Things that parade and celebrate the physical aspects of women and not their smarts, personality, etc.


Do you think these things help or hurt our society's views of what "women" are or what we should try to be?
Do you feel that the people who participate in such things are individually hurting or helping the expectations of the average women in society?

I personally don't see anything wrong with it... I was in them for years. As long as it is something the girl wants to do... They don't just promote beauty. Alot of the pagents you have to be top of everything. Education for one... And you get scholarships like crazy.. I think it helps..

Women should realize that they shouldn't compare themselves to other women, we all have our own beautiful qualities... I don't think that you should punish women who have high self esteems for the women who don't. So I don't think we hurt society by doing pagents. There are BEAUTIFUL women that are HORRIBLE people... But then there are women who aren't pagent beautiful that are the most beautiful people on the inside.

I'll believe they're about "education" the day a man has to wag his package on stage and answer questions about world peace. :whatever

Until then, I'll believe about them what I've known and every other person with common sense knows about them: they're about women's beauty and nothing else.

Do you think these things help or hurt our society's views of what "women" are or what we should try to be?
I don't think they help it. Most women and young girls compare themselves to these women and expect perfection. Some will go to any length and pay any price to achieve it. I have a problem with our society not being happy with our looks and individuality. Everyone doesn't need to be a size 2 with long blonde hair and big boobs. (Not picking on those people, just an example!) Women compare themselves to these people, whether they admit it or not.


Do you feel that the people who participate in such things are individually hurting or helping the expectations of the average women in society?
I think they contribute to creating the stereo type that women achieve to be. But I don't think they set out with that goal in mind.

I have a friend who has participated in beauty pageants for several years. She won 3 and went on to try for Miss Florida. She was VERY smart, and did it for the scholarships. But if you've ever had an inside view to those pageants, you would know it's not about how smart you are or how much talent you have. It's really a beauty pageant. You are highly judged on your looks. And sadly, sometimes it's about who you know.

I think they hurt. Not to the individuals involved - but the majority of society who know nothing of those scholerships, etc (In fact, I know nothing of the benifits - I didn't realize that any type of beauty pageant gave any merit to education.)
Most people (mainly boys/men I'm refering to - who have no one telling them from day 1 that "women and girls are more than just pretties.") They quickly see women ONLY because visuals - nothing more. And I think that first, very limited exposure can seriously affect their view of women for the rest of their life. (including those who have Sahm's (promoting the notion that Mom's shouldn't work) ) .. Which is a hard rock to climb out from.

Most of those women in the Miss USA pageant have their masters degree. They are very smart educated women. Miss USA is also about more then just your looks.

I don't see anything wrong with a women entering ANY profession of her choice be that rocket scientist or Playboy Bunny. My Grandma didn't burn her bra so that I could NOT have choice. She burned it so that women would be free to be what ever it is they wanted to be.

i don't see anything wrong with it personally.

Women are beautiful creatures. We should be allowed to show it and appreciate it without being made to feel like we're hurting society.

IMO, they are silly and i'm not very interested in watching them. i think they can be a good thing if it helps someone obtain a scholarship. i don't compare myself to these fantasy women. when i try to look better i think of myself. the weight i was most happy at, the hair color that looked best on me, etc. i think some women compare themselves to the pageant ladies but i think everyone should just do what makes them happy. i don't think pageants are detrimental to the stereotype of women.

i'm not a huge fan of pagents because they just seem so fake. but i am not against modeling and celebrating the physical attributes of women (so long as these are real women and not glamourizing the anorexic heroine chic look). I think women should celebrate themselves inside and out.

I think if you're going to let it bother you then you're going to be bother. Things don't set you back unless you let them.

Ohhh geez. I am 100% shutting my trap on this one. :D

Women are beautiful creatures. We should be allowed to show it and appreciate it without being made to feel like we're hurting society.

:yes

Most of those women in the Miss USA pageant have their masters degree. They are very smart educated women. Miss USA is also about more then just your looks.

