Beauty Pageants Hidden History

"Many predicted that pageants would disappear by the 21st century. Yet they are thriving. America’s most enduring contest, Miss America, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2020. Why do they persist? In Here She Is, Hilary Levey Friedman reveals the surprising ways pageants have been an empowering feminist tradition. She traces the role of pageants in many of the feminist movement’s signature achievements, including bringing women into the public sphere, helping them become leaders in business and politics, providing increased educational opportunities, and giving them a voice in the age of #MeToo.

Using her unique perspective as a NOW state president, daughter to Miss America 1970, sometimes pageant judge, and scholar, Friedman explores how pageants became so deeply embedded in American life from their origins as a P.T. Barnum spectacle at the birth of the suffrage movement, through Miss Universe’s bathing beauties to the talent- and achievement-based competitions of today. She looks at how pageantry has morphed into culture everywhere from The Bachelor and RuPaul’s Drag Race to cheer and specialized contests like those for children, Indigenous women, and contestants with disabilities. Friedman also acknowledges the damaging and unrealistic expectations pageants place on women in society and discusses the controversies, including Miss America’s ableist and racist history, Trump’s ownership of the Miss Universe Organization, and the death of child pageant-winner JonBenét Ramsey."

#TheDamageReport #JohnIadarola #TheYoungTurks

[mariaopinion]

Beauty pageants exist a lot longer. In former times women had to be single to be able to participate. Nowadays, women have to answer political questions as well. It is sexist and judgemental but also a start for a career. It should not be prohibited for adults, but it should not be permitted for very young girls. Pageants always attract all kinds of abuse.

[Chris-opyt]

women judging women on skin deep issues. just what's needed for emancipation

[lumpy]

Thanks The Damage Report.😊 Thanks Hilary Levey Friedman.😁

[knottyqueen]

This makes me feel way better about my pageantry years

[hannamakela]

My native Finland took up beauty pageants to "prove" that Finns were not "Asiatic" but as "European" as the next racist country. When we had our first black contestant in the 1990s, there was a huge ruckus. So this piece was a good reminder that something emancipatory may actually come out of this trope.

[darnellwilliams]

Strong women don't have to constantly tell people they are strong women.

[protitikhan]

She looks like Shaundra Levy, the senator's aid that went missing in the early 2000s.

[barbaramccoy]

His sexual fantasy world come true with choice of prey

[janeteggleston]

Why do you think Baywatch was 1 of the Most watched shows in history Because it had girls that were in bathing suits And guys could watch it with the sound off Jiggle physics anyone

[janicehurst]

Does being in a beauty pageant make you blink uncontrollably 😄😀😄😀😄😀😄😀

[lauriegriffith]

Margeret gorman was the first miss american on the new jersey board Walk she was my children's great great aunt sooo check your history

[supercool]

The feminists g o t the right to vote but not the right to the drafts very sneaky

[oscarjones]

Wow 3 supreme Court nominations in 1 presidency.!!!! God has spoken!