Think about it, what’s the real difference between standing on a runway half dressed while strangers evaluate your body – deciding if you’re “good enough” and standing on an auction block while slave traders do the same thing. Both situations put us into bondage. Both situations communicate that we’re a piece of property.
We need to remember that these subjects are not neutral. In what way does this reveal how society values women? What does this communicate to our daughters?
We need to remember that these subjects are not neutral. In what way does this reveal how society values women? What does this communicate to our daughters?
20 earnest comments:
Good analogy! You are exactly right!
So true!
First, welcome back from your travels! As for your post about Miss CA, I agree completely. I've followed her story on the news ever since the Miss USA pagent and her unpopular answer about marriage. She seems to be a dichotomy of sorts...??? To answer your question, there is no difference and it's a very poor example for our daughters.
Dear Stacy,
There doesn't seem to be a shortage of issues to come against in Jesus Name.
At 53, I continue to see the importance of living a godly life and combat the misguided demonic lies of the enemy.
Stacy, this is off the subject of Miss California. I know of some euro costmetics companies that use aborted babies in their products. I recently was made aware of aborted babies being used to make vaccines. I was STUNNED. After doing more research and reading off of the cdc.com site, I sat there in disbelief that this aweful thing is happening and so many people don't have a clue that this is happening. I'm pretty sure that my own children ages 34, 31, 29 all had Vaccines made with aborted babies. I'm mortified. My stomach is churning.
I will go back thru your archives and see if you have any post about this.
God Bless you in your ministry of being a godly woman and blogger.
~D~
I couldn't agree with you more, Stacy. Even as a child, I wondered what being half naked had to do with being Miss America (or Miss CA in this case). Growing up in southern CA, "undressing" was common and I still struggle with the bondage of being accepted physically, but I rejoice that even as a child, the Lord has been merciful to help balance my very unbalanced (sinful) view. Thanks so much for your posts and site. I am always blessed by your site and your family's testimony. May the Lord continue to bless your ministry.
I have always felt bad for the girls encouraged into beauty pageants by their mothers:-(
As far as messages to our youth go, I've been concerned about your average fast-food advertisements lately. People lust for flesh and fools use this as a marketing ploy. Just look at the poor meat-packing people of Hardy's commercials. Their kind of advertising is the most shameless tribute to exaggerated male stupidity that I've ever seen: they show things from incompetent men who can't butter bread to loose-looking women either porking down burgers with their dresses open and legs spread or dancing on desks to the delight of onlooking boys. And this rampant stupidity, from female incompetence to male incompetence is supposed to be something our young men respond and relate to? (There's no doubt these are aimed solely at boys). And what of children viewers? Some would definitely put these ads in the category of a "happy meal" but does it sound like a children's meal..?
I couldn't agree more!
Yes, I couldn't see the forest for the trees with this one. What I mean is that I couldn't hear anything she was saying about her view on marriage (which was good) because all I could see was her naked body.
When we live like the world and then try to talk about spiritual/moral things, we are like Lot before his sons-in-law: we seem as ones who mock. In otherwords, we are a joke. In that situation, Miss California was a joke.
GREAT analogy I'd never thought of it before. I have wondered about a woman willing to parade nearly naked in front of millions being made a hero for standing on the right side of marriage. Heard a little of her on Dobson one day and was SO disappointed in his "disclaimer" about the show not being on the rightness or wrongness of beauty pagents. Unfortunately s*x sells and those in the marketing industry know it... and most will use it to sell anything.
Thanks, Step. We're glad to be home!
Jennifer, I think Mary means Miss California's attempts at "representing righteousness" were a joke (to the unsaved). When we live a life that is counter to God's Word, we cause His name to be blasphemed (slandered) before the heathen. We communicate something about God and His holiness that isn't true.
"That they admonish the young women to... to be discreet, chaste...that the word of God may not be blasphemed." (Titus 2:4-5)
Another things that seems to go unnoticed is that Miss California, while sharing what she beleives for "her family," also said to the judges:
"I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage …"
Then she went on to say what she PERSONALLY believed for her family.
So, I’m sorry, but I wasn’t all that impressed.
That is a good point. What I find most interesting about the story of Miss California is that even though her pro-traditional marriage statement wasn't that startling, the liberal media still treated her like she was this super-threat. Maybe it was because they expected a worldly person to agree with them on every issue (they want to "own" popular people).
I know some nice Christian young ladies that have won pageants before and have done successful things through them (such as having a platform to improve the homeschooling laws in Georgia). I think the pageants they were in focused more on talent and didn't have a skimpy swimsuit part (though I'm not entirely certain). I do hope that in areas like that more Christian women will put their feet down and refuse to make themselves spectacles in bondage.
~Amanda~
It breaks my heart to see young Christian women like Miss California throwing their precious God-given purity to a world that doesn't appreciate it! How it draws them away from Christ...
Hi Stacy! Glad you're back!!
I agree completely about your comments about Miss Claifornia, and also loved the illustration you chose to use with this post. It's a very good thing to think about these issues. Wouldn't it be amazing to see a Christian young woman enter one of these pageants and for the swimsuit competition, wear one of the modest swim dresses instead of a bikini? Can you imagine the stir THAT would cause?! But, boy, would it ever make the world sit up and take notice, and would be a more true representation of a godly young woman rather than the current Miss Claifornia!
Susan
Sorry for any confusion. Stacy, I deleted my comment since I made it without knowing the full content of California's answer. Thanks for confirming.
Yes, Stacy, that is what I meant. And, I, too, really was unimpressed with what she said, since it was just what her family thought. She didn't bring the Bible into it.
hmm. Aptly said.
Being one who is still getting used to thinking completely Biblically, when all that happened I just had that sense that "something is horribly wrong about this." After the fact I realized what it was - Blaspheming the name of Christ and making a laughingstock of Christianity.
I know I am a little late to comment here, but this reminds me of a show that is aired on t.v. called, "She's Got The Look." It's some kind of contest for women over 35 years of age to try and compete in order to be a model. I've only seen bits and pieces of it via commercial advertisements, but it's totally ridiculous! These women are willing to "bare their souls" in order to be some "glamorous model." Like Miss America, they "parade" in front of a panel of judges to see if they are "good enough" to continue with the contest. This show is definately another poor example for daughters as well as women in general.
As far as Miss America goes, I have never been impressed with any pagents where women must "parade around on a platform" to prove their self-worth and beauty. I find this highly degrading and I think it is sad that women actually enjoy this type of negative "attention."
Very good point.
Blessings
Mrs. White
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