This month's Snarl is by Ann Allen:

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CHILD PAGEANTS

No doubt you've all heard about the case of the 6 year old child in Colorado - JonBenet Ramsey - that was found murdered and sexually assaulted in her home. This child was a beauty pageant winner - she was also a Kindergartener. Those two pictures just don't fit in my mind!

Apart from this being a horrific crime it has also raised a media hype over the appropriateness of children's beauty pageants. Lately I have seen more little girls parading in makeup, seductive clothing, big hair and sexy expressions on the t.v. than I could imagine. It disgusts me beyond belief. The objectification of these girls is disgusting. The pageant officials that I have seen interviewed have given such shallow arguments for why this is *good* for girls. "They are having fun" "The girls choose to do this" "The winner of our pageant is a representative normal American child" - This makes me so angry that I could scream. These officials and the parents of these children should be ashamed of themselves.

First of all I truly think there is an important distinction between these girls "having fun" and pleasing their parents. Also, I don't think that a 3, 4, 5 or 6 year old (and older) can really make an informed decision to *do this*. They have parental influence. Most of these parents are living vicariously through their children. Finally this is NOT (I repeat NOT!) an example of a normal American child! This is a child that is being made to look like an adult and act like an adult! It sickens me.

Ann Allen runs Feminist Mothers at Home and has previously written on that subject for the July, 1996 issue of Grrowl!