French lawmakers ban child beauty contests

[Seedersandleechers]

Source: The Local

Judging children under the age of 16 on their physical appearance in so-called “beauty contests” is now a criminal offence in France, the French Senate ruled on Tuesday night.

The new law forms part of the new “equality bill” presented to the French Senate on Monday by France’s Minister for Women’s Rights, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, which also included legislation to tackle unequal pay, domestic violence and to encourage fathers to take parental leave.

One of the less publicized clauses in the bill however touched on beauty contests, which have a proud tradition in France but are not to everyone's liking, especially these involving young teenage girls, known as "mini miss" competitions.

Centrist Senator Chantal Jouanno, author of a report "Against Hyper-Sexualisation: A New Fight For Equality" proposed an ammendment, banning the underage contests, which was backed by 196 senators, with 146 voting against it.


Read more: http://www.thelocal.fr/20130918/french-senate-bans-child-beauty-contests

[BlueJazz]

1. "Judging children under the age of 16 on their physical appearance"

THAT's the key. It's one thing to enjoy someone's appearance and all but to make an entire industry out of
something that the child had nothing to do with is rather cruel to the ones who were not so "Gene-Lucky"

It also says that appearance is as important (if not more important) than personality, determination, kindness and a myriad of other wonderful human traits.

[cosmicone]

2. This is common sense

I always wondered about the mental health of people who exhibit and/or watch shows like "toddlers and tiaras."

[warrant46]

5. There are a few Pedophiles in the crowd I'm sure.

[DLevine]

3. Good. We should do the same. nt

[LiberalLoner]

4. +1

[telclaven]

13. Hear hear!

I applaud France for this.

[WCLinolVir]

6. Good for them.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. That's pretty radical.

Damn French!

Can you imagine it being tried in this country? I can picture desperate "Save Toddlers and Tiaras!" Facebook petitions now...

[KansDem]

8. Vive la France!

10 Expensive and Exploitative Beauty Pageant Strategies

[azurnoir]

9. quite sensible of them

wish we'd do the same

[LibertyLover]

10. I think it's a good idea personally

Although her kids are grown now, one of my friends from high school entered her 2 daughters in pagents from the time they were, well, toddlers. She and her husband didn't have a great deal of money, he was a farmer and she was a teacher's aide, but she thought nothing of plunking down hundreds of dollars on a formal dress so that one or the other could compete. I thought the dresses were ugly, all ruffles and cheap lace, but that's what the pagents wanted the girls in. Her older girl, who was 5 or so at the time, had a bunch of rhinestone crowns and trophies from various pagents for things like "Best Smiler" or [shudder] "Most Cuddly". My friend was just getting her younger daughter, 18 months old at the time, involved. About the only thing good I can say is that both girls did win some money for college during their pagent years. 10 years ago, my husband and I were very fortunate to adopt a little girl from China. She was 16 months old and cute as the proverbial button. I sent a photo of her out with our holiday cards that year and my friend got in touch with me after the holidays. She sent a schedule for pagents for toddlers in our area and urged me to enter my daughter. I thanked her politely, said I didn't have the time [true], the money [also true] or the interest. She has continued to urge me to enter my daughter in pagents down the years. Now I can tell her with perfect honesty that my daughter has no interest in doing so and prefers to concentrate on her music.

[Ash_F]

11. This stuff can't be healthy for the kids. /nt

[Jackpine Radical]

12. It's not healthy for adults either.

Sexualizing kids at that age is disgusting. Whatever happened to childhood?

[OneCrazyDiamond]

14. Children are cute.

Children are not beautiful.
Child beauty contests are creepy.

[Aristus]

17. Depends on the use of the term 'beautiful'.

I think my grandkids are beautiful. Just not......that way.

It's the way we want them to be; natural, normal, self-confident, growing, learning.

Not tarted up with makeup and froo-froo clothing, doing idiotic and often repellent song-and-dance numbers for the entertainment of ethically and morally challenged adults.

And this stuff has been going on for a long time now. If you get a chance, read an essay by Harlan Ellison titled "Our Little Miss", written in the early 70's.

Welcome to DU!

[christx30]

19. They should definately

not be wearing tons of makeup.
My wife watches that show. It's just plain gross.

[sinkingfeeling]

15. Tres Bien!!

[jsr]

16. Excellent.

[RedCloud]

20. We should solve social problems, not create more of them.

[applegrove]

21. Good. Let kids be kids and not teach them how to be shallow.

[Ron Obvious]

22. Good

I'm not opposed to a bonny baby contest or anything but I'll always think of JonBennet Ramsey when I see beauty contests for toddlers with peroxided and permed hair and makeup. It's just wrong.