Miss America's mission statement: "To empower women across the nation. Celebrate their accomplishments. Encourage involvement in community service. Use the crown for a purpose to make a difference. To promote, honor and advance the status of women."Â
It's that time of the year again. The night when you and your girlfriends cuddle around the TV laughing, critiquing, and discussing the women that are chosen to represent our great nation. This year I chose to take a step back and listen to what other girls had to say about the contestants and the pageant. The results were shocking.
Since women gained the right to vote in 1919, their responsibility and impact has grown exponentially in politics, education, and the public sphere. The Miss America Pageant was established two short years after the passage of the nineteenth amendment. America was in the midst of the Great Depression and women became more important than ever as a source of support for families across the nation. This pageant was a way to celebrate and honor the work women were doing to improve the situation in America. Today, the Miss America pageant aims celebrate, support, and promote the role women continue to play.Â
When the purpose of an organization is so pure, how can members of society speak so poorly of the people working intently to promote positive messages for our community? I sat back and observed people watching the program. It's ironic that a majority of the negative comments made about the contestants came from females.Â
The women competing in the Miss America pageant aim to present women in a positive light, but their work does not accomplish anything when other women trash talk them. What message does this send to the men in our communities? Â
I heard comment after comment:Â
"She isn't even pretty."Â
"That's embarrassing to watch."Â
"What does she think she's doing...?"Â
"Is she seriously wearing that..?"Â
"That classifies as a talent?"Â
Honestly, I can't say there was even one positive comment for every ten negative comments. This is the sad reality that we face.Â
Our generation no longer holds respect and honor to the standard of our grandparents' generations. No wonder it has become acceptable for society to hold ridiculous standards for women's bodies, fashion, and overall appearance. Â
I didn't hear a single comment commemorating the courage and confidence the contestants had to have to even make it to this final round. Instead, I was shocked to hear girls excited to "sound like a dumbass" during the question and answer portion and "hopefully choke up" during the talent portion. When did it become okay for women to bring other women down instead of build them up?Â
My wish for our generation is to try and change our mindset about judgement when it comes to other individuals. I challenge you to try and think the purest thoughts about others and speak only positive comments when commenting on others. Let's bring the mission statement to life.Â