2008 Woodie Awards
Beauty pageants harmful, mens' standards different
The Editorial Board
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Opinions
If men and women are truly equal, then let's host a Mr. MT Pageant. Let's dress the men up in stilettos and swimsuits, ask them generic questions about their future hopes and scrutinize their appearance.
The women of the recent Ms. MT Pageant have worked hard and undeniably deserve the recognition they're getting. They aren't just pretty faces, they're promoting important issues such as racism and art education.
Then again, it's hard to image the crown going to a woman who didn't fit into the tiny box of acceptable female beauty.
Pageant critics have long decried the tradition as the antithesis to gender equality. And, just the same, pageant defenders have long disregarded these nay-sayers as "bra-burning feminists," eager to erase any sign of femineity they come across.
It is undeniable, however, that the requirements of pageant winners promote an unrealistic image of what it means to be an "ideal" female.
"Male" beauty pageants are a hot commodity in high schools, of parading male-hopefuls in big, blonde wigs, over-the-top makeup and Pamela Anderson boobs.
However, it's a joke. They aren't taken seriously - and even if MTSU was to host a legitimate Mr. MT Pageant, what would the winner look like? He'd be attractive, probably. Charming, definitely. He would be eloquent, intelligent and goal-minded.
And if he was forced to prance around in a bathing suit for a "fitness" competition, the audience would be laughing, and he would be laughing with them. If a heavy-set contestant bared it all, he'd be the hit of the night - deemed "hilarious" and "free-spirited."
If a heavy-set woman somehow got the courage to squeeze into a scrap of spandex, however, the audience would explode into whispers and scrutinizing glances. When women cross the pageant stage with their hard-earned bodies, it's not funny.
It's competition.
The women of the recent Ms. MT Pageant have worked hard and undeniably deserve the recognition they're getting. They aren't just pretty faces, they're promoting important issues such as racism and art education.
Then again, it's hard to image the crown going to a woman who didn't fit into the tiny box of acceptable female beauty.
Pageant critics have long decried the tradition as the antithesis to gender equality. And, just the same, pageant defenders have long disregarded these nay-sayers as "bra-burning feminists," eager to erase any sign of femineity they come across.
It is undeniable, however, that the requirements of pageant winners promote an unrealistic image of what it means to be an "ideal" female.
"Male" beauty pageants are a hot commodity in high schools, of parading male-hopefuls in big, blonde wigs, over-the-top makeup and Pamela Anderson boobs.
However, it's a joke. They aren't taken seriously - and even if MTSU was to host a legitimate Mr. MT Pageant, what would the winner look like? He'd be attractive, probably. Charming, definitely. He would be eloquent, intelligent and goal-minded.
And if he was forced to prance around in a bathing suit for a "fitness" competition, the audience would be laughing, and he would be laughing with them. If a heavy-set contestant bared it all, he'd be the hit of the night - deemed "hilarious" and "free-spirited."
If a heavy-set woman somehow got the courage to squeeze into a scrap of spandex, however, the audience would explode into whispers and scrutinizing glances. When women cross the pageant stage with their hard-earned bodies, it's not funny.
It's competition.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 8
Jerry Frankster
posted 2/08/07 @ 3:46 PM CST
Women need to learn to be more analy aggressive with men.
Anonymous
posted 2/08/07 @ 5:59 PM CST
Dear Editorial Board,
Ever heard of the Mr. MTSU pageant sponsored by Chi Omega? You guys are such idiots.
Dennis Kramer
posted 2/09/07 @ 4:41 AM CST
And your point is?
Ali
posted 9/26/07 @ 10:52 AM CST
I completely agree with everything said here. Male contests and pagents are not taken seriously, and there is not even a close number of them compared to the number of women pagents and contests. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 9/27/07 @ 10:24 AM CST
Point is - do your homework before saying something as dumb as "let's host a Mr. MT Pageant" when there ALREADY IS ONE.
Hey - we should start a college and call it MTSU and i could have a mascot we'll call Lightning. (Continued…)
TORI
posted 11/17/08 @ 4:38 PM CST
well i believe that all this is a load of crap. how the heck are they promoting important issues by walking around in a bathing suit and a gown saying anawers that they probably dont even believe it. (Continued…)
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