Toddlers and Tiaras

The popular TLC (The Learning Channel) TV series "Toddlers and Tiaras" has earned incredible fame for its supposed "sexualization" and "exploitation" of little girls. On the show mothers and their daughters are featured as they prepare to enter their daughters in a toddler beauty pageant; the show follows them as they prepare for the big day, as they compete in various events at the pageant, and all the way through the end of the crowning ceremony. In an article (below) published by the San Francisco Chronicle, you can see a list of the arguably "Most Controversial Moments" from the show: a darling three year old named Paisley, dressed up as a hooker from the Julia Roberts movie "Pretty Woman";  

a 4 year old girl named Maddy, as Dolly Parton, complete with implants to fill out her costume;

and finally a little girl screaming as a beautician attempts to wax her eyebrows, at her mother's request.

 

http://www.sfgate.com/news/slideshow/Toddlers-amp-Tiaras-Most-controversial-moments-48302.php#photo-3394196

Another article from the examiner.com tells the story of the latest controversy, a tiny little girl smoking a fake cigarette on stage:


http://www.examiner.com/article/toddlers-tiaras-4-year-old-smokes-prop-cigarette-for-pageant-video

A contestant form a previous episode, 2 year old Mia, dresses up on-stage as Madonna, complete with gold bustier and cone bra:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZtttVUJf3M

Finally, an article on foxnews.com and another on The Huffington Post's website chronicle the latest Toddlers and Tiaras scandal: the headlines read "Maddy Verst's Padded Bra on 'Toddlers and Tiaras' Might Cause Her Mother to Lose Custody." 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/20/maddy-verst-dolly-parton-custody-toddlers-tiaras_n_1812317.html

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/08/17/toddlers-tiaras-mom-could-lose-custody-daughter-because-puts-her-in-pageants/

I personally think that the whole issue is a little bit ridiculous. The fact that the media has become so taken with the issue says a lot about the gender differences that still exist in our society today. We have come so, so far in terms of gender equality, but the fact remains that even today women are held to standards that are black and white different from those required of men. Women are still taught that they should be feminine, dainty, polite, that they should be proper and motherly and avoid scandal of any kind. Sure there are a significant number of women who've entered the workforce but there are also still a significant number that stay at home to take care of their house and clean. As far as we've come, you still don't see men as the primary caretaker in homes across the United States. 

In terms of this particular case, the media neglects the fact that boys are regularly featured on the show as well. There aren't any complaints when toddler aged boys parade around in swimsuits, or are "forced" to dress up in tuxedos and perform on stage. Sure, the preparations for boys are much less significant than for the girls, but isn't the message the same? When you slick back a 4 year old boys hair, put mascara on him, stick him in a spangly tux, aren't you telling him that this is what is considered attractive? That still, even though he's a boy, he isn't good enough on his own? I can understand why the media and a lot of the American public are upset at the ideas promoted on this show. A lot of people seem to think that some moms have simply taken it too far- a dress is ok, a cone bra isn't- while others think that these moms are living vicariously through their daughters. And my response to that would be- OF COURSE THEY ARE!! And how many fathers on the football field, screaming at their little boy to run faster, be stronger, catch the ball aren't doing the exact same thing?

I think that although it is clear that some mothers have taken their children's beauty pageant careers too far, they aren't doing anything damaging or dangerous. Perhaps their outfits are inapparopriate, but for the most part the children don't realize that! The fact of the matter is that there, in my opinion, isn't anything truly wrong going on. We as a society need to learn to laugh off matters like these and take them for what they are- a silly costume on a little kid, entering a pageant. It isn't a statement about female sexuality, it isn't a lesson in gender roles, its a sparkly costume on a brightly lit stage, and nothing more!