Are beauty contests harmful?

Question

Beauty contests promote an ideal of female beauty to which only a minority of women can realistically aspire, but which adds to the pressure on all women to conform to it. This can be harmful to women by encouraging dieting, eating disorders and cosmetic surgery, or simply by making them feel inadequate and ugly.

Women in beauty contests are judged on their physical appearance rather than on any other qualities they may possess (the existence of a ‘talent’ element in many such contests is all very well, but ugly women simply aren’t going to win). Judging women, but not men, primarily on their looks contributes to the subjugation of women because other qualities, such as intelligence, are not seen as part of ideal femininity and therefore not as things to which women should aspire.

What do you say?

Answer 1

I say that there should be a beauty contest completely run by blind people.

I know that I will probably never be a size zero unless I starve myself and take diet pills and laxatives. I will definitely never be six feet tall. My nose will never grow into my face, my left eye is always going to be two shades different from my right, and my chest isn't going to blossom into a D from a B overnight.

I'm smart, though, and people say I'm sweet, too. I'm creative and unique. Then why are those girls that act like everyone's dirt get the guys? Oh, yeah, they look like sticks, that's why.

I say that we should quit these beauty pageants. They're encouraging young girls in the wrong way: that they need to be a Barbie doll or they'll never make it far in life.

Answer 2

I say good question.
If only there could be a more realistic perspective of this within the female community. Take for instance, the body building contests that men have. What % of males would aspire to this? It is small.

However, Miss Utah go ahead and name a percentage...it's up there over 50% I'd venture to say of women would aspire to this icon.

If our society bounces back to a survivalist state then we will begin to see a beauty of another kind in women. While we're in this hedonist period though, our women will suffer greatly and live the regal life at the same time

Answer 3

While it's true that images of extreme beauty are used as weapons against women, beauty contests constitute such a small portion of the media bandwidth used to promote those images that it hardly matters. In many ways, beauty contests are obsolescent, anachronistic.

Take Donald Trump's public scolding of the recent Ms. America. The entire exchange was a microcosm of gender inequality as it existed previously. Nowadays, this display is so obviously sexist that it smacks of ignorance or looks like a publicity stunt.

Nowadays, the modes of male dominance over women are far more subtle.

Answer 4

I do agree with some of your points. I observed from a young age what can happen to young girls who are exposed to beauty pageant's. I was a model some years ago for Linda Apple in New York . I started in High School when I was discovered ,if you will by my English Teacher . His daughter is a model . Not that this matters I just wa nted to explain what I observed at that time. . I have seen first hand what can happen to someone who lacks self confidence and what lasting damage happens. I have seen girls who are drop dead gorgeous, still always second guessing themselves. It is amazing what some will do. This is what happens and why anorexia and bulimia get started at younger and younger ages! What is comes down to is self esteem. It starts when they are young children. I feel that We must find other ways to tell our children they are beautiful besides entering them in beauty contests. What does it really matter if others think our child is the best looking?? Our daughters should already have that confidence instilled In them by us that they don't need to go seeking it from a stranger . I have a daughter now, she is 10 years old. I have been asked and encouraged many times , from the time my daughter was a baby to put in beauty pageant's. I will not do that. I feel that they give young girl's the wrong impression about beauty and self worth. The message that beauty contest give is if you aren't what the judges consider beautiful, then something is wrong with you. That will destroy a child's self esteem and self confidence for years. We need to encourage our children, especially our daughters, and not only tell them but show them that beauty comes from within.

Answer 5

i think of you have a homework task and you're asking human beings to do the assigment. If human beings savour stepping into and watching them then positive. however the harm is obtainable in whilst human beings attempt to conform with that kind of individual and way of existence and that they are able to't. human beings are available all types and sizes, and ask your self contests are basically very strict in the type of contests they take. a somewhat obese lady will never make it. A easy dissproportional lady won't make it. a woman with any tattoos won't make it. and so on..../

Answer 6

Obsession is harmful.

If a beauty contest can be approached without obsession, it is not harmful.

If it is a driving need, if the only way one can ever be happy is to win, if nothing else will ever matter as much....it is harmful.

The same applies to many things. The contest in itself is not the problem- competition is a good thing, because it makes one strive to achieve one's best, whether in looks, video gaming, academics, or physical ability. The problem arises whem competition ceases to be *a* thing and becomes *the only* thing.

Answer 7

as you said : This can be harmful to women by encouraging dieting, eating disorders and cosmetic surgery, or simply by making them feel inadequate and ugly.

Women in beauty contests are judged on their physical appearance rather than on any other qualities they may possess
its totally HARMFUL !

Answer 8

Yes I think they are. I think it gives women an unfair expectation of what they need to be like. Frankly real beauty is not seen above the first few layers of skin

Answer 9

I agree with you 100%! The same can be also said with the media as well.

Answer 10

I asked this same question so many times, and not gotten an answer