Because Objectifying Women Never Gets Old

Published July 27, 2009 @ 03:01PM PT

Out of Dubai comes a pair of sisters taking an unfortunate page from PETA's book:

Sisters Janice Shaw and Sarita Barnett are looking for the city's first Ambassador with a Voice for Animals (AVA) and are hoping 100-150 women, aged 17-30, will join in the event, which culminates in a pageant and gala dinner at the Grand Hyatt hotel on October 23.

The competition seeks to discover a woman with a genuine passion for animals and their welfare. The winner of Miss AVA 2009 will spend time helping out at K9 Friends and Feline Friends. She will also be expected to educate the public and spread awareness about how a pet needs to be looked after. . . .

The competition will include a one-on-one interview with each woman on her passion for animals and the pageant will feature all the contestants parading first in T-shirts and shorts and then an evening dress.

Maybe I'd take the competition's goal of "discover[ing] a woman with a genuine passion for animals and their welfare" seriously if every woman interested in the role weren't required to "parade" around in an evening dress and, presumably, be judged on how conventionally attractive she is. So no woman over 30 and no woman uncomfortable being publicly displayed and judged on her physical appearance could possibly be the best candidate to speak and act for the animals of Dubai?

It's not just the United States or Dubai or any other city or nation where this crap is still a problem. And it's not just PETA or men or blatant sexists who perpetuate this crap. And god, am I getting tired of it. Excuse me while I go scream my frustration into a pillow.

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Comments (9)

Woah, wait a sec. It's unfortunate that women all over the world are still valued mostly for beauty, reproduction, and housekeeping, but it's unfair to criticize PETA for this particular pagaent event when it appears that they have nothing to do with it.

Though they certainly reinforce mainstream beuaty standards (which happen to be white/ light skinned) and although there are a number of other problems with pageants, it's important to recognize that women who enter them are usually doing so because being valued for one's beauty is a much better option than being valued for one's ability to pump out babies or one's ability to clean or pick fruits and vegetables.

I'm just saying... we need to be careful about focussing too narrowly on one particular form of women's oppression when most of the women oppressed by it prefer it to the oppressions we overlook.

Posted by Elaine Vigneault on 07/27/2009 @ 06:08PM PT
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It's not as if I spent the entire post criticizing PETA; it was just one remark referring to their tactics before moving on to the specific issue at hand, and I disagree that it was unfair.

And I don't think anything in this short post was unfair. I don't agree with the pageants themselves, but it also frustrates me when some women enter them and others defend and justify them (the pageants and the participation in them, not the women themselves) and thus help perpetuate the problems inherent in such practices, problems that affect not only them, but other women as well, including the women who don't fit the "standards." And in the case of sexism, objectification, and the animal rights movement, it affects the movement as well.

And as animal rights advocates, I think we can all agree that the argument that there are other opppressions too doesn't mean we should refrain from commenting on the oppressions some consider lesser.

Posted by Stephanie Ernst on 07/27/2009 @ 06:29PM PT
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These sexist/materialistic/superficial campaigns are really annoying the h-e-double hockey sticks out of me too.

My other turn-offs are traffic jams and rude people.

Turn-ons: Long walks, bubble-baths and spending the evening with that special someone.

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

Posted by Daniel Wilson on 07/30/2009 @ 11:30AM PT
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Looking at the positive side of the event, as opposed to seeing the bad side of every attempt of animal rights or welfare seems like a better route than criticizing AVA for taking a step in the right direction.

AVA is trying to bring awareness and educate the public about animals, and although they have a long way to go, they are heading in the right direction.

Now, if they were parading around in fur or leather coats- that would be different, but they are not. Advertising through beauty and fame is the way things are marketed. Don't kill the messenger. They are not in bikinis. Shorts and t-shirts or evening gowns. Don't most women wear those at times? I think that if they were forced to wear the traditional Sari, they would be more oppressed as women. At least now, they have a choice as well as freedom of speech, which they never used to have at all. The women in Dubai dress very well, and although I am not a fan of beauty pageants, I can see the reasoning to use it as a tool for animal awareness.

I think that promoting animal education and welfare is a good thing, no matter if they have to get people's attention with a model, celebrity, or a beauty contestant. Either way, the winner has to be the voice for animals... what is so wrong with that?

Try to see the good in something before criticizing the event. Sure, improvements can be made, but seeing blood, slaughterhouses and nude bodies in every animal rights event can also get tiring.

I really don't see the connection with PeTA, anyway. The contestants would have been nude or covered in blood. One has nothing to do with the other. I have to agree with Elaine on this one.

