My wife watches that show about child beuaty pagents and was talking about this today. I have to say, this is pretty disgusting in my opinion.
To me, it is basically child abuse turned into televison entertainment. I also find it to be weird that we can't spank children on the bum when they are bad, but ripping out their eyebrows while they scream is ok apparently. Maybe I am overreacting... If I am, set me straight.
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I think it's even more ridiculous the mother put her daughter through an experience where "the wax was too hot and ripped her skin off", yet continues to force her five year old daughter to have her eyebrows waxed.
Absolutely its child abuse. That whole pagentry scene is child abuse. These are 5 year olds, not adults. And what 5 year old could possibly need their eyebrows waxed?
The only time a little girl should be parading around like that in fancy dresses, high heels and makeup is when they've managed to get into their Mom's closet and makeup and decided they wanted to play dress up.
I feel sorry for those little girls, because in all seriousness, they have a lifetime of stress and eating disorders to look forward to. Their parents might not realize it, but it WILL happen.
If the child willingly engages in this behavior, or asks to participate, then no it is not. But if the parents are forcing it on the child then absolutely it is abuse. But then, where do you draw the line? How many kids are playing full contact sports against their wishes to fulfill their jock fathers dreams? I suppose that is child abuse too. What if the kid does not want to participate in gym class at school? I suppose that is also abuse to force them to participate to fulfill their grades.
As disgusting as these child pageants are, they are far from "abuse" in the traditional sense. I am sure there are a ton of us on this board that would trade the displayed form of abuse here, for what we had to endure as kids.
If the child willingly engages in this behavior, or asks to participate, then no it is not. But if the parents are forcing it on the child then absolutely it is abuse. But then, where do you draw the line? How many kids are playing full contact sports against their wishes to fulfill their jock fathers dreams? I suppose that is child abuse too. What if the kid does not want to participate in gym class at school? I suppose that is also abuse to force them to participate to fulfill their grades.
As disgusting as these child pageants are, they are far from "abuse" in the traditional sense. I am sure there are a ton of us on this board that would trade the displayed form of abuse here, for what we had to endure as kids.
How does a child willingfully engage in anything? especially when it involves ripping off her eyebrows for a beauty pageant?
Does a child even understand what is gong on during a beauty pageant?
In retrospect, yeah, should have thought that through a bit better. But obviously we are not talking about illegal type or dangerous activities. As lame as these pageants are, they are neither.
If little Johnny comes and asks you to help him build a meth lab for a science project, obviously common sense should prevail.
How does a child willingfully engage in anything? especially when it involves ripping off her eyebrows for a beauty pageant?
Does a child even understand what is gong on during a beauty pageant?
Then how does a 5 year old child willfully engage in playing hockey? Or soccer? Or any other activity. I don't disagree with your disapproval of these pageants, but there is far more dangerous, and potentially abusive things a child could be forced into than this, which society would look at as abusive. I had a mini dirt bike when I was 5, which is 50 times more dangerous than this. Was my father abusing me by letting me ride it? Was I willingly riding it? I can't remember any more.
My dad was abusing me when he was kicking the crap out of me for misbehaving as a child, not for putting me on a dirt bike.
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I've gone off about these pageants on the "gear grinder" thread. I'm a pretty passive, mellow, easy going type of guy. But these things pageants, particularly the mothers but also the entire premise, actually work me into a rage that is out of character.
I'd rather get another ass kicking by my dad than have my mom force me to wax my eyebrows. This isn't physical abuse it's mental abuse more than anything. I just don't see a child wanting to be part of a pageant...what does a kid get out of it?
I've gone off about these pageants on the "gear grinder" thread. I'm a pretty passive, mellow, easy going type of guy. But these things pageants, particularly the mothers but also the entire premise, actually work me into a rage that is out of character.
How can you compare putting a child into a sport with putting a child into a beauty pageant? One promotes health, team play, social interaction, and personal development...the other promotes superficiality, insecurity, and the only people gaining from it are the parents who want an ego boost. The pageants are clearly unhealthy. I think anyone who parades their daughter around in one of these is an idiot. Actually I think anyone who has any interest or involvement in such an activity is pretty messed up.
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Is this child abuse?
