The bbc 3 show "Baby Beauty Queens" shown tonight was quite shocking. Parent's instilling into children that looks are everything and one parent even made her 8 year old daughter have cosmetic surgery (ear-reshaping).

These girls, sometimes as young as 6, wear lip gloss, rouge, eye shadow etc. This is just sexualising children. Children should not be seen as sexual objects they should be allowed to be themselves. I bet many paedos have ear-marked this show in the radio times and set their sky+ players. This type of contest for children is wrong wrong wrong.

Not a pleasant idea.

You have to wonder why the BBC is actually transmitting stuff like this as well.

Kids should not be involved in such things. Talent shows are bad enough but "beauty" events are really sending the wrong message and events like this will create loads of problems with self image and damage the already fragile kids in our society at this age.

If people want to have adult beauty shows then fine - it is their choice but for such small children it is tantamount to abuse. How can they consent to such things at that age >?

The only positive story to come out of the show, was when a 7 year old working-class girl from Staines, who was quite shy, gained much self-confidence by performing a dance on stage. She wasn't anywhere near as made-up as the other children and her mother disapproved of many of the other girls been caked in make-up. Overcoming the hurdle of performing on stage at that age will put her in good stead for the future.

I cannot disagree - but there are worse things going on. At least, these young people are gaining confidence/experience whilst closely monitored by their parents.

My local school banned parents from filming their kids in the Nativity Play and Sports Day - in case other children were included. Where should the line be drawn?

Surely - in this sensitive time/subject - the BBC and the relevant goverment agencies have considered all aspects and have concluded that the practice is not harmful. Some children will enjoy the experience, others will not; the most important thing is that the latter do not take part.

Robbie - in an hour, you certainly have altered your stance on this; your most recent posts reflects the pragmatic view.

Your first - 'shocking...paedos...sexualising' - the extreme view. My friend Yule has hit the nail on the head.

moveover JonBennet Ramsey!

I really don't like this sexualising of little girls.

Friends of mine vaguely knew that nutter in Thailand that got arrested for her murder. They reckon he'd been looking for a way to get himself repatriated to the States for years !

Bring back Miss World on our screens.

I didn't see the show, but it sounds like something that's been going on for years in the USA.

Is it really sexualising young girls? I've never got that impression. It's certainly making them more like little dolls than real people. Any sexual interpretation of the events is probably only in the mind of the beholder, as is the case of the lunatic in Scotland who reported a four year old for sexual assault on another kid in the play group. This bizarre obsession with protecting children from imaginary sexual expoitation is in itself sexualising our children.

Robbie - you started the paedo factor etc.

Any thoughts 24 hours later?

Here's something to chew over while I'm away for a few days.
Children are children. They are not there to be miniature adults or to be judged by adult standards, expectations or preconceptions of what constitutes "beauty". The adults who view these beauty pageants may well do so with the misapprehesion that they are doing so for the benefit of the self confidence of the contestants. I'd like to suggest very politely that that is bollocks. You think it's good for the self confidence of the majority of the "contestants"? It may be a good way to reinforce adult stereotypes on at least one, but for the rest of the failures {ie all the ones who don't come first and are therefore in some way "deficient"}. These children {and let us not for one minute forget that they are children? also happen to be humans, not Barbie dolls to be dressed up for someone else's amusement {or - dare I suggest? - titillation}. How must it feel to a ten year old to learn the hard lesson that "best" means "most beautiful" {and I'd ask by what criteria are these girls judged if not by adult ones, with all the sexual baggage that entails} and that what truly counts is the purely superficial?
This is a cruel thing indeed. We teach our children the value of equality. But only insofar as it doesn't tamper with their own right in later life to persue life, liberty and personal happiness. We teach our children to respect each other. But only as long as that doesn't interfere with their rights to claw their way to the top of the corporate tree. And we teach our children that true beauty comes from within. But don't forget the makeup and the skin tight lame. To be honest, I can't make up my mind whether or not "competitions" such as this are merely desperately unhealthy or actually, genuinely sick. So I invite you all to help me make up my mind. Surely no one can find the imposition of corrupted adult "values" on the innocence of youth to be in any way desirable? Perhaps I'm wrong. And teaching children that, after all, the most important thing in their lives is only ever going to be looking a million dollars. One million, perhaps, of the many other millions made yearly by the promoters of this strange and, I'd venture, evil business. You should not forget that that is what lies behind this hideous trade in childrens' self image. Be smart. Be sexy. It doesn't matter that your only 10. Your Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you. And the prize money. Rant over. I expect brickbats.

The reason I want these things banned is because 90% of the little girls taking part dont want to take part. It was quite obvious that it was the Mothers who were "living" there dream through their children and that is why it is so sick making.

By all means let them compete at sport or even school things - but to then compete them on "looks" is just ridiculous.

I am sure that it would attract paedophiles if it became part of life. Kids should be kids and not judged on their "beauty" but kids should be respected and loved for WHO they are.

Adult beauty things are fine - because it is their choice. This is the difference.

Child beauty contests are nothing new, and no contest is genuinely harmful to anyone. That said, I do think these particular baby beauty contests are a bit extreme. I'll assume they are strictly governed, but I would never subject any of my children to cosmetic surgery without a valid medical reason. I agree that it must be the child's choice, and I'm sure there are those who love taking part. I do note that even when children lose competitions, they often have a great time taking part and they come back to try again - not just when made to by pushy parents. I guess all parents are pushy and overbearing at times. You should watch Hubby at our sons football matches but we need to get things into perspective, and this is difficult to do when all we know is from a short TV documentary.

EB - on the fence as usual.....

As usual, huh? Actually, I like to think I give considered opinions and try to view things from every angle rather than just having one narrow, misinformed perception.

At least I contribute rather than just use a variety of different names to post criticism of other visitors - like some have been known to.

Well said Emma - spot on, as usual.

Point taken Emma. But, from your first post, could anyone fathom whether you are 'for or against' these contests?

I think not.

Why should we all have to be either for or against. I've had no involvement in such contests and so cannot judge them. A shortish documentary, edited to put across the view the editor wants us to see, wouldn't give sufficient insight.

So....we all just waffle?

I still believe that the show would attract attention from paedos. However that is not necessarily a harmful thing.
If a paedophile watches your child on tv and gets aroused, does it harm the child, no it doesn't as they wouldn't even be aware.
My main objection with these competitions is the way that parents instill into their children that looks are everything and putting enormous pressure on their children to win these competitions, event to the point of having cosmetic surgery.

Also I believe that children should be children and not grow up too fast. The wearing of make-up is an adult activity, traditionally used to attract a mate. There is no need for children to do this.