Giving an animal a "voice", no matter how you are chosen to do that is a positive path, as long as the good intention is there. They are looking for someone with a genuine passion for animals and their welfare. Kudos to them. They are trying to educate and make people aware of animal rights. Can't be all bad, can it? It's all in people's perception of how you want to see it.

Posted by Michele McCowan on 07/31/2009 @ 12:55PM PT
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I am Sarita and Miss AVA Dubai is our me and my sister Janice's initiative to improve the way that animals are looked after, treated, abandonned and abused in our country and everywhere. The idea of a pageant (including a search for a vocalist) to perform at this gala dinner/dance at the Grand Hyatt Dubai is our approach to attract public support. As much as we read article after article about animal welfare we do not see much active support. The Miss AVA concept will elect an ambassador who will represent and spearhead action in our municipality to educate and provide guidance to all pet owners, pet suppliers, and the general public. To reitterate normal media articles do not appear to get this message across to everyone. Our Miss AVA idea is to kindle interest in animal welfare not only pet owners but also the general public by creating a gala event that will be exciting and entertaining to all. We have only the welfare of animals in our hearts in this initiative. The inspiration behind all of this is our most recent addition to our doggy family, Ringo a puppy born without eyes abandonned, and found locked in a cage in the scorching heat. She joins 6 brothers and sisters all rescue dogs. This event is a fund raiser in support of local animal societies and we hope that we will receive tremendous support from all. We are two animal loving ladies organising this with only love and no money and we will rely on positive support, sponsorship and contributions from all that share our passion. For further information on this event or if you would like to be kept updated feel free to contact me on my email sarphilly@hotmail.com

Posted by Sarita Barnett on 08/04/2009 @ 11:20AM PT
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No disrespect to Janice and Sarita - after all, they're trying to do something nice and good for the animals - but this IS a beauty pageant, using beautiful young women to coax people into helping "pets" and provide guidance to helping pet "owners" and "suppliers". I just think they don't get it.

They could sell lemonade; they could have a yard sale; they could have a raffle. Instead, they took a page out of the PeTA public relations manual of "let's give the public what it wants".

We're taught not to judge a book by its cover, yet society always uses looks (and sex) to sell everything, from beer to music to vegetarianism to animal welfare. This isn't the only way to help animals and I doubt it's the most effective way too.

Posted by Daniel Wilson on 08/04/2009 @ 12:16PM PT
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Firstly Miss AVA IS NOT a BEAUTY pageant looking for beautiful women. It is a pageant to find a woman, not a MODEL. Size and looks have nothing to do with it. We are looking for someone who has an inner beauty and passion for the cause. This event will have many forms of fund raising.

I don't think selling lemonade would contribute much to the overall scheme. How can you compare a black tie gala dinner to a yard sale? Especially in 120 degrees heat. I have never seen the PETA manual so have no idea what you are referring to.

At least we have chosen a route that seems to have a better response from the public so far.

We don't think you get it.

Posted by Sarita Barnett on 08/04/2009 @ 12:40PM PT
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My apologies Sarita. Clearly, a "PAGEANT OF BEAUTY" is very different from a beauty pageant (taken from the Feline Friends Dubai homepage).

If it's not a beauty pageant, then why are you looking for "SPONSORS IN THE FASHION, TRAVEL, COSMETICS, MODELLING AND PHOTOGRAPHIC INDUSTRIES. WE ALSO NEED SPONSORS SUCH AS MAKE-UP/HAIR ARTISTS"???

Even your sister is quoted as saying, "We hope the glamorous side of the event, such as the pageant, will grab the attention of the public, but there is also a very serious point to it all." and,

"The competition will include a one-on-one interview with each woman on her passion for animals and the pageant will feature all the contestants parading first in T-shirts and shorts and then an evening dress."

Sorry, sounds like a beauty pageant to me.

Posted by Daniel Wilson on 08/04/2009 @ 02:29PM PT
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Daniel,

Yes it is a pageant looking for inner beauty. Yes it is a glamorous event in the sense that it will be a spectacular gala dinner/dance at the Grand Hyatt Dubai.

Yes we are looking for sponsors for prizes for the winner and runners up. Sponsors to provide gifts that most ladies would like to receive. Also prizes for raffles and the auction board.

Like any special occasion ladies like to look their best so yes we need sponsors in those fields to help out. Unfortunately some people, newspapers and face book have misconstrued this event. But we know what we are doing does have a very serious side to it and is for a worthy cause and that's what matters at the end of the day.

We are also pleased to say that most people do support what we are trying to do.

Posted by Sarita Barnett on 08/04/2009 @ 03:22PM PT
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Author

Stephanie is an independent animal rights advocate, a vegan, a tree-hugging environmentalist, and a freelance editor and writer. She lives in St. Louis with an aging corgi-lab and an adolescent rescued pit bull.