Girlhood, Beauty Pageants, and Power: Trailer Park Royalty

Girlhood, Beauty Pageants, and Power explores the phenomenon of child beauty pageants in rural communities in the American South, analyzing how participants' performances and the power of beauty pageant culture shape their identities. It also examines the impact of popular culture on girlhood and development, Southern American beauty standards, and the media's effect on girls' identities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 178 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2018
Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc

Girlhood, Beauty Pageants, and Power: Trailer Park Royalty is a comprehensive exploration of the phenomenon of child beauty pageants in rural communities throughout the American South. Drawing on a diverse range of post-structural feminism, critical ethnographies, critical hermeneutics, and cultural studies lenses, the book offers a critical analysis of how the performance of participants, primarily from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and the power exercised by beauty pageant culture shape girls' identities.

One of the key themes explored in the book is the performance of participants in beauty pageants. Thompson-Hardy argues that the performance of participants is a complex and multifaceted process that involves a range of cultural, social, and economic factors. Participants are required to perform a specific set of behaviors, including walking, talking, and dressing in a certain way, in order to win the pageant. These behaviors are often influenced by the cultural norms and values of the community in which the pageant takes place, as well as by the expectations of the pageant organizers.

Thompson-Hardy also examines how depictions in popular culture through film, videos, documentaries, and television shows add to the dialogue surrounding beauty pageants. She argues that these depictions often perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce gender and class inequalities. For example, many beauty pageant shows feature women who are thin, white, and wealthy, while women who are overweight, black, or poor are often marginalized or excluded.

In addition to its analysis of the performance of participants and the impact of popular culture, Girlhood, Beauty Pageants, and Power also examines the power exercised by beauty pageant culture. Thompson-Hardy argues that beauty pageant culture is a form of power that is exercised by a small group of individuals who control the pageant system. These individuals include pageant organizers, judges, and sponsors. They use their power to shape the pageant system in their favor, often at the expense of the participants.

One of the ways that beauty pageant culture exercises power is through the use of pageant rules and regulations. These rules and regulations are often designed to favor certain participants over others. For example, some pageant rules may require participants to be a certain age, weight, or height, while others may require participants to have a certain level of education or training. These rules can be difficult for participants to meet, and can result in them being excluded from the pageant.

Another way that beauty pageant culture exercises power is through the use of pageant judges. Pageant judges are responsible for evaluating the participants' performance and selecting the winner. They are often selected based on their own personal biases and preferences, rather than on the performance of the participants. This can result in participants being judged unfairly and being denied the opportunity to win the pageant.

In addition to its analysis of the performance of participants, the power exercised by beauty pageant culture, and the impact of popular culture, Girlhood, Beauty Pageants, and Power also offers a range of solutions to address these issues. Thompson-Hardy suggests that one of the most effective solutions is to promote diversity and inclusion in beauty pageant culture. This can be done by increasing the number of participants from different backgrounds and by providing more opportunities for participants to showcase their talents and skills.

Another solution is to provide more education and training to participants. This can help participants to develop their skills and to become more confident in their abilities. It can also help to reduce the number of participants who are excluded from the pageant due to their lack of education or training.

In conclusion, Girlhood, Beauty Pageants, and Power: Trailer Park Royalty is a comprehensive exploration of the phenomenon of child beauty pageants in rural communities throughout the American South. The book offers a critical analysis of how the performance of participants, the power exercised by beauty pageant culture, and the impact of popular culture shape girls' identities. It also offers a range of solutions to address these issues, including promoting diversity and inclusion, providing more education and training, and reducing the number of participants who are excluded from the pageant due to their lack of education or training. This book is intended for students and teachers who are interested in dissecting rural girlhood and development, Southern American beauty standards, and the effect of the media on girls' identities.

Weight: 388g
Dimension: 155 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781433113482
Edition number: New ed