Do beauty pageants degrade women?

Question

I personally think they do, they put impossible standards on women to look and act perfect - and as we are seeing, these women get drunk and pregnant, like lots of "normal" people out there - they are not "perfect" like the show makes them out to be. I don't see the need or the reason behind them - I'm not ugly personally, but wonder how it makes the "typical" overweight person feel to sit and watch something like this... does it make them feel good about themselves? Doubtful. Why are these things on tv? I don't get it, please help me understand.

Answer 1

It is sad to say we live in a world still primitive in its recent state. We have not yet understood the idea blind supremacy. In this case of beauty pageants we put upon the test of supremacy by means of perfection but in reality we are morely bringing about the notion of inferiority and underclassing the general public. Why do overweight individuals sometime get depressed watching these shows, because they have no self-esteem and are easily swayed by the cruel world in which we live in. Why do the Pageant contestants often get pregnant and drunk, because the power of supremacy changes the mind into believing they are invincible in a highly visible world!

Answer 2

Did you know that most beauty pageants offer some sort of scholarship or funding? Miss America gives out free scholarships to the winner and runner ups. Personally, since I have met Miss Virginia, I find your opinion on beauty pageants somewhat shallow. Miss Virginia, for instance, joined the competition for Miss Virginia, for a scholarship. She is really bright, and without having won that, she probably wouldn't have been able to go to college, since she was not wealthy. And what did she do with the extra money she gets from promos? She donates it to a BRAVO fund and helps support SAVE. She promotes nonviolence and school safety. She didnt just win the beauty pageant for looks, oh no. She is quite gifted at singing too. I agree on that the contestants aren't what the shows make them out to be, but at least it gives people something to strive for. Maybe they should concentrate on the women's attributes, values, and characteristic, instead of beauty. My mom also watches this, and it does not lower her self esteem, although she is overweight. Instead, she has started a diet to get healthier. People also need to realize that beauty is not only skin deep, and not get so obsessed over this. It is just a show, and the physical characteristics should not dominate peoples' views on each other. People need to be educated, not deprived.

Answer 3

Let's face it — when the contestants talk of world peace or some such thing, nobody's listening to them. They're just looking at their peroxide smile and bulimic legs. Being in a pageant requires little, if any, intelligence whatsoever. They only make the winners feel good. It's disgraceful that these women are willingly putting themselves on display for a sash and some money.

Answer 4

I dont really feel like it is degrading, considering women love to participate in these things, and they do not consider it prostitution. Ive not noticed any anorexic people competing, so I do not know why suddenly, people are supposed to worry what overweight people think. I am sorry but overweight people need to either love their weight, or lose their weight. You can not be abnormal and expect society to walk on eggshells in order to please you. Anorexic people are also disgusting and abnormal, if they want to look like a skeleton, then they should not expect anyone to keep silent about how gross and odd they look. Its time people learned to take responsibility for their own actions. If these people care so much, then the anorexic will start eating again, and the overweight person will learn to control herself/himself, and exercise.

Answer 5

The funny thing is only fugly women seem to have a problem with beauty pageants contests. Kind of like a bunch of 140 lbs guys trying to diss the worlds strongest man contest.

Answer 6

Yeah, I agree they do. Its important to note though that although the reason for having them is related (indirectly) to pressure on women from men, directly men don't really care at all about them. Pageants are the competition amongst women, for the underlying reasons you're giving. A slight difference, but an important one.

Answer 7

If you feel degraded by such events don't watch them. The women who take part in them dont do it because they themselves feel degraded. The reason these things are on TV is because their is an audience for them.

I feel there is more of a negative effect on women when other women will not allow them choice to do what makes them feel good. It may not be what every woman wants to do with their time but it is their right to choose to participate in such things. If it's not your kind of thing then dont have anything to do with it by either promoting through watching, taking part or givng it undue attention.

Let women do what they want with their bodies, looks and personalities without accusing them of degrading you through their choices.

They are adults and can do what they want with their bodies.

CHILD beauty pageants on the other hand.............


Karma.
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Answer 8

I agree with you. They create a self-serving fantasy for women and men. They are boring, and one is the same as the other. Hose all of that make-up off, and wet them down good, and there are 10 other women on a single block in a major city that on any given day have more pizzaz then any of them.

Answer 9

the reason behind your irritation seems you think they look better than you, and the more you think they look good the less you find yourself attractive and you hate to feel that way so you come out with irritation,if i am right, that is the worst thing you could do to yourself, you should not take beauty queens as a standard of beauty, you have no idea what they need to go throughh to get there, starvation,exercises,surgery ,make up artists, designers, hair dressers, and at psychological level they need to deal with jealousy to each other,frustration,stress,suspense ,and there are those stupid managers who hang around and spoil their privacy,and most them are just innocents,and all what they went throug would end up with only one winner and the rest would go home crying their eyes out. if you really think about it you should be happy you are not one of them,so just look at them for all what they went through to please your eyes,the least you could do is to sit back and get entertained for free.

Answer 10

seems to me that the "typical" overweight woman would find your characterization of her more degrading than the watching of a beauty pagent