Is it wrong to "sexualize" a little girl with mascara and such, putting her on display in child contests?

Question

I refer, for example, to JonBenet Ramsey.

Answer 1

Yes. It's shameful and does nothing for their little girl's development as a human being. They're putting their kids in a box and they're way too young for that.

Answer 2

You are asking a question to solicit people's moral view of your particular example. Certainly you will not accept a viewpoint of somebody that you do not agree with. For example, if I said it's not "wrong", you might disagree because you think it is. On the other hand, if I said it's terribly wrong to paint up a child to look like a $3 prostitute, you might think I'm a self-righteous prude. So, I think you already know the answer to your question. But, I'll play the game and take a stab at it: No, it's not wrong, IF the child is not traumatized by the experience (I mean, some little girls like to play "dress up", right?). It is wrong in the case where child "stars" are exploited simply because their parents want to make money off them and the child has no "childhood" anymore. What could be worse than robbing a child of its childhood? Truly that is a crime. It's not like the child can get it back. You only get one shot at being a kid. In the case of little Ramsey, I don't know . . . she certainly looks adorable in the picture of her "dressed up" that I was able to find on the Internet, and she looks like she's having a good time. Looks can be deceiving, I know. Sorry if this answer waffles back and forth -- I'm a Libra. ;-)

Answer 3

I can see dressing a little girl up and putting makeup on for Halloween, but I don't feel that it is right for parents to subject their children to that type of pressure first of all, and to glamorize such a young child I feel is a shame. I think mom and dad are missing something in their own lives to let a young child be as you say, "displayed". I wonder how many of those children grow up with problems. Of course we know not all of them have a chance to grow up. Hopefully now they have right the man who killed JonBenet.

Answer 4

i would rather say away from right and wrong, as that could add personal inflection to an answer, but insted look at possible consequences of the behavior.
in doing so i pose some questions,
is it wrong to play dress up? who is the audience, and what is the intention behind dressing up?
who are these girls imitating?
should the people they are imitating be ashamed?
how are these girls viewing themselves?
how are we learning to view them, and not only them but women or people in general?
has sexualization gone too far, as sometimes i see people whose whole lives read like elaborate seduction plots...

anyway, i think the consequnces of this type of behavior can be devestating, like the ramsey case.
but i've heard some chinese proverb that goes something like this; "when ones cart is heavily burdened, it is a shame to get robbed, but who is to blame..." definiatly not an exact quote, but i think the point is like if you are flashing your money around and you get robbed, who is to blame?
now i would always blame the robber, but you can see the consequence of such a behavior, and would probably feel a little stupid too.

Answer 5

I guess the mother thought she was doing something good. She was a beautiful and gifted child. What a shame her mother died in June and never got to get this news. To think all these years they blamed the parents...I can't imagine the horror of their lives. They certainly paid dearly.

That is the risk that comes with being in the public eye. I don't believe in beauty contests and parading kids around like that. Maybe she thought it would lead to good things like acting etc. In any event, the bastard that did that should be punished dearly. God knows who else he has hurt in all those years.

Answer 6

I believe so. If the little girl has voiced the want for participating in such an event, then I think it is up to the parents to explain to their little girls why such things are considered unacceptable.

Answer 7

Absolutely!This is why older girls act out by being overly provocative!Because they are taught from practically the cradle that the only way they will be loved and adored is to hurry up and become sexually attractive!Society doesn't tell these girls that brains matter, only being provocative does!It's disgusting! And then people wonder why so many girls are getting pregnant at horrifyingly young ages!

Answer 8

Not everyone sees it as 'sexualizing' them. Some people might think it is cute.
Someone perverted would see a little girl with makeup on as sexual - that's your problem. Not the poor child or their parents giving them an interest or hobby to do.

Answer 9

I think it is. First of all we are talking about children...in which what we like is spontaneity and natural beauty...if the child is beautiful....well...she is beautifull without make-up and if she is not so cute...make-up won't help. I think make-up makes little girls look silly and fake, it's unnatural and they only look worse. Plus what is the parent teaching this child...make up is ok...a lot of it is even better, and when she'll grow up she'll be addicted to it and hide her natural beauty under it. Also it's not all that healthy..since waring make-up from an early age ushers in wrinkles and the skin complexion will look heavy and dark. I think if you have a child and are proud of her looks...well you don't need make-up for someone to appreciate her beauty..do you?

Answer 10

My sis and me were spending hours in front of the mirror, wearing my mom's dresses, shoes, hats...using her make up and on. Did we "sexualize" our self...not at all.
In the case that you describe, the parents, first of all, are selling their child... that's horrible and for me, personally, a Crime. To "sexualize" the child, is just a part of selling, to satisfy the expectations and interests of the audience.