I know there are different kinds of pageants, and in fact, just read an article about pageants (although not specifically about children's pageants), but I find it offensive to have young girls compete against one another over beauty. There are the pageants that are more often publicized, where little girls wear makeup and fake eyelashes and wigs, in which many of the pageant mothers say it isn't wrong, it just "enhances" their beauty, and there's the more acceptable ones (but still wrong, IMO) where the girls wear minimal, if any, makeup, and wear their own hair.

I've seen a number of talk shows and other shows that have shown families spending thousands of dollars on these dresses for little girls, sometimes putting themselves in debt. And so many mothers say, "Oh, my daughter wanted to be in the pageants," and "She loves it!" when the child is too young to make those decisions. I don't care if your daughter wants to dress up and be in a pageant. You're the adult, and you're supposed to think about your child's future. Starting her down this road is not good.

And the prizes!!! Children winning cars and such! They won't be able to drive for years!!!! What the heck???