From bicycles to hot air balloons, France is no stranger to good ideas.
On Wednesday, France had another great idea.
The French Senate voted to ban beauty pageant events for girls under the age of 16, according to the BBC.
The measure was added to a bill that plans to address paternity leave, child support and several other issues aimed at gender equality.
While most of us have probably never been to a child pageant show, many have seen or heard of shows like “Toddlers & Tiaras” and “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”
CBS reported that “Honey Boo Boo” averaged 2.4 million viewers last year.
After France’s decision, it seems one country’s entertainment is now another’s crime.
Under the Senate bill, France can dole out up to two years in prison and a $40,000 fine to anyone helping or encouraging underage pageants, according to BBC.
A prison sentence seems too much for conducting a beauty pageant.
These competitions, however, can be very damaging to young girls.
Letting little girls dress up as though they are in their 20s is not the childhood we should be giving our youth.
French lawmakers seem to think so. Through this Senate bill, some French lawmakers are making their thoughts on beauty pageants known: that these events overly sexualize young participants and teach an overemphasis on beauty.
Chantal Jouanno, author of “Against Hyper-Sexualisation: A New Fight for Equality,” said, “Let us not make our girls believe from a very young age that their worth is only judged by their appearance.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Young girls are at the will of their parents, and it is impossible to tell if they truly enjoy the pageant process or are just trying to please their parents.
The parent’s attitude toward beauty pageants is key but too many are living vicariously through their children or just using them as a tool to win competitions.
Padded bras, high heels, revealing clothing and spray tans do not qualify as “playing dress up” anymore.
It is taking advantage of vulnerable children, and if parents see nothing wrong with it, maybe a legal ban is what we need.
Not all aspects of these pageants are negative. Some may argue it’s similar to enrolling your child in a soccer league or dance class.
Team sports like soccer build cooperation, and dance classes teach discipline and skill. Pageants teach you that if you are not beautiful, you are a failure.
France has done something right with its proposed ban.
The U.S. should take note of it.
Pageants can be emotionally damaging for girls at such young ages, and these little girls should be allowed to be little girls.
Nicholas Conlon is a junior finance major and a contributing writer at the Daily 49er.
