Beauty Pageant
Transcript: Beauty Pageants Pageants on a World Scale Keeping in mind we tend to think in terms of ethnocentrism, believing that the way we do something is the best. “there is no scientific standards for considering one group as intrinsically superior or inferior to another.” The consistency of physical attractiveness ratings across cultural groups was examined. In Study 1, recently arrived native Asian and Hispanic students and White Americans rated the attractiveness of Asian, Hispanic, Black, and White photographed women. The mean correlation between groups in attractiveness ratings was r = .93. Asians, Hispanics, and Whites were equally influenced by many facial features, but Asians were less influenced by some sexual maturity and expressive features. In Study 2, Taiwanese attractiveness ratings correlated with prior Asian, Hispanic, and American ratings, mean r = .91. Supporting Study 1, the Taiwanese also were less positively influenced by certain sexual maturity and expressive features. Exposure to Western media did not influence attractiveness ratings in either study. In Study 3, Black and White American men rated the attractiveness of Black female facial photos and body types. Mean facial attractiveness ratings were highly correlated (r = .94), but as predicted Blacks and Whites varied in judging bodies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) There are differences in ideas of beauty In many areas of the world beauty has little to do with the physical features of an individual and more to do with the personality and values that they adhere to. Bolivian “Traditional” Pageant focuses on cultural identities The Indian Monimbo pageant has been to preserve and reinvigorate traditional forms of cultural expression. Indian queens are elected not so much on the basis of their looks as on their aptitude for representing cultural ‘authenticity’. Russia tried to mimic what was taking place in the West but insisting that it was meant to demonstrate Russian nationalism and pride. “Standards of Beauty” are becoming more uniformed in an increasingly connected world, as shown by such competitions as Mrs World and Mrs Universe. Top 5 countries with the most "national-level" pageants 28 23 7 6 5 A study in done by Coastal Carolina University’s College of Education evaluated the Self-esteem, dieting, and body image of 131 women who competed in beauty Pageants. The women who participated where from 43 states and the average age was 26 years old. Of 131 participants… •89.6% stated they were a pageant finalist or winner. • 55.2% participated in pageants at the national or international level. •26% about 1 in 4 women surveyed either believed or had been told they had an eating disorder. Of those who reported as having an eating disorder, stated that it began at approximately 16.25 years of age. •48.5% stated they wanted to be thinner •While 57% were currently trying to lose weight. “There were no significant differences between the two groups on measures of bulimia, body perception, depression, and self-esteem.” An interesting thing to note is that I was unable to uncover any Psychological studies looking for positive impacts of beauty pageants. Familial pressures of Beauty Pageants The influence of parents, specifically mothers, on child beauty pageant contestants has long been a source of controversy. Mothers generally manage their child contestants, and are seen as the influence for them joining the pageants. What effects do pageants have on child participants? (later in life) As they age, child contestants show: ~Greater adult body dissatisfaction ~Interpersonal trust issues ~Surprisingly, there seems to be no correlation between childhood pageant contestants and eating disorders or depression. Pros Parents have claimed pageants: ~are "well-organized, fair and fun" ~teach kids "how to be their very best ~builds friendships and is fun for contestants ~promotes camaraderie among contestants ~have fun for contestants backstage, including pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and various other treats. Larger pageants usually have several activites for the kids. Others even have costumed characters for the younger contestants. Cons ~Mothers can be living through their daughters, entering them into pageants solely for their own desires and interests. ~Parental ambitions and pressures can make their children mentally unwell, and expose them to levels of stress they shouldn't be subjected to. ~"Australia attorney-general Martin Pakula said: 'There really is no place in Victoria for these pageants.' As the father of a five-year-old girl, he found the pageants 'creepy' and believes 'they are not some innocent baby bonnet parade, they are something a bit more insidious.'" ~Some believe subjecting children to the rigors of "beautification" is a form of child abuse. Things like waxing, dieting and botox are not meant for children and should not be forced upon them. Yes, you read that right. Botox - for children. ~One major