Dr. Nancy Irwin on ANDERSON: Beauty Pageants Sexualize Young Children

Did you miss my recent appearance on ANDERSON

Pageant moms seem to be pushing their kids too hard. Is there too much emphasis on physical appearance for little girls who compete in pageants?

Anderson says: "A couple of years ago, if you had told me that moms were spray painting their five year olds and making them wear hair extensions and false teeth, i wouldn't have believed you. But after watching Toddlers and Tiaras, nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to child beauty pageants. The truth is, as you probably know, I would watch just about anything on tv. I have lost many of productive Saturday afternoon just shame base tv watching, Real Housewives marathons- I even watch Ice Loves Coco (and man, does she love him), but Toddler and Tiaras takes it to a whole new level. It is a huge hit for TLC. It's made pageants an even bigger business than they were. I hear there's more than five thousand child pageants every year; there are hundred of thousands of kids who participate in these pageants every year. And the reason why I wanted to do this show today is cause I'm not sure really what I think about these pageants. I mean... part of me thinks, well if the kids enjoy it and are getting something out of it, then who am I to judge, but then a lot of these parents seem to be pushing their kids really hard. I also have questions about how appropriate it is for kids to be dressing up and made up like adults- dancing around on stage sometimes in skimpy outfits. I think as society we sexualize kids- very young kids, and I'm worried that pageants may play apart in that."

To see what happens during the show, including my commentary- which highly offended the parents on the show, and led to one shouting her disagreement, view the video below. It gets a little fiery....

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[xeridoo]

If I had been in that audience, I would have stood up,walked down to the stage and slapped Mickie like there was no tomorrow. This makes me sick!

[DrNancyIrwin]

@xeridoo You are too funny....believe me, it was tempting for me to do exactly what you said! Best of Health, Dr. Nancy

[rocknroller1986]

I feel bad for Eden... her moms is INSANE!!!

[DrNancyIrwin]

@rocknroller1986 Thanks for your comments. I, too, feel very bad for little Eden. Let's hope she grows up healthy and balanced in spite of all this. Best, Dr. Nancy

[Verisetti]

I wish I could watch the whole episode, I missed it anywhere to watch it at?

[DrNancyIrwin]

@Verisetti You can probably go on Anderson's website and find it in the archives. it aired in September of 2011. Thank you, Dr. Nancy

[sharper201curzonst]

Dr Irwin is spot on: it doesn't matter that the girls don't understand the sexual nature of the routines they perform, they're absorbing and normalising this as the *right* way to act.

It was kind of funny watching the pageant mother's histrionics, though.

[DrNancyIrwin]

@sharper201curzonst Thanks so much for your comment. Yes, it really is sad, and recently Eden's mother posted a YouTube video of the child singing "I'm Too Sexy" in a nightclub. Healthy environment for a 6 year old, huh? Best, Dr. Nancy

[CancorseTV1]

confirmation bias... Fixedness.... Belief perseverance phenomenon

SO MUCH PSYCHOLOGY!

[DrNancyIrwin]

@hawaiianbabe16 I know....I did them, too (in my 20's), and fortunately they were great. There are, however, many horrendous ones and mothers who push them and sexualize them. Glad your experience was not one of these. Best, Dr. Nancy

[hawaiianbabe16]

I do pageants!! NOTHING like T&T!!

[DrNancyIrwin]

@krisscouture Thanks so much for your response. I respect your opinion that I am an idiot. You are certainly entitled to that opinion, and I am sure will will find some others who agree with you. Again, thanks for sharing. Best of Health to you, Dr. Nancy

[krisscouture]

No, this is ridiculous. Pageants do not sexualize any child. And those who think they do are sick. JonBenet was not murdered because she did pageants, she was murdered because of a sick human being who wanted to murder a child. People are idiots!