Comments on: Would you like your young daughter to be the next Dream Girl USA? http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/07/04/would-you-like-your-young-daughter-to-be-the-next-dream-girl-usa/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:08:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/07/04/would-you-like-your-young-daughter-to-be-the-next-dream-girl-usa/#comment-30230 Erich Vieth Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:56:59 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=2823#comment-30230 Melissa: I'm happy to post your comment--I'll even post the website to "Dream Girls USA." http://www.dreamgirlsusapageant.com/home We will simply have to agree to disagree, I'm afraid. I think that women and girls have better things to do than this: http://www.dreamgirlsusapageant.com/2008_national_pageant There is good reason to think that by sexualizing young girls, that you are warping their priorities away from accomplishing important things later in life. You talk about skills, but I think that the 2 minutes you give each girl for "skills" is unimpressive. I'd love to see your judges' scorecards, to see how much of it relates to physical appearance. I'll bet that appearance is the overall focus of your pageant. It certainly seems to be, based on your website. In my opinion, appearance (at least, the appearance based on wearing princess dresses and tiaras) shouldn't be important at all. Looking at my original post, I shouldn't have called some of the mothers "frumpy." That was a low blow. What I was trying to suggest is that the mothers were pressuring their daughters to live the MOTHER's dreams. It seems so obvious and counter-productive to me. Melissa: I’m happy to post your comment–I’ll even post the website to “Dream Girls USA.” http://www.dreamgirlsusapageant.com/home

We will simply have to agree to disagree, I’m afraid.

I think that women and girls have better things to do than this: http://www.dreamgirlsusapageant.com/2008_national_pageant

There is good reason to think that by sexualizing young girls, that you are warping their priorities away from accomplishing important things later in life. You talk about skills, but I think that the 2 minutes you give each girl for “skills” is unimpressive. I’d love to see your judges’ scorecards, to see how much of it relates to physical appearance. I’ll bet that appearance is the overall focus of your pageant. It certainly seems to be, based on your website. In my opinion, appearance (at least, the appearance based on wearing princess dresses and tiaras) shouldn’t be important at all.

Looking at my original post, I shouldn’t have called some of the mothers “frumpy.” That was a low blow. What I was trying to suggest is that the mothers were pressuring their daughters to live the MOTHER’s dreams. It seems so obvious and counter-productive to me.

]]> By: Melissa Richley http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/07/04/would-you-like-your-young-daughter-to-be-the-next-dream-girl-usa/#comment-30227 Melissa Richley Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:44:39 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=2823#comment-30227 Erich, You just proved that any so called "journalist" can write just about anything they want....but it doesn't make it true though. Dream Girls USA Pageants has a 13 year solid reputation and our website speaks for itself. REAL GIRLS WITH REAL GOALS.... These girls and families enjoy a positive forum to participate and they've clocked in literally thousands of hours of community service hours as we promote community involvement. I'm also a big supporter of performing arts and we showcase strong talent at our events. Our fun free workshops help the girls work on public speaking an interview skills...skills for lifetime success. The slideshows on Dream Girls USA Pageants website tells a story and shows real girls having fun and on the go! It isn't all about winning a pageant Erich. We promote a well rounded girl. To any journalist who loves to sensationalize pageantry, "all pageants are not created equal". I've been called by dozens of TV shows and I always say no because the MEDIA loves to always put a negative slant on any pageant, just like you show in your "review" which was brought to my attention from one of our families who love to be a part of our "program". You ought to hear what they thought of YOU.... Erich, You just proved that any so called “journalist” can write just about anything they want….but it doesn’t make it true though. Dream Girls USA Pageants has a 13 year solid reputation and our website speaks for itself. REAL GIRLS WITH REAL GOALS…. These girls and families enjoy a positive forum to participate and they’ve clocked in literally thousands of hours of community service hours as we promote community involvement. I’m also a big supporter of performing arts and we showcase strong talent at our events. Our fun free workshops help the girls work on public speaking an interview skills…skills for lifetime success. The slideshows on Dream Girls USA Pageants website tells a story and shows real girls having fun and on the go! It isn’t all about winning a pageant Erich. We promote a well rounded girl. To any journalist who loves to sensationalize pageantry, “all pageants are not created equal”. I’ve been called by dozens of TV shows and I always say no because the MEDIA loves to always put a negative slant on any pageant, just like you show in your “review” which was brought to my attention from one of our families who love to be a part of our “program”. You ought to hear what they thought of YOU….

]]>