CHILD BEAUTY PAGEANTS HAVE NO PLACE IN IRELAND-MORAN
Labour Senator Mary Moran fully supports the Seanad Private Member's Motion on Child Beauty Pageants brought forward by Senator Jillian van Turnhout. The motion proposes to make a societal stand against child beauty pageants in Ireland and recognises that childhood should be distinct and separate from adulthood. Speaking in the debate on the motion, Senator Moran highlighted some of the harmful elements of the American-style child beauty pageants that threaten to take hold in Ireland such as fake tanning, waxing, facial-threading, botox, flippers-fake teeth for children, and more.
'There is a laundry list of things that tarnish and at times ruin childhood, as a legislator and parent I have a responsibility to stand against unnecessary harms like child beauty pageants. Without question, judging a 7 year old young girl or boy on his or her physical characteristics and swimwear is an unnecessary harm and I believe, a violation.
'These pageants teach one primary lesson to the children competing--that their importance lies in their physical attributes. This would obviously have damaging mental and physical affects on young children competing in such an atmosphere.
'I fully support Senator van Turnhout in her motion and will continue to stand against competitions which value superficial opinions over substance. We have an opportunity to be ahead of the curve in this regard and we must seize the opportunity because every child has a right to a childhood.
'I will continue to work and pursue this issue with my Government and cross-party colleagues. I welcome the Government commissioned international review on the response to child beauty pageants taking place this year.'
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