http://feministing.com/2010/05/17/lebanese-immigrant-wins-miss-usa-right-wingers-lose-it/
In The Latino Threat, Chavez describes the concept of being an "alien citizen". Just because someone is a legal citizen doesn't mean they will be embraced or viewed as an American. This is the experience Rima Fakih had when she won the 2010 Miss USA contest. Because she isn't part of the white, Christian, US-born majority many claimed that she wasn't American enough to be Miss USA. Is there any way to defend their point of view?
Something similar happened in Canada recently (http://feministing.com/2012/03/26/trans-woman-disqualified-from-miss-universe-canada/) when a transgender woman was disqualified from their Miss Universe preliminary. Because she isn't part of the majority, she was ostracized and deemed "not woman enough" to compete in the contest.
These two stories, especially the one about the American right's response to a Muslim immigrant winning Miss USA, show how narrow the definition of American is to so many people. Discuss the article and tie it into class material.
I think that both articles were incredibly interesting. The quote about " a natural born female" caught me off guard because it was something that stood out to me when I was signing papers as Miss Tuscaloosa USA (which is part of the Donald Trump Miss Universe franchise). I had to certify that I was naturally born female, as well as other things such as had never been pregnant, given birth, or been married. I think that this is discriminating as well, why would a young woman who has had a baby and qualifies for these pageants be deemed any less beautiful because she had had a baby. Her beauty did not change it was the 'appropriateness', the 'Americanness', and the purity of the woman that had changed. I think that this goes back to the pure white woman as the cornerstone of the American ideal.
ReplyDeleteI really thought that the one about the American right's response to a Muslim immigrant winning Miss USA is horrible, but unfortunately not surprising. As with the article about mixed mothering said, since 9/11 these people have gone from an invisible group to 'the enemy'. Everything seen as Muslim, middle eastern, and immigrant has turned negative. I get so upset when people talk about 'them' and how 'they' hate Americans and how 'they' kill innocent people for 'their' crazy religion. Well the Klu Klux Klan is a group of white men who kill in the name of Christianity. Does that mean Christians are evil and terrible people?? Oh no! I better watch out for saying that the right is going to come lynch me as unAmerican. Its just ridiculous because every type of people has their radicals. There were plenty of Muslims who were Americans before 9/11 and now are not considered that way. It is the same with the Mexican-American. The right's dialogue will assume that anyone of hispanic descent is an illegal who jumped the border, does not pay taxes, and is living off the 'system'. What about all of the Mexicans that have been in California longer than the white man has? It is frustrating because everyone in America (besides Native Americans) are immigrants, we tout that we are a melting pot/salad bowl... Then there should be no certain American 'look'. The blonde haired blue eyed Miss USA should not be necessary because we are all part of this melting pot/salad bowl... But the right has not gotten that memo yet apparently.
I agree with carley on the fact that these were two of the most interesting articles I have read. I did not know the pageants were controlled by a money-hungry fool like Trump. I wasn’t surprised either to know both these young ladies were disqualified because they were too much of this or too little of that. Of course, beauty has to be defined by the standards of White-Rich-Straight-Males. If someone who does not “look” American then they are deemed as negative? It is 2012 and we still act like it is 1712. I personally don’t care too much for pageants, but when it comes to defining who is not American enough not woman enough, everybody should be on the boat because not everyone ancestors are all American. Vanessa Williams made history by becoming the first African-American woman to win Miss U.S.A., but a woman who is has a Muslim and Lebanese background can’t even win something like Miss USA, is highly offensive to people of color. I’m glad for both ladies got as far as they did, but we still have a long way to go. No one in America can say they are Fully American, because every one has an ancestor who is from a different country. We need to stop letting someone define what is true beauty. For me it just to know I can make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI will start off by saying that I by no means think that all the questions asked on the application Carley spoke of are relevant and/or necessary.. however, I will say that I have seen similar qualifications in the name of pageants before. I do believe this is due to the strong idolizing of females that win these crowns. Not at all saying there is anything wrong with having a baby. Nor am I striking down having a child out of wedlock (One of my best friends is getting ready to have a baby out of wedlock right now.) What I'm getting at is mainly that these qualifications have more to do with being a role model to young girls. The vast majority of modern day pageants avoid the "oh well she's just pretty- that's all" stereotype by incorporating more than just a swimsuit competition and evening wear competition. It not only started with placing scoring in the talent category, but also now it is about strong leadership. Most all the contestants are "gorgeous." It almost turns into a resume competition. Achievements, talents, leadership roles, charity platforms, community service work, academic honors etc. is a GREAT deal of what you hear about in a modern day pageant. When a crown is won in any major pageant it turns that individual into a role model to thousands of young girls locally, state wide, and throughout the whole country. Everyone knows that Miss America spends her entire rein traveling not only nationally but oftentimes even internationally representing an accomplished woman. Having said that, what about the idea of Miss America being gone for a solid year? She has not only spent many countless hours to even get to the Miss America level, but if she wins, she basically hands her life over to her crown for a year. She begins traveling and basically doesn't stop until she crowns. Does the life of Miss America really have time to take care of a child and fulfill her rein? If so, would that be in the best interest of her child? I don't think having a baby makes anyone less beautiful. I know some absolutely gorgeous females with children. I just think that taking on a maternal role places them in a different lifestyle. I am by no means a Donald Trump supporter or defending him. I just feel differently about the reasons for pageant qualifications. A good way to approach this is to keep in mind that there are National level pageants for women of certain age ranges also, and there are "Mrs." pageants for the mommies and wifeys out there.
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm not exactly tying this into our readings.. I do think the articles were interesting and this topic is ironic since the last two classes we have mentioned beauty in culture and "ethnicity." I'm the one that came out and talked about different hair "types" and what most of us desire to have. One student mentioned the 'Brazilian' or 'Latino' in the context of image and looks. When you think of a Brazilian woman.. I think of someone being a model. If a caramel skinned, dark complected, dark featured, (how ever you mind putting it) woman won Miss America and people had something to say about it.. She was probably stunning and an easy target to be jealous of and fuss about.
In response to your question about the article about Fakih, I do not think there is any way to defend the right's argument that she was not American enough to win the pageant. The idea that a contestant must fit within certain race, skin color, heritage, or religion restraints negates the entire concept of a contest; the winner should be the best out of a diverse group. In fact, Fakih is more American than the right is giving her credit for; she came to this country and made something of herself. Is this not the American dream? To get something from nothing through hard work and dedication? With this outlook, she deserves the title more than any US-born, white female because she would have been born into a privileged society where she did not have to work as hard as Fakih did. As Americans, it seems we have constructed a society that is lose-lose, even for legal immigrants. If they do not assimilate into our culture properly, we criticize them for not adjusting to our society. If they do assimilate accordingly, as Fakih did, we tell them that they are still not good enough to be considered American. As Chavez states, "immigration and citizenship has always been about how we imagine who we are as people and who we wish to include as part of the nation" (23). If you do not fit in, such as Fakih being a Muslim immigrant or Jenna's being a transgendered woman, you are kicked out and labeled as inferior. The definition of Americanness needs to be stretched from just whiteness, heterosexuality, maleness, and femaleness to include all those who are contributing to our culture and society.
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