope your kid grows up with an ounce of dignity and responsibility. Doubtful but it is my wish for her. i would never allow my children to be treated that way... but then again, i love them.
Anyone who parades their children around for money should have them taken away. They are supposed to be kids, and that does not mean to train, work, and worry about their appearance until it drives them nuts. I have personally known 'beauty contest' kids and despite all the lame 'don't do it' talks they end up hating the opposite sex, annorexic, or suicidal when they find that they 'don't have it any more'. With a high risk like this, why would any sane parent want that for the child they say they love?
This is so interesting, and something participating parents seem reluctant to talk about these days. Thanks for sharing, and I hope your daughter breaks a leg (in the figure-of-speech way)!
Melissa,
My child did not advance to the finals because of her looks... she advanced because she got the most ticket sales. She plans to be a millionaire at a young age. Looks like she is on the right track. Looks are important for a first impression.. whoever thinks otherwise is fooling them selves, but you'd better back that up with somthing more substantial.
Very nice article! I think it's good to let people know that pageantry has changed, and also to keep in mind how it used to be, so that it doesn't get that way again.
I am still disappointed in how adult pageantry emphasizes sex appeal in adult women, but I think that eventually that may change as well.
My toddler has been in 2 pageants. The rules are very different now. It was specified that the only make-up allowed on any young contestant was clear lip gloss. I have felt the stigma of pageants but as long as she enjoys doing them, I will be there with her. I agree 100% with all of your statements.