"Prostitots": The effects of gender stereotyping and sexualization in "Toddlers and Tiaras" and the media

Left, ¹

 

"The turn of the new millennium has spawned an intriguing phenomenon: the sexy little girl." ²

 

Left, ³

 

  

     Today in North America, it is normal to see children dressed in highly suggestive or what was previously thought of as "adult-themed" clothes. Girls, like their older counterparts, can buy push-up bras, thong underwear, and even the "peekaboo stripper pole", thanks to Tesco.
Perhaps the trend of seeing children as mini-adults is why shows like TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras and WE TV's Little Miss Perfect are featured on cable TV, rather than only child pornography sites. Toddlers and Tiaras teaches viewers a very limited view of what it means to be female. Pageant culture, with its emphasis on physical beauty, teaches these girls that being beautiful is the most important aspect of being a girl. As well, the girls featured in these shows often are sexualized through their costumes and routines.
While some argue that participating in these pageants may help these girls achieve higher self esteem, confidence, and manners, the reality is that more harm than good comes to these

girls and those who watch such shows.

^{4 Above}

Left, ⁵

 

"Sex stereotyping performs a central function in child beauty pageants. Between the pink lipstick, sequined gowns, "prissy" model struts, and the giant sparkling crowns, these pageants embody the Barbie and Disney Princess standard for feminine beauty and charm." ⁶

                                                                                          ^{Below, 7}

     In Toddlers and Tiaras, the children compete in seven categories, usually featuring beauty, personality, talent, and costume. While the categories of personality and talent might be seen as focusing on other aspects of  femininities, they usually  dovetail with  gender-enforcing categories. For example, most girls usually choose to dance in the talent section, something that emphasises their body mobility and beauty, rather than something that emphasises thinking skills. The main focus of the pageants is beauty.  "In addition to the standard hair-and-makeup routine, many parents attempt to give their daughters an edge in the "beauty department" by applying "enhancements" such as fake nails, spray tans, hair dye, permanent eyelashes, teeth-whitening strips, eyebrow wax, and even fake teeth, which are known as "flippers".⁸Some mothers even use Botox on their children to get them looking their "best" for the competition.

^{9, Left}The girls are continually told by mothers, coaches, and others to "strut their stuff", smile, or utilize their bodies in some way to win the contest. In essence, to be beautiful is the most important aspect of the competition, and the competition is the focal point of most of the contestant's life.

                                             

  

^{10 Left}

        This show reinforces negative gender stereotypes of women as objects to be observed, valued for their beauty and ability to charm others with this physicality. Toddlers and Tiaras is positioned as a postfeminist story, telling us about how dressing up their daughters is a choice that they get to make. As Lily James, cofounder o the website Postfeminist Playground said, "We're tired of being told if we wear makeup and have fun we're betraying our gender and pandering to men. We can go to college, get jobs, do anything we want."¹¹One mother even argued that "If this were a sport no one would question it...This is her sport."¹² However, Toddlers and Tiaras is not a sport. Instead, it is an unhealthy competition which highlights beauty that is temporary, rather than skills that have been developed and can be maintained. Even worse, it inspires girls to focus on unhealthy ideals for themselves which are ultimately destructive. "Young women raised in a culture that praises them for acting as vacant, painted dolls are likely to grow up relying on the heteronormative stereotype of the fragile and subservient women, leaving them more vulnerable to sexual assault and violence."13
As well, males who watch this show learn to identify women as sexual objects which are made available for their pleasurable viewing. In the end, pop culture that highlights limited gender roles hurts everyone.

^{14 left}

         Conversely, boys are portrayed very differently in Toddlers and Tiaras. One mother who never had daughters filled the void by putting her sons into pageants. The boys compete in similar categories as the girls do, yet their are inherent differences. These boys, as taught by their mother, blow kisses to the women judges, while saying "You're pretty". They act upon women "sexually", while their girl counterparts are acted on through compliments. As well, they dress in suits and tuxedoes, neither of which shows skin or depicts any sexuality.
Below, ¹⁵

       Boys can have a fluid definition of masculinity in Toddlers and Tiaras.  Brock Ritter, a 7 year-old pageant enthusiast, is able to express a feminine masculinity. In fact, Toddlers and Tiaras opens up a masculine identity he probably would have been kept from without such a program. Therefore, boys can express greater gender diversity and luckily are allowed to keep their boyhood in tact.
                                                                                      Below, ¹⁶

      As well, these pageants focus on limited ideals of beauty. "Beauty" is a highly regulated ideal, with tanned skin, perfect teeth, and adult-like hair being sought by the participants. Like in the adult world, "Perfect girls in the new millennium, apparently, still look like Barbie."¹⁷ While girls of other races often compete and win competitions, such as Ava Gil, they have been white washed and still adhere to the ideal notion of beauty. Just like the other competitors, girls of colour also undergo the heavy duty beauty routine as well.
One clue as to how much effort really goes into these pageants is the class discrepancy in the competitors. As costumes often cost a grand each, with each competition requiring three costume changes, the richer competitors often have a great advantage over those of lower class. The famous Honey-Boo-Boo came from a lower socio-economic family, and was only able to compete due to her mother's extreme couponing.                                                               Below, ¹⁸
As well, size is also a factor in these competitions, narrowing down the concept of beauty even further. "The nomenclature of the pageants themselves indicate an emphasis on thinness, which include age categories like Tiny Miss, Mini Miss and Little Miss," and which use pageant names like Babes of Summer, Tiny Miss USA, and Little Miss Glitz."¹⁹ Nowhere in this show is there celebration of natural beauty or value beyond beauty.

                                                Below, ²⁰

 

"According to the APA Task Force, sexualisation occurs when "sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person" when a person is "made into a thing of others sexual use," when a person is "held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness with being sexy", or when a person's value comes from her sexual appeal or behaviour to the exclusion of other characteristics." ²¹
 

                                                                                                          Below, ²³
      When we treat our children like mini adults, dressing them in provocative clothing, covering them in makeup, or teaching them to hold sexually explicit poses, we are sexualizing them. This sexualization is not just limited to girls who participate in pageants, but is widespread in North America due to the oversaturation of sexually explicit images in the media. "Increasingly, very young girls are becoming involved in a sphere of fashion, images, and activities that encourage them to flirt with a  decidedly grown-up eroticism and sexuality..."²² This early exposure to sexuality has a detrimental effect on young girls, and "... has been widely associated with body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and depression..." As well, dressing children like adults leads to people thinking of

them as such: "... adults may project adult motives as well as an adult level of responsibility and agency on girls."²⁴
However, young girls are simply not adults, no matter how we dress them. They cannot respond to situations that early sexualziation may have forced them into. Even if they ask to wear such clothing, we cannot put adult motivations onto them. M. Durham tells us that young girls cannot "think through the ways in which they are expressing their sexuality, [or be able to] anticipate the responses to it, [or] handle the implications of their decisions."²⁵ Unsavory people may construe such acts as intentional sexuality and use it as a justification for their perversions.
(Above:²⁶ )


(Below: ²⁷)
        Shows that focus on gender stereotypes and limited views of femininity are harmful to society as they contribute to self-esteem problems and gender-related crimes such as physical and sexual abuse. "Intense participation in activities that spotlight physical appearance instills the idea that physical beauty and superficial charm are the keys to success, thus making self-worth and self-esteem inextricably tied to attractiveness."²⁸ However, life is more than just physical beauty, and the road to real success reflects that. Success through beauty limits women to jobs that are often sexist or related to sex work. Therefore, the "... exchange of beauty for power is ultimately destructive to women because it results in dependency on men and lowered self-esteem and sense of self-worth."²⁹  As well, when women and girls are portrayed as objects of  sexual beauty, but not as persons with agency, they become only sexual objects to be had. Michelle Dempsey argues that due to the link between sexual assault and patriarchal values, until gender norms that relegate women to a lower status of value and respect are eradicated, our society will not be able to end sexual and domestic violence.³⁰

                                                                        Above, ³¹
       In conclusion, as Toddlers and Tiaras shows a limited presentation of gender roles and sexualizes young girls, it should be viewed as a harmful show. The children involved do not understand the implications of how they are being taught to dress, act and utilize their bodies. While it may seem cute to view children as "mini-versions" of ourselves, it is inherently harmful. Shows like Toddlers and Tiaras only increase physical and sexual abuse against girls, and can increase such violence against younger girls as well.

We need to have shows like this brought off the air. You can help.
- Stop watching this show.
- Turn off your TV
- Combat negative gender stereotypes by teaching your children a full spectrum of gender behaviours.
- Stop dressing your children like "mini-adults" so that no one can impose adult intentions on them.

       

                                                              (Below,³²)

ENDNOTES:

1.)    “Paisley Dickey dressed as Pretty Woman” photograph, from Above the Law, Mother of ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’ Star Sues for Millions After Daughter Is Sexualized on the Web (2012) http://abovethelaw.com/2012/01/mother-of-toddlers-tiaras-star-sues-for-millions-after-daughter-is-sexualized-on-the-web/

2.)    M. Gigi Durham, The Lolita Effect: The media sexualisation of young girls and what we can do about it (New York: Overlook Press, 2008), 24.

3.)    “Photograph 4” photograph, from Makeup Talk, Toddlers and Tiaras (2009) http://www.makeuptalk.com/t/122447/toddlers-tiaras

4.)    “Photograph 2” photograph, from The Reluctant Mom’s Blog, Pole Dancing and Other Pursuits (2012) http://reluctantmom.wordpress.com/tag/httpcathjenkin-wordpress-com20121017a-reaction-to-toddlers-and-tiaras/

5.)    “Photograph 2” photograph, from College Candy, 25 Best Quotes from Toddlers and Tiaras (2013) http://collegecandy.com/2013/01/07/toddlers-and-tiaras-quotes/#photo=2

6.)    Lucy Wolfe, “Darling Divas or Damaged Daughters? The Dark Side of Child Beauty Pageants and an Administrative Law Solution” Tulane Law Review 87, no.2 (2012): 438.

7.)    “Photograph 1” photograph, from Savvy Spice, Mom injects her 8 year old daughter with Botox!?! (2011) http://www.savvyspice.com/2011/03/mom-injects-her-8-year-old-daughter-with-botox.html

8.)    Wolfe, “Darling Divas or Damaged Daughters?” 432.

9.)    “Photograph 2” photograph, from Duh’merica, Toddlers and Tiaras: an honest review (2012)  http://duhmerica.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/toddlers-tiaras-an-honest-review/

10.)                        Photograph, from Kootation http://kootation.com/toddlers-and-tiaras-funny-4-2.html 

11.)                        Andi Zeisler, Feminism and Pop Culture (Berkeley: Seal Press, 2008), 117.

12.)                        Wolfe, “Darling Divas or Damaged Daughters?” 430.

13.)                        Ibid., 441.

14.)                        “Photograph 1” photograph, from The GaVoice, TLC’s Toddlers and Tiaras pageant prnce brings me back to my childhood (2011)

15.)                        “Photograph 1” photograph, from Break, 14 Terrifying Toddlers and Tiaras scenes (2012) http://www.break.com/pictures/toddlers-and-tiaras-diva-2371314

16.)                        “Photograph 2” photograph, from The Ups and Downs of life, Toddlers and Tiaras or Torturous Mothers? (2012) http://joygracehopefaithlove4.blogspot.ca/

17.)                        Durham, The Lolita Effect, 95

18.)                        “Photograph 3” photograph, from Oh No They Didn’t! “Toddler and Tiaras” Mom forces 4-year-old and 8-year-old to diet (2012) http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/66138844.html

19.)                        Wolfe, “Darling Divas or Damaged Daughters?” 436.

20.)                        “Photograph 5” photograph, from Inevitable Media, Toddlers and Tiaras: a Form of Child Abuse (2012) http://inevitablemedia.wordpress.com/

21.)                        Christine Tamer, “Toddlers, Tiaras, and Pedophilia? The “Boderline Child Pornography” Embraced by the American Public” Texas Review of Entertainment & Sports Law 13 no. 1 (2011): 88.

22.)                        Durham, The Lolita Effect, 21.

23.)                        “Photograph 1” photograph, from Gamespot, Custody Battle after “Toddlers and Tiaras” star wears controversial outfit (2012) http://www.gamespot.com/forums/topic/29265725/custody-battle-after-toddlers-and-tiaras-star-wears-controversial-outfit.

24.)                        Tamer, “Toddlers, Tiaras, and Pedophilia?” 89.

25.)                        Durham, The Lolita Effect, 64.

26.)                        “Photograph 2” photograph, from Pigtail Pals and Ball cap Buddies, An Open Letter to TLC: Cancel Toddlers and Tiaras (2011) http://blog.pigtailpals.com/2011/01/an-open-letter-to-tlc-cancel-toddlers-tiaras/

27.)                        Photograph 1" photograph, from Girl to Mom, Toddlers in Tiaras Controversy (2012) http://girltomom.com/pop-culture/toddlers-and-tiaras-controversy-2    

28.)                         Wolfe, “Darling Divas or Damaged Daughters?”436.

29.)                        Ibid., 438.

30.)                        Ibid., 440.

31.)            "Photograph 1" photograph, from Celeb baby Laundry, The Controversy Continues: Toddlers and Tiaras Shocking Photos (2011) http://celebbabylaundry.com/2011/09/the-controversy-continues-toddlers-tiaras-shocking-photos/              

32.)                        “Photograph 1” photograph, from CNN, “Toddlers and Tiaras” and sexualizing 3-year-olds http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/12/opinion/henson-toddlers-tiaras