The danger of beauty contest on Arab society

Introduction

Beauty contests are very popular in most regions of the world. However, the biggest and the most exciting, the  Miss World beauty contest has always be running on annual basis since the year 1951, and although not as popular as it was in UK nowadays as it was in 1960s, it still attracts an enormous audience worldwide with an approximate of more than 3 billion viewers worldwide (Lovegrove, 2002). Moreover, the beauty contests are categorized in various sectors mainly according to sex and sexuality and age (Kittelson, 1998). However, this research paper focuses mainly on the beauty contest of adult women which are overwhelmingly the high profile version and most popular so far. Also this research paper argument comes out best as debate on value on whether it is a good thing as well as dangers which are associated with holding beauty contest in the Arab world (Enright, Frances and Saavedra, 1996).

Arguments and counterarguments on dangers of beauty contests in Arab society

However, mostly only women can participate in beauty contests, where by they are absolutely required to partake in female behaviors’ which are stereotypical. These beauty contests also forces women to act in a “proper” or “lady-like” manner even if it is for a time’s few days (Shin, 2004).  Thus they are sexist, and also the nature of these beauty contests is purposely to concentrate on the feminine qualities of women. Also the beauty contests enhance promotion of an ideal of females, beauty which is realistically aspired by the women minority, but which increases pressure for conformity of all women to it (Cohen, Wilk and Stoeltje, 1996).

This to some extent can have some harmful effects to women because they encourage eating disorders, dieting and cosmetic surgery as well as somehow making them fell ugly and inadequate. However, a great number of people enjoy the beauty contest as well as watching them and a commendable number of women enjoy entering them. Although they never does either of the above through force but willingly. Also the beauty of healthy, fit as well as human form which is well-proportioned is something which everyone can take pleasure on beauty contests as well as others forms of art (Kittelson, 1998).

Moreover, most of the women who participate in the beauty contests are likely to be judged purely on their physical appearances instead of other qualities which they may possess (Sherrow, 2001). Thus judging a woman primarily on their looks and physical appearance contributes to women subjugation because other qualities which includes intelligent are not considered as an inherent part of ideal femininity and thus not a thing that women should always aspire. The interview portions in the beauty contest are supposed to give eloquent and intelligent women an edge. But also it has to be considered what the meaning of this portion would be for the women participating to gain points preferably in this category. However, this interview portion is  not televised, hence making it very difficult to exactly know how its judgment is done, but there is always the imagination that, in order for the women to gain points in this category they must act “lady-like’’(Lovegrove, 2002). Thus, they are not supposed to debate about big topics with the judges and also their opinions are supposed to be moderate. This is typical because in the Arab world women are supposed to act moderately in the society, that is, being agreeable and not having strong opinions. Thus, beauty pageants purposely reinforce stereotypes of female gender hence for a woman to increase her competitiveness in any beauty contest competition she must act “lady-like’’ as well as adhering to these stereotypes (Enright, Frances and Saavedra, 1996).

However, nothing wrong in judging people mostly on their physical appearance prowess, this is because this is also done in many other competitive sports where strength and fitness could be the key determinants of success. Thus, every kind of competition values some qualities more compared to others (Lovegrove, 2002). For instance, we recognize the human worth prime determination is not the ability to lift heavy weights, but there are prizes for successful weightlifter; similarly, we are also supposed to reward beautiful women for their beauty without the exception of implying that all that matters about anyone is beauty (Kittelson, 1998).

The beauty contests are also to some extent sexist. This is because both genders are not given opportunities which are equal to partake in these competitions; hence this does not allow men to be competing right next to their female counterparts in beauty pageants. Many people may argue that men don’t like such sort of things, and only women enjoy doing them, but that is not true. This is because only a small portion of women enjoys participating in beauty contests whereas some men would like to participate in the beauty pageant competition but if they say so they can be mocked mercilessly (Enright, Frances and Saavedra, 1996).

Moreover, the females’ beauty image which is promoted by the beauty contest is specific and western culturally. This is because it doesn’t matter how many women from the Arab world participate and thus in order to win they must take part in these swimsuit competitions, which to some extent the dress can not be considered appropriate in their culture (Sherrow, 2001).  This is because the women are supposed to put on pretty dresses, prance around in shoes which are high heeled and the talent showcasing section usually advocates for tap dancing or singing as well as the baton twirling.  Some of the actions and dresses are not actually culturally accepted in the Arabian world. For instance, there were protests against Miss World by Hindu nationalists and feminist in the 1996 when Bangalore was the host (Shin, 2004). There were also numerous riots in Kaduna located in the northern Nigeria in 2002 over Miss World which killed more than 200 people leading to the movement of the contest to London. The main cause of these protests was primarily due to the dangers these beauty contests pose to the Arabian world.

However, just like the other sports beauty contests can the regarded as an important focus on regional and national pride (Sherrow, 2001). Thus, despite the decline in popularity of Miss World competitions in the UK, they still hold very important and inherent cultural place in most parts of the world. For example, the recent victories of Miss Nigeria, Miss Turkey and Miss India in the Miss World competitions has made many Nigerians, Turks and Indians proud and in other words seen as symbolizing the progress of these countries in competing with advanced and more powerful countries in some way (Cohen, Wilk and Stoeltje, 1996).

Moreover, for a long period of time beauty contests have continuously failed to challenge political attitudes which are harmful to women (Sherrow, 2001). Despite lip- service paying to feminist keywords which includes self-confidence and empowerment, they have not managed to do anything which is commendable in aiding women liberation; indeed, by the aspect of reinforcing looks as a feminine quality which is most important, they in turn harm general liberation of the women preferably in the Arab world. Also the fact that Miss World 2002 organizers had no issue in holding the beauty contest in Nigeria, the same time when there was a high-profile case whereby a woman was to be stoned after committing adultery also express the hypocrisy of the competitions, this is because relocation was only done when the riots in Nigeria made it unsafe to hold it there (Cohen, Wilk and Stoeltje, 1996).

However, in society where women are valued basically on their looks, and also where opportunity for women are really fewer than those for men, the beauty contests gives the women in such communities a chance to become noticed as well as improving their situations. This is because winning these beauty contests can lead to success (Shin, 2004). For instance, many Hollywood actresses are former beauty queens. Also high ranked beauty contests winner can publicize causes and charities they strongly feel about because they have a platform they wouldn’t have gained (Lovegrove, 2002).

Conclusion

The beauty contests have existed for a long period of time in which they have recorded some achievements and at the same time contributing to harmful effect to many women and also actually to some societies especially the Arabia. However, the ban of the beauty contest would not be the best option because of the opposition it is likely to face in the lines of the warped priorities and enforceability (Enright, Frances and Saavedra, 1996). But they are needs for them to be transformed to encompass other aspects of women such as talent, education, intelligence, social consciousness and resourcefulness instead of primarily relying on the physical appearances only (Kittelson, 1998).

Reference                      

Cohen, C.B.,   Wilk, R. and Stoeltje, B. (1996). Beauty queens on the global stage gender, Contests and power. New York: Routledge.

Lovegrove, K. (2002). Pageant: the beauty contest. London: teNeves

Shin, H. (2004). Beauty with a purpose: A spiritual odyssey. Manila: universe, Inc.

Sherrow, V. (2001). For appearance sake: the historical encyclopedia of good looks, beauty, and grooming. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.

Enright, M., Frances, A., and Saavedra, E. S. (1996). Venezuela: the challenge of competitiveness. New York: St.Martin’s press.

Kittelson, M. L. (1998). The soul of popular culture; looking at contemporary heroes, myths, and monsters. Peru, Illinois: Open Court Publishing Company.                             

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