Sexy Babies

Sexy Babies
Imagine three year old children spattered with spray tans, primped with fake eyelashes and provocative dresses, gowns and swimsuits to match. TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras is a show full of drama, unrealism and controversy. The show follows families on their quest for sparkly crowns, big titles, and lots of cash. These pint size participants are fueled by both their overzealous parents dreams and a set of judges who want perfection to say the least. When I was this age, I was building sand castles on the beach, and even though I played with barbies which relates to pageants in a way, it wasn't nearly as extreme, and playing barbies certainly was not stressful to any extent.   This show really opened up my mind to what these kids go through on an everyday basis. Yes, I like playing dress up, but practicing a routine every day, and going on a strict fruit only diet for a whole week was not something I would have wanted myself to go through. And even though medals and money are earned for the children's hard work, and showing off their trophies and ribbons for "most beautiful" or "most flirty" may be exciting, this constant pressure to be perfect will take a toll later in life. From disorders to not knowing what is reality (not knowing that everything isn't given to them and isn't perfect in life) who knows how these kids will end up.
Besides, three year olds being taught that they are sexy, with skimpy bikinis on is beyond disgusting any day. A quote from Solnit explains that "It is the unaugmented body that is rare now" (Solnit 442-443).   When we live in a society drowned by misleading media, where beauty is shallow, noticeable, and materialistic, how can anyone be sure what beauty is? We don't. So we make it up, and go with it. While these kids think they are living the dream, like everyone is saying they are, they are living a nightmare.   Everything is 'fake" and McDonaldized to create a fantasy for kids that perfection is reality, and anything less than...