Are beauty contests sexist?

Isn’t that question a bit redundant?

Look at all the beauty contests that are put on for “The Little Misses” or “The Junior Misses.”

Then there is “Miss America.” Sometimes even “Mrs. America.”

Note that the words “Little Misters” or the word “Mr.” is never applied to such exhibitions.

Nobody thinks about dragging a little boy on stage, dressing him in some tiny formal tux and having him “strut and show his stuff.”

I’ve never seen a beauty contest put on especially for men, other than drag queen competitions or body building contests. Even those, though, have to do with feminine traits in the first one and there are also women body builders who compete, sometimes in the same contests as the males.

In addition, the women who enter beauty contests are supposed to exhibit our usual idea, the common assumption, of beauty.

Usually, the contestants are slim. I’ve never seen any lady weighing over 200 in a typical beauty contest, although larger females can be just as beautiful. I’ve never seen anyone wearing glasses in a beauty contest. I’ve never seen anyone who has a pretty good figure except for a ridiculously large butt in a beauty contest. I’ve never seen anyone wearing a tee-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes in a beauty contest.

Let’s face facts. There are certain “feminine” standards that are expected to be met in such an exhibition. If, as a woman, you don’t meet those “standards” then most people would not consider you fit to compete in such an event.

Then, of course, there is the age factor. How many beauty contests have you ever seen held for those females age 70 or above? Yet, seniors can be just as beautiful as youth many times, in different ways perhaps at times but just as beautiful.

Then, in these contests, beauty is truly only “skin deep.” Anything beyond that just doesn’t count. It’s all about looks, female looks. You may be the most beautiful woman in the world on the inside, but if you’re not that great looking on the outside you won’t fit in.

And never mind being handicapped in any physical form. Unless it is a beauty contest just for handicapped people, chances are good that a disabled person isn’t going to be seen as a viable choice to participate in your average beauty contest.

So? Are beauty contests sexist?

Yes, just by their very nature they are.

That doesn’t mean those who enjoy them shouldn’t enter them. Every woman has the right to choose her own life and what she does with her life. And some beauty contests offer helpful prizes, like scholarships.

Still, until I see men walking down the cat walk, swaying thin hips from side to side while they’re dressed in a crown, gown, and high heels, in a regular beauty contest I mean, I can’t see how a normal event like this simply couldn’t be sexist. It is what it is.