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An Un-Beautiful Universe
Some might consider it a stretch to say Miss Universe pageants directly impact femicides. And while I do not have statistics on said correlation, it remains valid to relate machista attitudes to the objectification of women. Beauty contests perpetuate an ideology our value is directly tied to physical appearance. These pageants remind society that our worth is based on our bodies.
A look at this 2021 article in The Peak explains:
“Beauty pageants started as a form of entertainment for (mostly) men and have now become a cultural phenomenon across the world. Contestants show off their physical qualities on stage for a panel of judges, who will determine a winner out of the group based on an arbitrary list of qualifications. The judgment of bodies and beauty as a form of entertainment continually perpetuates dangerous gender and racial stereotypes.
Read: The Role of the Society in Crafting Our Body Image
This judgment of bodies does not lead to empowerment — it leads to generations of people having a misunderstanding of what beauty is, and how “beautiful” they themselves are. Dismantling this toxic symbolism of societal emphasis on physical beauty and judgment is a small step for furthering women’s rights, and a big step for gender equity.”
All of this has a close correlation with Puerto Rican and other Latina cultures, where the ideology of a machista mindset aligns with cultural identity. Unfortunately, many of us Latinas in the Caribbean and other parts of the world have experienced it.
This Best of SNO article offers a snapshot of what machismo looks like.
“From a young age, girls are taught household skills while their male counterparts enjoy their youth. Adultification is prevalent within Hispanic culture, based off of the idea that a woman’s natural role is that of a caretaker. Girls are taught to accept catcalling and sexual assault as forms of flattery, rather than as forms of harassment. By imposing these damaging ideas, society successfully limits the agency that women have over their own bodies.”
Another consideration is mental health. Beauty pageants and a culture that objectifies women send the message that our physical appearance is what makes us beautiful. Not all women are size 4 and it’s dangerous to send these signals to our young girls. Their body image is something that should be positively affirmed, not shamed! This medically reviewed article in Choosing Therapy outlines the dangers of body image expectations.
Read: How Can We Dismantle the Social Construct of Female Beauty?
“In our society, one’s appearance is often how we are first evaluated. The current ideal in America is an ultra-thin female body and a very toned and lean male body. When a person’s realistic body and ideal body images do not match, this can often lead to mental health issues such as eating disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. Several serious eating disorders are centered around body image concerns.”
The Takeaways
While a certain segment of the Puerto Rican population could not imagine a world without the international contest, countless feministas envision the exact opposite. We are relentlessly raising our voices against pageants and the parading of women’s physicalities.
Here’s what the fight looks like:
Fundación de Mujeres en Puerto Rico (FMnPR): their Twitter lists them as the “first and only feminist-based philanthropic organization in Puerto Rico.” Founded by women in the diaspora and on the archipelago, the Foundation of Women in Puerto Rico “promotes social justice and supports the economic security, reproductive autonomy, and empowerment of women, girls, and non-binary persons.”
Colectiva Feminista en Construcción (CFC): this political project based on Black feminism tackles the struggles in all its forms: patriarchal systems, anti-Black violence, capitalism, racism, sexism, machismo, colonialism, xenophobia. Based in Puerto Rico, the Feminist Collective in Construction remains in fierce solidarity with femmes in the Caribbean, Latin America, and internationally.
Taller Salud: Founded in 1979, this feminist community-based NGO is dedicated to “improving women’s access to health, reducing violence in communities, and promoting economic development via activism and education.”
By confronting, questioning, and dismantling these harmful contests, we begin to change the narrative. In calling out machismo and misogyny, we’re positively transforming our cultures to espouse less traditionally strict gender roles. In doing so, we are empowering our young girls to know their minds and hearts are what truly matter – together, we are building a more equitable Puerto Rico, and a more female-friendly world.
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