Monday's documentary was horrible to watch. There was a girl dancing in a provocative manner. The programme also featured Eden Wood, the now retired eight-year-old child pageant star of the American programme Toddlers and Tiaras. On one of her videos, which has attracted over one million views, the pink-clad pageant queen sings and dances, surrounded by fans: "I'm a cutie. That is just not appropriate for a young girl.
Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7. Enter email address This field is required Sign Up. In France, measures to ban child pageants involving those under 16 are now going through parliament in what is seen as a bid to stop the "hyper-sexualisation of young girls". Concern about sexualisation of children in France was prompted by a fashion-shoot in French Vogue that showed three young girls posing in heavy make-up, jewellery and tight outfits.
Pageants are now run-of-the-mill events in the US and are part of a multimillion-dollar kiddie beauty industry. Typical contests have a formal evening wear round were children as young as two toddle along a catwalk in taffeta and sequins. There is a themed round with perhaps a circus or cowgirl outfit, and even a swimwear round. It was due to be staged in the Bracken Court Hotel in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, but the hotel pulled out just two days before the event. To the child, a message is given that sexuality — expressed in clothing, makeup and certain postures — is appropriate and even something to exploit.
The message to adults, especially pedophiles, is one condoning children as sexual objects. Research on child sexual abuse shows that the sexualization of children is a contributing factor to their sexual abuse. Defenders of pageants argue that, just like participation in any other sport, pageant parading gives children poise and self-confidence, and teaches them the value of hard work and determination. So to what extent should state governments in the US, the homeland of beauty pageants, be concerned with overseeing child pageants?
What's more, the mother in question didn't see the issue, telling People that the costume was "tasteful and funny. Yes, the way the toddlers were dressed was a real issue for a lot of people. One CNN article even accused the parents and show in general of over-sexualizing young girls. Licensed clinical social worker Mark Sichel told People that the children's outfits were a serious issue.
He also added that all the makeup and fake teeth — known as flippers — hurt the toddlers, too, as it "causes the children tremendous confusion, wondering why they are not okay without those things. Whether their parents were yelling at them, coaching them from the sidelines, or putting ridiculously high expectations on them, it was seriously a bit much.
According to Psychology Today, "ABPD occurs when the adult's pride and satisfaction are achieved when supporting the child's development and abilities. Notably, sometimes people with ABPD can't "differentiate their needs and goals from the child's.
Mothers would stand to the side of the stage or behind the judges and dance their daughters' routines right along with them. Sometimes they'd get extremely upset when their child didn't place high enough. While that certainly didn't appear healthy for the children, obviously, it also was annoying to watch for those at home. Shame on them," one person shared. But what made the show even harder to watch, which could have led to its cancelation, was that the parents didn't see any problem being over-involved.
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