The Pros and Cons of Beauty Pageants Analysis

Hey Guys! I haven't updated this blog in...ages. So I decided to share with you an analysis I wrote not too long ago. Sadly, my teacher didn't give much feedback except a few ticks. ARGH. Enjoy. 

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The Pros and Cons of Beauty Pageants

Recently, child beauty pageants have become the centre for debate. Although child beauty pageants began in the 1960’s, the murder of JonBenet Ramsey (1996) caused the public eye to turn its focus to child beauty pageants. From then on, the issue has increasingly gained acute criticism regarding the wellbeing of contestants despite parents’ claims that participating boosts children’s confidence and self-esteem.  In the article Materialistic, Narcissistic, Unrealistic: Child Beauty Pageants a Disgrace published in the Avonlea Scrutineer on 2^nd February 2011 columnist J.Rodd confronts the issues circulating child beauty pageants. Rodd extensively describes the formula for the perfect beauty pageant contestant and the strings that come attached with the package. A broad range of persuasive techniques are covered ranging from expert testimony to appeals to responsibility. Rodd’s exasperated tone is evident throughout the text, which support the cause-and-effect relationships that she pin-points in her arguments.

In an effort to unsheathe the inconvenient truth about child beauty pageants, Rodd repeatedly uses emotive language along with expert testimony to support her arguments. The ‘toxic atmosphere’ that these contestants participate in encapsulates the ‘brutal truth’ that ‘not every child can be a winner’, which effectively positions readers to feel sympathetic towards the victimised children. Furthermore, the ‘self-confining cycle of performance anxiety’ that traps those who win and the ‘lasting damage’ that those who lose suffer from sheds light on the fact that contestants are playing a game they will never win. Expert testimony is used to support Rodd’s assertions that child beauty pageants have negative effects on contestants whether that is physically or mentally. The consequences of ‘being a little Barbie doll’ can ‘unleash…destructive self-experiences’ leading to ‘eating disorders and all kinds of body distortions’ as stated by William Pinsof, a clinical psychologist. This testimony persuades the reader to believe Rodd’s assertions as not only is Pinsof a psychologist but also the president of the Family Institute at Northwestern University, indicating that he is a high profile man whose statement regarding child beauty pageants is within his field of expertise, thus leaving readers to feel that child beauty pageants can only produce negative outcomes.

Two illustrations have been inserted into the article to evoke an emotional response from the reader. Each of the illustrations are colourless, however in the case of the stick figure, the lack of colour suggests that the child feels invisible as they are the only ones who appreciate their own ‘specialness’, thus positioning the audience to understand the loneliness those children undergo. The effect of having the illustration of the stick figure, allows the reader to further connect the drawing to that of a child due to its similarity to that of a child’s drawing. Although the second illustration depicts a stereotypical princess, her extravagance is lost as she too, is colourless like the first illustration of the stick figure, however her reason for being colourless is quite the opposite to that of the stick figure. It can be concluded that the lack of colour in the case of the princess is to represent the fact that despite her appearance, she is still very much the same as the insecure stick figure. Rodd’s reason for inserting two colourless illustrations is to compare and contrast the fantasy of child beauty pageants which is represented by the illustration of the princess to the reality which is represented by the stick figure, provoking the reader to establish the lonely link between the two and to evoke a sense of discernment in the reader.

Appealing to our sense of responsibility, Rodd accentuates the fact that condoning participation in the ‘distorted’ and ‘pretentious’ world of beauty pageants is fundamentally robbing children of the ‘innocence of childhood’. This appeal encourages the audience to feel guilty as though we are as low as thieves for permitting these children to participate in what seems like a ‘cynical exercise in marketing’. Similarly, rhetorical questions are used to ask the obvious questions that the reader knows the answer to but won’t ask themselves. Questions such as ‘Can a responsible parent really see this as positive?’ and ‘What kind of parent wants their child to…?’ places emphasis on the parents’ responsibility for making sure their children grow into normal people and how weaving beauty pageants into their lifestyle is not a ‘path to self-development’ but more a ‘gratification of adult appetites or egos’. Through the use of rhetorical questions, Rodd, places parents in the spotlight, outlining the responsibilities they are required to take up and the selfishness the parents of those child beauty pageant contestants display. The writer negates all claims in the defence of child beauty pageants, therefore leaving no room for the audience to view child beauty pageants in a positive light.

Overall, Rodd’s appeal to responsibility and expert testimony pose as the strongest persuasive techniques as one plays around with the reader’s emotion but is supported by substantial evidence. Similarly, the use of emotive words rouses sentiment in the target audience, who in this case are the members of public whom enjoy viewing child beauty pageants and the parents of the contestants. Through the appeal to responsibility, parents are positioned to feel guilt and somewhat ashamed for permitting their children to participate in such vain events whilst those who watch the events are positioned to feel equally at fault as they fuel the industry.