As if the pageant world wasn’t controversial enough, let’s throw young boys into the mixture. While some feel that boys entering beauty pageants supports “gender equality”, others however, feel that boys entering beauty pageants “promotes femininity” (1). Is our North American society ready to accept little boys who want to strut their stuff on stage? For decades, women have been fighting to even the playing field between themselves and the male gender. Prohibiting boys from competing in beauty pageants would turn this sense of equality into a major hypocrisy. It is not unusual to see little girls playing on the soccer field or shooting hoops on the basketball court. With this being said, why shouldn’t young boys have the opportunity to dazzle audiences and succeed in beauty pageants? Many argue that boys eventually out grow the pageant world, making it less likely to become a “lifelong obsession.” (1).
A greater audience however, feel that beauty pageants have no room for boys. Some critics go as far as calling it “disturbing”, saying that “boys should not cross gender lines in this way” (2). In an extremely controversial episode of TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras,” a pageant mom is shown with her two sons, referring to them as the daughters she never had. If little girls looking like baby prostitutes wasn’t bad enough already, young boys with gelled hair, bronzed skin, after shave, manicured nails, and gyrating dance moves is considered a serious “NO-NO”! (2).
While we feel that boys entering beauty pageants only contributes to the number of children with a skewed image of self-esteem, they should be given an equal opportunity to compete in the pageant world. As young women in today’s modern society, we are fortunate for those who have fought so hard earn us equal rights with men. In our opinion, the negative aspects that stem from superficial beauty are no different between little boys and girls. “LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS!”
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