Greta Hamilton
English 1010
Final Paper
Beauty and the Baby
In a time when raising children is a constant moral battle between what is appropriate and at what age, beauty products and services for children are skyrocketing. With the rising popularity of toddler pageant reality shows, “Mommy and Me” beauty salons, princess birthday parties, and a growing community of chemical free consumers, the child beauty industry had grown 60 to 65 % in the last five years, according to the New York Times. There are also activist groups organizing across the globe, that are serving as moral watchdogs for the innocence of children. Somewhere in the middle, resides the largest portion of the population. These are the parents that personally decide what is appropriate in their homes, for their children, based on their own life experiences.
Studies done by a West Virginia University have shown that the sexualization of young girls, “characterized by an emphasis on their developing sexual nature,” is happening at a younger age as children are bombarded with adult influences and perceptions (Everheart 1-8).What this means is that more items that are socially accepted as “adult products”, such as beauty products, are being marketed towards younger children. This has stirred up a worldwide controversy of what society deems appropriate for children. However, while the public outcry for age appropriate marketing is becoming louder, the ratings of popular reality child pageant television shows are also at an all time high. These shows dramatize toddlers and the beauty pageant industry, which relies heavily on adult oriented products. On September 26, the season finale of TLC's “Toddlers and Tiaras” had an estimated 2.8 million viewers (Morgan 2). Are these the same 2.8 million crying out for propriety?
Many mothers have been interviewed the past few years, as to the reasons why they allow their young daughters to use adult beauty products. The most common reason being that they believe its just part of harmless dress up. Dress up, for most young girls, is simply mimicking the grown up women they are exposed to. Most of the mothers interviewed think that they would be hypocrites if they denied their children things that they do themselves. It is perceived as a bonding experience getting their hair and nails done with their daughters. There are also a group of pageant mothers, who see the whole process as a development towards becoming a better adult. These parents may feel that by increasing the child's self esteem, for instance;by using makeup to cover acne, they are helping them to become more successful by being able to focus on more important things, rather than focusing on if people are looking at the acne. Unfortunately, for every child that develops stronger self esteem by winning; there are the rest girls that are liable to develop personality issues as adults by losing. Angela Everhart found in her studies of grown pageant children, “most of the non winners had major self esteem issues as adults by not being judged the prettiest, or most talented.” Ms. Everhart also concluded that many of the winners “suffered over-blown self-Esteem, and exaggerated self entitlement.”(2) This is evidently a case of no real winners even when the best intentions are clearly present.
Then there are the group of parents that are exceptionally accepting of adult products for their children. Most of these children have a regular beauty routine before they are teenagers. Studies have found that they are using a complete regimen of wrinkle creams to a full face of makeup on a daily basis. These children are found to use “more products than the average eighteen year old who has a set beauty regimen” (Critchell 6). There are some parents that are considered extreme by allowing their children to diet and/or dress provocatively. These extreme parents will argue that they feel they are doing what is in the child's best interest. Many times the parent lacks real knowledge of what a child needs to develop properly, both physically and mentally. There have been numerous studies that have found the “negative implications apparent in grown subjects that were raised in these environments” (Everhart 1).
There are also a group of parents who are focused in on the beauty products to keep their child's skin healthy and chemical free. This group is pro-beauty products in the skincare sense and not so much the self esteem, bonding, dress-up sense. Many of these adults buy the chemical free products for their children while using products they consider less safe, on their own skin (Vora 2-3).
Parents are lacking an education on the content of most products. Parents would not be so accepting of some of the routines if they were educated about the processes involved. On a regular basis, parents are being turned away at salons that are not willing to perform chemical services on children. The most popular being the bold streaks of color in their hair. Though, the fun, bold colors themselves are nontoxic, the process to remove the natural pigment is. The pigment must be removed in order to be able to apply the second nontoxic color. Once it is explained how toxic the chemicals are, most parents are eager for a safe alternative. Most salons are more than happy to point them in the direction of a non permanent, non damaging, clip in color strand.
The lists of chemicals labeled on the the most common beauty products, has consumers wondering what the long term effects of the product are. Scientists are only just breaking ground on what chemicals have long term toxic effects, though showing no immediate sign of toxicity. It also must be noted, that on a simply toxic level there are many natural ingredients out there that can cause reactions, damage and death. “Natural may not always be better,” and there are less FDA restrictions on natural products (Vora 4).
