The Sexualization Of Beauty Pageants

While beauty pageants often reign in American without much debate, the same subject is a hot topic for debate in France. Legislators in the French Parliament have issued a move to ban such pageants that are radically supported in places like the United States. The source for formulating the controversial ban stems from the views that pageants, and similar contests, force the youth surrounding them into a state of hyper-sexualization (Healy). Vast citizens are worried that the girls are being exploited. The youngest among them, pre-school aged, appear caked under makeup, tanned by chemical sprays and lotions, and teetering on high-heeled shoes (Wallace). Alongside the ban, punishment for perpetrators has been proposed to help enforce the seriousness of the issue. Time in jail, as well as monetary fines, could be pinned on pageant parents and those rallying to form competitions. Endorsing and supporting …show more content…
While, for years, there have been complaints about the sexualization of girls, French lawmakers point to a different reason. Going farther than just dressed-up parades, a popular magazine, Vogue, featured a child for the world’s eyes to view. In 2010, the presumed ten year old was revealed on the glossy pages appearing to be “sexy” with mature makeup and sultry high heels. Where is the innocence in that? Wendy Walsh, a psychologist, comments on the phenomenon, "And now it seems perfectly OK for a little 6-year-old to be walking around in thigh-high boots and short booty shorts and smacking her butt when she dances down a runway? Come on! That's what a stripper does” (Wallace). Children don’t have a chance to be children anymore. Now, they are being viewed as objects of the world’s desires (Wallace). France’s Senate took on the bill with one hundred and ninety-six votes to one hundred and forty-six votes. The final step to it becoming law awaits for it to be passed by the National Assembly ("France moves to ban child beauty