Page 42 - Manila Up-Vol3#6

ARE BEAUTY

PAGEANTS

RELEVANT TODAY?

By Angelina Kali

urrent social convention amongst
feminists dictates that beauty
Cpageants are irrelevant in the modern
world of gender equality. Tey claim that
beauty pageants objectify women for their
physical appearance rather than their
mental prowess. Tere are several problems
with this viewpoint. Te most obvious is
that not everyone can be brain surgeons
or rocket scientists. Rather than seeing
the opportunities which beauty pageants
can provide, especially for girls from an
impoverished background, feminists view
them from their lofy idealistic pedestals. But
they are not in uproar against bodybuilding
competitions which are dominated by men.
Winning a beauty pageant on its own won’t change
someone’s life, but it provides a practical platform from which
further one’s career. Te title clearly indicates that the girl has
popular appeal which is ofen noted by modelling agencies
and talent scouts. Rather than objectifying women, beauty
pageants celebrate femininity. Tere is not much diference
between participating in a beauty pageant and when a
woman dresses up, puts on make-up and goes out in
public. If women didn’t care about public opinion on
how they look, why bother putting on make-up and
dress up in the frst place?
What is perplexing is that the feminists focus
a lot of their ire towards beauty pageants when
there are far more taxing issues relating to women’s
rights. Tere is absolutely nothing wrong if someone
wants to participate in a contest willingly as it
harms no one apart from perhaps the sensibilities
of the feminists. Te irony of it all is that what they
inadvertently object to is the freedom of choice and
the empowerment of women, two things which they
claim that they are fghting for.

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