Somewhere in the middle, are the parents who view some beauty products acceptable and have established what they feel are age appropriate beauty routines. Johanna Mooney, director of Disney consumer products, seems to vocalize what most middle ground people find appropriate products for the younger ages. Some of the products Disney markets to children are bright pink glosses, lipbalms, nail polishes, body mists and glitter. These products are marketed to children with the belief that they will be viewed as dress up, because they are “bright and fun colored products not normally worn by grown women” (Chritchell 8). The chief editor of Good Housekeeping, Rosemary Ellis, found herself wondering what message she was sending to her daughter with her daily makeup routine. The questions arose when her daughter pointed out “that she liked her mom better without it anyway” (6). These women represent the middle ground of women who want their daughters to grow up confident, while experiencing the joys of being a fun loving child who is not concerned with the latest beauty trends. The middle ground tend to consider manicures and styling parties as a treat, or a bonding experience, not as a routine of steady upkeep. Being of an individual stance in what is appropriate, this group is the most varied. Some families will accept nail polish and chap-stick, where other families may allow mascara and not lipstick. However, universally no one interviewed in this group was agreeable with “red lips on a child” (Chritchell p13).
The least accepting group of adult beauty products are the population of the no way, no hows, children must be allowed to be children, group. Many times the people in these groups are organized, belonging to various child empowerment and/or religious groups. This end of the spectrum sit very hard in their convictions, people who hold these strong convictions are the least likely to hear special cases or even consider what most would consider reasonable circumstances. This group does fight hard to keep the “inappropriate sexualization of children,” a fore-front cause. For instance, Jours Apres Lunes, is a french clothing company that has created a line of lingerie for children, have been prevented from marketing in the US because of these groups (Morgan p2). They have been successful because of their firm stance against the marketing of adult products aimed at children.
There are also a group of psychiatrists, that believe that parents allowing children to use excessive adult beauty products are “lacking something from their own childhood,” and are essentially projecting their own inadequacies onto the children, or they simply do not know what takes place in their home (Everhart 7). These people place more blame on the parent rather than the companies marketing the products. The common belief is that both parents are not involved in the child's life, or that both parents are out in the work force. It is accepted that the parents “lack of knowledge of what their children are doing,” is based on those two scenarios (Everhart 7).
It is reasonable that parents want their children to grow up to be successful adults, and will do what they can to ensure this. Parents want to keep their children safe while simultaneously arming them with tools to succeed in adulthood. Parent's choices as to what products they find appropriate for their child to use, are based on their own personal and moral upbringings. Most parents are accepting of products that they feel are healthy both mentally and physically. The level of consumer education on the products, is also a factor that separates parents on the issue of a products use.
While some products can enhance a child's self esteem, there are others that can physically cause harm. It is always a delicate balance that parents struggle to keep. The industry only has its eye on the profit and most companies do not adhere to a moral code therefore they will continue to push their products. There will always be opposing forces in the organized child protection groups that will also push back, keeping things balanced for the people in the middle to make their educated choices freely. Where do you stand? Or is it more of a lean? The question is not a simple matter of what is acceptable to society, it is a question of what is acceptable to you the parent.
Works Cited
Critchell, Samantha. "Younger girls are flirting with cosmetics." Toronto Star(Canada) n.d.: Newspaper Source. Web 28 Oct 2012.
Ellis, Rosemary. "Pretty Babies." Good Housekeeping 252.8 (2011): 21. Academic Search Premier. Web 28 Oct 2012.
Everhart, Angela. Entertaining a False Reality: A Social Comparison Examination of Beauty Pageant Participation and the Effect on Body Dissatifaction, Depression, and Self-Esteem. West Virginia University, 2011.
Morgan, Mandy. “Toddlers,Tiaras, and Tears: Is Media Emphasis on Beauty Too Much, Too Soon for Young Girls?” Deseret News (Utah) n.d.: November 18, 2012.
Vora,Shivani. "Starting Early, and Young." New York Times - Dispatch:0. March 3, 2012. Web Nov 9 2012.