Questions for Us

Where does it begin?

In my Year 7 class yesterday, we were discussing the different ways in which we communicate. In relation to their writing, I was explaining that if their brain gets used to typing ur instead of your, they’ll occasionally slip and write it the wrong way when they’re at school. A female student explained that when you’re chatting you need to do it quickly so that the other person doesn’t think you’ve left the conversation. At this point, a boy in the class calls out, “Or maybe they just think you’re fat.”

I was momentarily speechless (and for those who know me, that’s an uncommon occurrence).

There were a few things that didn’t sit right with me. The obvious one was that he managed to slip that irrelevant comment in, without thought for the girl he was talking to, but the most surprising part was that nobody in the class flinched or seemed to be overly concerned.

How did our kids become so desensitised at such a young age?

I made it very clear to this boy and the rest of the class, that that sort of comment is completely unacceptable.

So, how early are girls being initiated into the world classroom, where the lesson taught is, “Your worth is in your looks”?

I know that this is not the experience of every girl – but there’s a TV show (of course) that they can watch, where the subliminal messaging begins.

Three words: Toddlers. And. Tiaras.

The fact that the word ‘Toddler’ is in the title, just disturbs my core.

Now, I have only ever seen part of an episode, which I used for one of my Drama classes, and all I have to say is,

I – don’t – get – it.

Granted, I don’t know how it all works – for example, does every girl get a trophy? (there seem to be a lot). If that’s the case, then that would make it a pointless competition
….and there it is – the word COMPETITION.

Looks are fleeting. One day one may be deemed beautiful, the next one is not.
Then what?

What does a little 5 yr old feel when she’s told she’s not the prettiest?
Enter her again? And again?

What lesson is she gaining? That people will only truly love her when she’s dressed up and spray tanned to within an inch of her life? Dancing provocatively to adults?

I don’t get it.

Isn’t this a win for paedophiles? Seriously, they can access images like the following off Google. Why are parents (especially mothers) encouraging and exposing their babies in this way?

This most famous toddler star (who I saw doing pelvic thrusts on Sunrise when she was in Australia) is also being Photoshopped. Photoshopped! I found some other images of different girls, where the eyes have been made MUCH bigger, and together with the airbrushed skin, it made them look weird.
Why does the image on the left (below) need to be Photoshopped in the first place?

I have so many questions because there is no logic to this madness. I can’t even fathom the damage this would do to a person of ANY age – being told in a beauty pageant that they’re not beautiful – let alone with these young developing minds.

FUNNY PART
Let’s watch some satire.

The following link is very funny.
It’s Tom Hanks giving a satirical look at the ridiculousness of all this.

Now that you’ve had a laugh – riddle me this:

Question #12: What do mothers hope their daughters gain, from being subjected to this kind of ‘competition’?