Bodybuilding competitions and beauty pageants have an interesting vibe to them. Women are expected to be in beauty contest while men are in bodybuilding contests. Here come the interesting facts about the two. Just for argument sake let's say bodybuilding is just for men and beauty contests are just for women (which we know isn't true in this age).
Bodybuilders are under enormous pressure to get big and stay big. They are living everyday just to maintain their size. There is even a link to high blood pressure in these situations. They are expected to maintain a body that young boys want to have. a lot of them can't sleep at night because they can't get comfortable. But under all this pressure steroids are not allowed to be used in competition.
After a long history beauty pageants are finally getting rid of the swimsuit competition for a sportswear competition. Women are under a lot of the same pressures the bodybuilders are under. Maintain the perfect weight and body for young girls to look up to. But what most young girls know is that thesis women almost starve themselves to maintain it.So beauty pageants aren't just about looks there is the Q and A sessions and the talent phase but what was interesting to me was that plastic surgery is allowed.
Wait, so bodybuilders can't change their bodies with the use of a drug but beauty contestants can change it with a surgery. In my opinion they are both the same thing. The enhancement of the natural body you were born with. If the typical men's sport can't enhance their body women shouldn't be able to do that same thing.
While the plastic surgery rule is non existent, women who have the money to get the surgery have an advantage. Exactly what steroids do to the bodybuilders.So why is it that one gender can use it and one can? Even worse in a 2007 study, women who participated in beauty pageants are more unhappy with their bodies compared to those who had never participated. There are age groups for both types of contests but in the beauty world women are always under the pressure of trying to look younger.
Both of these contests place immense amounts if pressure on the contestants. Not only that as I said before but they put pressure on the children watching. Young girls will look and feel they have to look like Miss America in order to be pretty. Young boys who are skinny will feel they have to bulk up in order for girls to like them. But once again, I say why can one little girl use plastic surgery to get the crown where as a little boy can't use steroids?
