(On the Hidden Ugliness of Beauty Pageants)
Tagasubaybay ka ba ng mga paligsahang pangkagandahan na gaya ng Miss Universe?
Ako, hinde.
I see them as a glamorized extension of female objectification.
Women are being judged…for what? Beauty? Isn’t this subjective?
Aren’t all the contestants beautiful already? Why the need to pit them against each other, as if proving a point which country has the most beautiful woman/men in the whole universe?
In the recent decades, committees even added “brains” segment, in which the contestants will answer “intelligent” questions veering towards world politics and issues–which to me is only an attempt to legitimize this ridiculous, subliminal battle of egos and insecurities. And even more cunningly, they dress this shallow parade with besequined gowns of advocacy.
Pageants–like showbiz–has become seemingly intentional distractions–an anaesthesia for the masses, to numb them from the real economic problems ailing the country.
And then after the crown has landed on the head of the “most beautiful” one, there will explode like confetti the braggadocio of the proud winners and vitriol of the sore losers.
Sa Madaling Salita
Imbes na maisulong ang kagandahang pangkalooban o iyong tinatawag na pag-uugali, lalo lang ibinabandera ng mga kumpetisyong gaya ng Miss Universe na ang kagandahan ay kanilang ibinabatay sa itsura ng mukha, haba ng buhok, balingkinitan ng katawan, kinis ng balat, at ningning ng mga kasuotan.
Ayun tuloy, napakaraming tao e nagiging mapanghusga ng kaanyuhan ng kanilang kapwa, imbes na ang bigyang-pansin ay pag-iisip at kslooban.
“Pageants focus on external beauty and winning. Young girls who compete in beauty pageants may experience low self-esteem and depression as adults. They can even harm their self-confidence and can make them develop distorted body images.”
