| There is a lifelong debate on whether children should | | | | their children into shows do so because they think it will |
| be entered into beauty pageants. Some think that it is | | | | help them become happier with themselves and gain |
| an excellent idea and what it can help their child | | | | high self esteem. These people also think that being in |
| become more successful in life. Others think that it | | | | pageants makes their children become better |
| promotes a bad self image on children and that it is | | | | competitors, which will help them in the future. |
| extremely unhealthy. This article will look at both sides | | | | On the other hand some people think that entering |
| of the issue and explain the thoughts of the parents of | | | | children into them is a terrible thing to do. They feel that |
| the children entered into contests. | | | | forcing the children to do these actually give them |
| Before discussing the two sides of children in beauty | | | | lower self esteem and will make them have higher |
| shows it is important to know what they are and how | | | | anxiety and depression levels in the future. Most times |
| old children have to be to enter. It is a competition that | | | | people that are against putting young children into |
| chooses a winner based on a variety of things. These | | | | pageants will argue that it gives children a wrong view |
| things most commonly include evening gown, swim suit, | | | | of self image. These people are usually very strong |
| interview, overall appearance, and talents. Some of | | | | willed and may even attempt to boycott or protest a |
| these contests may include all of these or only some. | | | | contest that is for children. Their main point is that it is |
| Most of these categories are based on age, which | | | | degrading and disturbing to exploit children in this way. |
| leads to the next point of how old you need to be to | | | | While neither of the sides previously described are |
| enter one. The answer to this question is that children | | | | right, neither are wrong either. Everyone is entitled to |
| are entered into them at all ages. Some people start | | | | their own opinion and can judge child beauty pageants |
| their children in pageants only a few months after they | | | | however they want. As previously stated this is an |
| are born. | | | | issue that has been debated for a very long time. It |
| The people that think there is no problem with entering | | | | has become so heated there are even new TV |
| their children into these types of contests come few | | | | shows that show the lives of these young children in |
| and far between. Most of the people that think that it is | | | | them. Most likely this debate will not slow down any |
| okay to enter their children into one at an extremely | | | | time soon, and will be a controversial issue forever. So |
| early age usually do so. These parents, usually | | | | to answer the question of if children should be in this |
| mothers, feel that they are doing a good thing for their | | | | type of public display, there is no correct answer. As |
| children. They feel that they are opening them up to a | | | | for now, the issue is left up to the parents and what |
| world of success and beauty. Most parents that enter | | | | they believe in. |