Should child beauty pageants be outlawed?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Currently France is the only Western country that has banned them (a 16+ age requirement was put in place in 2013).

Another one of my few social authoritarian positions: yes, because sexualizing five-year-old girls by covering them with makeup and having them wear revealing outfits for a show for a bunch of seedy adults to enjoy is gross and often bordering on abuse.

[dead0man]

I agree they seem gross, but they shouldn't be illegal.  Just highly discouraged by most of us.

[White Trash]

This is an absolutely disgusting practice that can have serious psychological effects on participants. The sexualization of children is nothing to be celebrated.

[Mr. Reactionary]

No. If we outlaw child beauty pageants only oulaws will have child beauty pageants.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Of course (sensible).

[Frodo]

This is an absolutely disgusting practice that can have serious psychological effects on participants. The sexualization of children is nothing to be celebrated.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This.

[TheLeftwardTide]

I agree they seem gross, but they shouldn't be illegal.  Just highly discouraged by most of us.

But I thought leftists were idealists...?

Seriously, how would you go about achieving this? Would you want Oprah or Obama or some other high-influence figure to come out against child beauty pageants?

Of course (sensible).

[tallguy23]

No but they should be discouraged.

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

No, of course not. some people might find them weird or creepy, but there's nothing legally wrong with them.

[darklordoftech]

Regulated would be my answer. Include children in the audience and judges so it isn't just for the enjoyment of adults.

[Dr. MB]

No. I'd like them to be wiped off the face of the earth but banning is never the answer.

[America Needs R'hllor]

No. I'd like them to be wiped off the face of the earth but banning is never the answer.

I'd argue it is. We've banned murder, for example, and it's working pretty well.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Yes (normal, sane, not a creep)

Ugh, but of course this thread is full of stupid "I don't like it but..." half-assed sh*t.

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

Of course sexual exploitation of young children should be banned.

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

Yes (normal, sane, not a creep)

Ugh, but of course this thread is full of stupid "I don't like it but..." half-assed sh*t.

I never said I didn't like the idea, so long as there's no pedophilia involved.

[dead0man]

those voting yes (and for some reason mocking those who disagree, slightly, with them and their ban happy ways), what age should people be in able to show off their bodies for fame and reward?  What about dance troops?  Talent shows?  It's already illegal to do bad things to children, any ban seems redundant to me.

[Antonio the Sixth]

those voting yes (and for some reason mocking those who disagree, slightly, with them and their ban happy ways), what age should people be in able to show off their bodies for fame and reward?  What about dance troops?  Talent shows?  It's already illegal to do bad things to children, any ban seems redundant to me.

18? I don't see what the problem is supposed to be with that.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

those voting yes (and for some reason mocking those who disagree, slightly, with them and their ban happy ways), what age should people be in able to show off their bodies for fame and reward?  What about dance troops?  Talent shows?  It's already illegal to do bad things to children, any ban seems redundant to me.

I think the age limit in France (16) is fine.  Teaching a child as young as five to cake her face with makeup and look/act sexy for adults is just gross and morally reprehensible.

Also dance troops and talent shows are clearly different from beauty pageants.

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

those voting yes (and for some reason mocking those who disagree, slightly, with them and their ban happy ways), what age should people be in able to show off their bodies for fame and reward?  What about dance troops?  Talent shows?  It's already illegal to do bad things to children, any ban seems redundant to me.

I think the age limit in France (16) is fine.  Teaching a child as young as five to cake her face with makeup and look/act sexy for adults is just gross and morally reprehensible.

Also dance troops and talent shows are clearly different from beauty pageants.

I'm surprised no one here has made the argument that these beauty pageants prepare children for the real world.

[dead0man]

I 100% agree with you guys that these things are super weird/creepy, my issue is that beauty pageants are far from the only place we sexualize little girls.  They may in fact be the most creepy/weird, but they ain't the only.  Little girl bikinis, toddlers getting their ear's pierced, cheerleading, every female character in anything made by Disney, ever.


Just because something is creepy and weird doesn't mean it should be illegal though.  On the other hand, this is kids we're talking about here, so that complicates things.  Is there a strong history of pedo's getting caught around them?  Like more so than the Catholic Church?

[mvd10]

Yeah. I hate banning things (normal R) but I think this is creepy and bad for the children involved (and we don't want to encourage pedophilia...). Why would anyone watch this anyway?

[RINO Tom]

Outlawed?  Not so sure.  They should certainly be discouraged, though.

[Grassroots]

This is an absolutely disgusting practice that can have serious psychological effects on participants. The sexualization of children is nothing to be celebrated.

[IceSpear]

Absolutely not.