Wednesday, 27 March 2013

And talking of abuse...

No. This isn't a doll. This is a child,  just fifteen months old. She is taking part in a "beauty" pageant. In this country. Little girls as young as a few weeks take part, and some  are given wigs, full makeup and fake tans. They wear high heels, and "evening dress" in addition to their other outfits.

And we worry about the growing number of cases of  anxiety among teenagers concerning body image, and the increasing number of anorexics. Well, this will certainly help...
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23 comments:

  1. Kay L. Davies28 March 2013 at 02:12

    Oh, I know, there are entire US television channels devoted to little girls in beauty pageants. I think it is criminal.
    I don't know if these things take place here in Canada, but if they're in the US and the UK, I suppose it's possible.
    Sigh.
    K

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  2. Librarian28 March 2013 at 05:24

    It is criminal, yes. If their mothers have never outgrown playing with their Barbie dolls, let them play - but stick to the dolls, ladies, don't do that to your kids.

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  3. libby28 March 2013 at 07:48

    Pageants are a creepy American import that we really could do without.

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  4. Wendy's Writing28 March 2013 at 10:16

    I watched a programme on it recently. It was certainly very creepy as Libby says.

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  5. Lynne Hackles28 March 2013 at 11:29

    I'd say these kids must be paedophile's dreams. Poor mites. What happened to childhood. What are the parents thinking about?

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  6. Dr Henry Tegner28 March 2013 at 13:48

    It sometimes seems that people have children for all the wrong reasons. This example is no less than grotesque.

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  7. DawnTreader28 March 2013 at 17:47

    Well it's certainly not for the children's sake that baby pageants like that take place...

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  8. Colette McCormick28 March 2013 at 17:54

    Beggars belief.

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  9. L28 March 2013 at 18:57

    Shame on the parents (usually mothers). Should have bought a doll as an accessory if that's what they wanted.

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  10. L28 March 2013 at 19:00

    Contrast that with the Lego advert http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150440365398303&set=a.10150097508983303.274727.9171233302&type=1&theater

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  11. Rosemary Gemmell28 March 2013 at 19:38

    What a grotesque, sad and abusive photo. Can't believe parents subject their children to this kind of thing - bet they would be the first to complain about paedophiles.

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  12. Patsy28 March 2013 at 20:11

    That's not nice.

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  13. Frances Garrood29 March 2013 at 10:01

    I'm glad (though not surprised) that everyone seems to agree. Thanks for the comments, and I apologise for not replying to each; Easter, and children (with unadorned faces!) means I've got a lot to do. One of the saddest things is that babies have their own beauty - their peachy skin is what we all envy, isn't it? - and to cover it up and disguise it is a revolting travesty. Heaven knows what awaits these kids in the future, brought up as they are to think that looks are everything. It doesn't allow them just to be themselves, neither does it prepare them for a life of failure and disappointment (because of course, many will "fail" to win these revolting competitions). This is child abuse, and I think it should be made illegal, like all abuse of children.

    I plan to remove this post in a day or so, as I can't stand that photo.

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  14. GB31 March 2013 at 02:13

    Actually, Frances, I think that the post should stay as an example of man's inhumanity to man or, more precisely in this case, woman's inhumanity to children. I have never considered myself naive but I really had no idea that sort of thing went on in the UK.

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    Replies
    1. Frances Garrood2 April 2013 at 20:22

      Neither had I, GB. But everything seems to come over here eventually. I think it should be stamped on. Firmly.

      Delete
  15. Joanna31 March 2013 at 09:21

    I thought we had our children so that we could bring wonderful, unique human beings into the world. And that our responsibility to them was to ensure they were always aware that their uniqueness was the quality that made them important and special.
    To dress them up as miniature adults and force them to compete with other shows a dreadfully sick and warped mentality. And a very strange, disturbing sort of parenthood.

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    Replies
    1. Frances Garrood2 April 2013 at 20:23

      I couldn't agree more, Joanna. A the very least, it's telling children they not okay just as they are

      Delete
  16. Jill2 April 2013 at 20:05

    Frances...please! remove this revolting photo. I can't bear to see it again.

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    Replies
    1. Frances Garrood2 April 2013 at 20:25

      Neither can I! I plan to remove it soon, when comments' replies have been read by their authors.

      Delete
  17. SmitoniusAndSonata2 April 2013 at 20:42

    That's grotesque ! Poor liitle scrap .

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    Replies
    1. javediqbal3 April 2013 at 08:58

      This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    2. GB3 April 2013 at 09:22

      What a wonderful irony Frances. Some itinerant spammer comes along and abuses your hospitality on a post labelled "Talking of abuse". I really do think that this post is worthy of being kept for posterity. By the way whilst Blogger Reader is still alive you will be able to read this even if you delete it. You can run but never hide from Blogger!

      Delete
    3. Frances Garrood3 April 2013 at 10:26

      Said spammer about to be deleted. Thanks for your support, GB!

      Delete

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