The furore over Miss South Africa’s decision to compete in Israel: here’s a feminist critique

The Furore Over Miss South Africa’s Decision to Compete in Israel: Here’s a Feminist Critique

The participation of Miss South Africa 2021, Lalela Mswane, in the Miss Universe competition in Israel on 12 December has created a furore. Some South Africans support her participation while others have called for her withdrawal.

Evolution of Feminist Views on Pageants

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Second wave feminism of the 1970s and 1980s (also called radical feminism) was the first significant push-back against patriarchy. It relates women’s oppression to relations of power between men and women. According to this perspective, women’s bodies are viewed as a battlefield on which men exercise sexual and reproductive control.

Patriarchy also inflicts ideals of beauty that exploit women through setting beauty standards that are mostly impossible to reach. From this perspective, women’s bodies are objectified and creates the conditions for their exploitation in the pornography industry. This is detrimental to all women.

The Advertising Industry and Beauty Standards

The advertising industry, by exploiting sexualized images of women, sets the standards for what is viewed as beautiful. Radical feminists are concerned with structural inequalities created by the beauty industry. Beauty pageants are, therefore, viewed as exploitative of women’s natural beauty to the detriment of all women. This is especially so for those women who cannot meet these impossible standards, fuelling the epidemic of dietary diseases and body dysmorphia.

Third Wave Feminism and Beauty Pageants

Third wave feminists, or a younger generation of the 1990s, reject the idea that women are without the ability to make choices. They support women’s choice to participate in beauty contests as a form of empowerment and agency. They reject the binary distinction between women and men to the exclusion of other genders – such as transgender. They also advocate that women should embrace diverse ideas of sexuality, sexual pleasure, and beauty. This is a rejection of what they view as the "victim feminism" of the second wave.

South African and Beauty Pageants

The Miss World pageant has been strongly supported in South Africa over many years. But it had a rocky history under apartheid, when only white contestants could compete. In the latter years of apartheid, black contestants could compete in their own competition, known as Miss Africa South. This blatant segregation between white and black women for the purposes of the competition showed, in a very visible way, the racist assumptions about beauty that normalize the light-skinned, thin, straight-haired appearance.

More than Beauty

The nature of the pageants has changed over time, from judging women merely on appearance and awarding them for simply being beautiful, to including other characteristics such as education, being articulate, and displaying general knowledge. Many candidates who participate now have university degrees.

Regardless of this, the question remains if these competitions reproduce patriarchal norms. Whether contestants are more than just beautiful is not relevant, because in the end, it is beauty that determines who wins.

Beauty Contests and Patriarchal Norms

Beauty contests reproduce the patriarchal idea that women should be feminine, groomed to be beautiful from a young age, and their beauty put on display. Women who do not meet these standards of beauty, or who choose to reject this type of femininity, are viewed as odd or subversive by those who support heteronormativity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the participation of Miss South Africa in the Miss Universe competition in Israel has sparked a heated debate. While some support her decision, others have called for her withdrawal. As a feminist, it is essential to critically examine the implications of beauty pageants and their impact on women’s lives.

FAQs

Q: What is the controversy surrounding Miss South Africa’s participation in the Miss Universe competition in Israel?
A: The controversy surrounds the political implications of participating in a competition held in a country with a history of human rights violations and occupation of Palestinian territories.

Q: What is the feminist critique of beauty pageants?
A: The feminist critique argues that beauty pageants reproduce patriarchal norms, objectify women’s bodies, and create unrealistic beauty standards that are detrimental to women’s well-being.

Q: What is the difference between second wave and third wave feminism in relation to beauty pageants?
A: Second wave feminism views beauty pageants as exploitative and patriarchal, while third wave feminism sees them as a form of empowerment and agency for women.

Q: How do beauty pageants impact women’s lives?
A: Beauty pageants can have a significant impact on women’s lives, perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards, objectifying women’s bodies, and reinforcing patriarchal norms.