09/23/2013
France Approves Ban on Children's Beauty Contests
The French Senate has approved a ban that would prevent girls under the age of 16 from competing in beauty pageants. Violators would get quite the punishment -- any adult who tries to enter a child into a pageant could face up to two years in prison and a fine of more than $40,000. Senators who voted in favor of the ban say it will protect children from being prematurely sexualized.
■Class discussion: It is estimated that child beauty pageants have grown into a $5 billion-a-year U.S. industry. Are children and their parents being exploited? How or how not? What are being cited as the dangers or benefits of young girls participating in beauty pageants? Is banning the pageants the best way to deal with the issues? Given the money involved, would a pageant ban have a chance in the United States?