Editor:
Re: Belles of the ball, Sept. 15.
I was extremely saddened to see the front page of the newspaper displaying little girls being paraded around as adult models.
The parents of these children probably feel they are just showing off their beautiful daughters, but I feel it is an abuse of their power as parents.
Seven-year-olds are beautiful because of their natural gifts of personality and innocence, not because they have their hair up, jewelry and makeup on, and yes, even false nails. I feel that these little ones are learning to not have confidence in themselves. Instead, I think they will look at themselves as objects which need to be decorated in order to shine.
I would ask that the parents of these girls take time to enjoy them as children and allow them to grow up on their own terms in time, so that they can be enjoyed and also so that the girls can enjoy the freedom of life as children.
I think many of the articles on the inside pages would have better deserved this position.
Catherine Guarasci, White Rock
Objectification of children
I am writing to express my concern with your front-page pictures of babies and toddlers in a beauty pageant.
I do not think this is newsworthy material. For your paper to print this – and on the front page no less – clearly shows your paper is an accessory to the continual sexualization and objectification of young children in our society.
I realize this was not the intent, but the message you send by way of coverage is that your paper supports these events that only do harm to our young children.
As a society, we still read, buy and watch various forms of media depicting the sexualization and objectification of young children, therefore we continue to see the negative and, at times, criminal effect this has.
I understand, as a parent too, that the parents of these young children only want to create inspiring experiences, but I would ask each of them to question whether a beauty pageant is in the best interests of their precious babies. I challenge these parents to ask of themselves who really is benefiting from this type of experience.
Eye makeup, lipstick and styled hair, along with the outfits, do not promote “confidence, leadership and excellence in young ladies.” These children are not young ladies either, who may be able to think for themselves, but mere babies.
We, as a sedentary, lazy society, are peddling out the junk food to children that are suffering in ever-increasing numbers with obesity on the one hand, and with the other hand we are imprinting on them the message that their value to society is in how they look rather than how fast they can sprint or whether they aced their math quiz.
We are crippling our children with an impossible burden that is resulting in emotional, spiritual and physical illness as young adults.
What kind of crushing blow to the self-esteem of young people are we delivering as a society?
Thank you for allowing me to speak on this issue. I do so on behalf of every young person that is in pain as a result of the adults in their life failing to protect them.
I write this in defense of my own children who will grow up one day and live in this world we are creating.
Barb Forrest, White Rock