I don't see anything wrong with a women entering ANY profession of her choice be that rocket scientist or Playboy Bunny. My Grandma didn't burn her bra so that I could NOT have choice. She burned it so that women would be free to be what ever it is they wanted to be.

Women are beautiful creatures. We should be allowed to show it and appreciate it without being made to feel like we're hurting society.

:yes exactly what they said.

i don't have issues with schlorship pageants. I wouldn't enter a pagent unless talent was involved. I was 2000 Conecuh County Junior Miss and that was a great experience. I also wasn't your stereotypical pagent girl either. I was curvy and the biggest girl there (only a size 8/10 though). There isn't anything wrong with the programs to begin with. It is the people who misconstrue it and turn it into something horrible. Playboy, hmm...well it's just porn so it really has nothing to do with pageants or even wearing clothes.

Ok, I have to step in, Playboy is not porn:rofl

There is no sexual act shown in any of their magazines....only nudity, which is art, not porn.

That being said, I am not a fan of their photography style, it's cheesy...but ya know, I had to clarify:giggle

Some beauty pagents are aimed at the average woman, and some models are fairly average as well. I think it just depends.

Ok, I have to step in, Playboy is not porn:rofl

There is no sexual act shown in any of their magazines....only nudity, which is art, not porn.

That being said, I am not a fan of their photography style, it's cheesy...but ya know, I had to clarify:giggle

oh well, but still it's not really in the same ballpark as pageants or modeling (in most cases). playboy is just......well, playboy!

Some beauty pagents are aimed at the average woman, and some models are fairly average as well. I think it just depends.

I'm totally average, yo. :yo

oh well, but still it's not really in the same ballpark as pageants or modeling (in most cases). playboy is just......well, playboy!

Agreed:lol

I'll believe they're about "education" the day a man has to wag his package on stage and answer questions about world peace. :whatever

Until then, I'll believe about them what I've known and every other person with common sense knows about them: they're about women's beauty and nothing else.

Mr. Universe is men in speedos.

Most of those women in the Miss USA pageant have their masters degree. They are very smart educated women. Miss USA is also about more then just your looks.

I don't see anything wrong with a women entering ANY profession of her choice be that rocket scientist or Playboy Bunny. My Grandma didn't burn her bra so that I could NOT have choice. She burned it so that women would be free to be what ever it is they wanted to be.
:agree

Ohhh geesh.. Im gonna shut my trap too. My DD did beauty pageants and modeling since the age of 8 mos old. but not going to get into topic.

I don't think anyone should feel the need to keep their mouths closed. :) This is in "debates" which means we all just post our opinion. Some people will agree and some will not... :)

Alright...on to my thoughts. I don't think there is anything wrong with any of these things. Respecting that Playboy and porn are pretty much on different sides of the park from one another, I don't have a lot of respect for pornography, but I don't look down at playboy in anyway. I know porn is not one of the subjects brought into the OP but I just want to say that when it comes to porn...our men (a lot of them) watch it or view it in some way. We all have insecurities. I happen to care about if my boobs are big enough or my body is toned enough. When I know he's viewing porn, it makes me wonder if there is anything about me that he wishes were different (physically). By the way...I've asked and he's said definitely no changes...so I don't get it. Besides that, I just don't get pleasure from viewing porn so maybe that adds to my lack of respect for it. :dunno

I know beauty pageants have scholarships available to the winner and that the contestants have to have much more than just looks. Maybe if the name of the pageants was changed from "beauty pageant" to something else (I don't know what) it may bring out a different perspective from those that may not know that more than looks are involved.

The only type of modeling that I have to focus on as being art is runway modeling. The clothes are the main focus and a lot of times I cannot help but stare at the skin-and-bones girls that are modeling the clothes. I know runway modeling is not about the girls in the clothes but making the designs stand out....but its so sad to me that there is a desire to be *that* thin...