Living Vicariously Through Our Spawn

Though I rarely admit to watching television, I have found myself more recently involved with the device. Disturbingly, I can even admit to the development of savvy navigation skills, as I am finally able to understand the once foreign buttons on my remote. Seeing how I grew up with only a few TV channels (Al Jazeera, CNN International, MTV Europe, and a channel airing re-runs of Bay Watch around the clock), I have never been one to pay much attention to television or develop a weekly routine attached to the airing of a particular program. That is... until now.

For the past few months I have developed an unhealthy relationship with, not one, but two programs. Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC, and Little Miss Perfect on WE. Both television programs are relatively neutral documentaries that take a "behind the scenes" look into the world of child pageantry. Each episode focuses on one specific pageant and selects a few contestants from the pageant to learn more about and follow before, after, and during the event. The children participating in these events range in ages, from as young as a few months to around twelve years old.

Though I believe both programs to be fairly neutral, neither fully criticizing or supporting child pageantry, after watching a handful of these episodes I have come to my own conclusions. Drawing on reoccurring themes from interviews with both, contestants and their mothers, the majority of children seem highly influenced and controlled through the body politic. Not only is this a visible phenomenon, as mothers flail their arms and point at their smiles from the side lines as to direct their child on stage, but more importantly, it is deeply embedded in the psyche of these "living dolls." When interviewed, both contestant and mother relay similar if not exact reasons and opinions for their wanting to participate in pageants. In reality, many of these children have little to no choice in the matter and are raised to live and breath pageants from a young age, adopting their parents opinions and thoughts.

Pageants, are also responsible for teaching children a false understanding of physical beauty, by placing a high value on the appearance of ones body. When compared against each other, an "all-naturaul" contestant (meaning little to no make up) is usually less likely to win in competition against a "high glam" or "glitz" contestant (full make up, hair extensions, and a bright dress that is sparkly to the point of blinding the audience). Though mothers claim pageants teach their daughters how to be confident, it is wrong to teach children that confidence can only be found through physical appearance.

Seeing how the issue exhausts me, I rather not rant much longer about the issue, I only leave you all with the thought of the "living doll." Mothers, well past the age of playing with barbies, have turned to their own daughters as a source of entertainment... Creepy.

Interesting photo retouching website that I found:
http://www.photoretouchinglab.com/miss-teen-usa-pageant-photo-retouch-online-glitz.html