Children Beaty Pageants ( Elaborate your answer ) (114)

Also in these later videos - the psychologist talks about some children end up with eating disorders because of competitive body image ideas - and yet in America the obesity rates are incredibly high - so which is it? Are these children developing eating disorders or are they learning about health of their body and choosing foods that are better for them and reducing the portions and exercising?

I read a study that says the number of men with eating disorders are on the rise now, where at one time it was predominately something females from teen to early adulthood experienced.

Gotta get to work, so I'll read it later, ok Merri.

Is it me, or are you suggesting in your last question that American don't have child safe policies or don't care to keep their children safe? is it the word, we have child protections laws is that what you are asking?

Sorry, will read later. sorry, gotta work to ensure our agencies house the homeless -

You're preaching to the choir about that one!

Not to get too of topic of thread, but the United States is a strange and complex democracy of different balance of power coming into play - the states have a lot of power and there is a tug and pull game between federal and national interests and policies and state's individual powers and then the play between legislative, executive and judicial branches of governance.

So peeps have said america is like a melting pot or salad bowl, I think it is more a schizophrenia or multiple personality individual.

I so agree, it is a great place to visit. I met a lady from germany on this site, and she is coming back for a visit this October. I'll try and place cupid and help her meet prospective American men, while she is here. Now I just have to find some friends to visit in Scotland and I will be happy as a clam!

And I still think that Beauty pageants are ok - not for me, but they don't necessarily ruin children forever. Although the glitz pageants seem way over the top.

As far as creating a negative body image two little tidbits of information to add to the debate.

1. I understood and read a few research studies that found gymnastic for young girls created a lot of eating disorders and unhealthy body views, because the clubs require the girls to compete and maintain these thin and flexible bodies for the competitions.

2. I watched a public television show on jockeys. A lot of them were bulimic, because they must be under a certain weight to ride - so before the weigh-ins they would purge their stomaches, and this would continue for many years, and their teeth suffered for it, and of course their internal organs for this eating disorder. Mind you most of these riders are male.

Bad...wrong...disgusting... I don't believe children below middle school should be taught nor concerned about being competitive like that. But then again if I wouldn't have been just a little competitive I wouldn't have held the second chair in my musical class playing the violin in 3rd grade which I enjoyed very much. WAY WAY WAY WAY to much emphasis on being #1 one...above others at such a young age. It good to teach children to be their best.....but. to the best. Once a child is able to think of what they are best at and know their own desires and visions....then that is when they can CHOOSE hoe competitive they want to be....

I said no, not going to elaborate though. Peace