Beauty contest<\/p>\n
Only eight days after this nation ended a week of national
\nmourning, a fuss started brewing over the issue of Indonesia's
\nparticipation in an international beauty pageant.<\/p>\n
Besides the already well-known objections on the part of
\nIndonesian women's groups, the timing is indeed unfortunate.<\/p>\n
The objections to beauty contests are usually that they are
\ndegrading for ladies, are a veiled sex exploitation and are like
\ncattle auctions. Besides, it is not true that participation in
\nbeauty contests help boost tourism. The comparison to bovine
\nmuscularity, however, is certainly uncalled for, if not
\noutrageous. Indeed, imagination has no limits, but one must use
\nit in discriminating ways.<\/p>\n
An old friend of mine whispered to me that in his personal
\nview, a bikini is like barbed wire: it protects without spoiling
\nthe view (beautiful view, he added).<\/p>\n
Beauty contests seem to corroborate Oscar Wilde's observation
\non woman that ladies are to be admired not analyzed. But men
\nshould beware. For a man's admiration of beauty could be his
\ndownfall.<\/p>\n
Do beauty contests help boost tourism? Spain and Italy, to
\ntake two countries as examples, annually attract tens of millions
\nof tourists, contests or no contests. Besides, the notion could
\nbe interpreted as a slur, if you have fleshpots in mind.<\/p>\n
There is also an element of unfairness in beauty contests. In
\nrich western countries, beauty comes more naturally than in
\ncountries with low GNPs per capita. Girls with tall statures and
\nCleopatra noses, for instance, are not an uncommon sight in the
\nformer. In Indonesia, they are an exception.<\/p>\n
Whether a beauty contest is an exercise in inanity or vanity,
\nmany young and ambitious girls find it both alluring and
\nchallenging. For a young lady to be selected to run for a beauty
\ncontest is a great achievement, made possible only by years of
\ntraining and conscientious care.<\/p>\n
Those who see no particular danger in beauty contests would
\nmaintain that women more than men need recognition in aesthetical
\nachievement, called beauty. In sports, records are measured by
\ninstruments. In beauty contests, tastes still play an important
\nrole, despite an agreed criteria. Is this the thing which makes
\nbeauty contests exciting?<\/p>\n
Why have men preferred to keep silent on this matter? Maybe
\nbecause beauty contests are the ladies' sacrosanct domain? Why
\nthe strong objections on the part of Indonesian ladies? Beauty
\ncontests are certainly only good for the girl concerned, her
\nchaperon, and the sponsors. Her country gains nothing.<\/p>\n
The main reason for the strong opposition to the beauty
\npageant business seems to be that in such international events,
\nbeauty could easily slide into vulgar sensuality. Showing beauty
\ncan certainly be done in many other more decent ways.<\/p>\n
For future contests, sponsors would be well advised to propose
\nto the organizing committees concerned that contestants should
\nparticipate in their own names, and not on the names of their
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
The names of participants' countries should not be printed on
\nthe sashes. Only during the introduction or presentation would
\nthe master of ceremony mention the countries from which
\ncontestants come.<\/p>\n
Well, it would be wise to hear what Victor Hugo says in Les
\nMiserables: Le beau est aussi utile que l'utile. Plus, peut-etre.<\/p>\n
SOEGIO SOSROSOEMARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/beauty-contest-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }