The Evolution of Miss America - Bye Bye to the Bikini
So my last post was all about judging aesthetics as an indication of value when it comes to women - and surely the absolute peak of this has to be the 'Miss America' competition. Where most nationalities have a version of this controversial battle of beauties, America's is perhaps the most famous - and the most discussed.
Lots of people have lots of different views. The women choose to be a part of the competition - is it therefore empowering? What tends to have the competition labelled as misogynistic is the 'swimsuit' category.
But (notice 'but' not 'butt'), this week, the Miss America organisers have announced that their contestants will no longer be walking the run way in swimwear, nor will they be judged primarily on their physical appearance - the pageant has been described as trying to 'redefine its role in an era of female empowerment and gender equality'.
And whilst that has to be commended, it feels like there is more of a ways to go. The fact that this voyeuristic feature of a major competition is just being scrapped - it feel like too little, too late. But then again - at least it's something. It is a step in the right direction.
But I just can't shake the feeling that the pageant continues to be, well, a little patronising. Even the name - 'Miss America' - makes the contestants sound small, and unimportant. When in fact they are baring many elements of themselves, their bodies and their personalities, for judgement.
I don't know - perhaps I'm being an old stick in the mud, perhaps this really is a purely positive step.
All I can say now is - we'll see.
Lots of people have lots of different views. The women choose to be a part of the competition - is it therefore empowering? What tends to have the competition labelled as misogynistic is the 'swimsuit' category.
But (notice 'but' not 'butt'), this week, the Miss America organisers have announced that their contestants will no longer be walking the run way in swimwear, nor will they be judged primarily on their physical appearance - the pageant has been described as trying to 'redefine its role in an era of female empowerment and gender equality'.
And whilst that has to be commended, it feels like there is more of a ways to go. The fact that this voyeuristic feature of a major competition is just being scrapped - it feel like too little, too late. But then again - at least it's something. It is a step in the right direction.
But I just can't shake the feeling that the pageant continues to be, well, a little patronising. Even the name - 'Miss America' - makes the contestants sound small, and unimportant. When in fact they are baring many elements of themselves, their bodies and their personalities, for judgement.
I don't know - perhaps I'm being an old stick in the mud, perhaps this really is a purely positive step.
All I can say now is - we'll see.
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