Emil Guillermo in his blog for the Asian American Legal Defence and Education Fund confronts the opposing values many of us face. How do you balance your desire for diversity with your equal desire to respect women.
Writes Guillermo:
We had an unprecedented showing for Asian Americans. But honestly, beauty pageantry is still institutional sexism on parade. Should we really be glad that we have finally diversified acceptable public sexism? Or that the pageant has begun addressing in earnest its audience’s Asian fetish? It’s definitely a conflict for many of us, women especially.
My 18-year old daughter was incensed at some of the questions asked of the contestants in the interview portion of the pageant. “How could they ask these contestants what they thought of Miley Ray Cyrus’ twerking at the MTV awards,” she wondered. “Don’t they know these women have brains. What kind of question is that to ask?”
Guillermo himself was critical of the answer Nina Davuluri gave in response to a question about Julie Chen’s eye surgery.
Read Guillermo’s blog in Asian American Legal Defence and Education Fund and share your thoughts. Is Davulari winning the Miss America pageant a step forward for society or a step back? I say a step forward, especially if Davuluri uses her platform as Miss America to embrace diversity. She’s already shown a willingness to do that. I look forward to more of the same.
Re: New Miss America highlights conflict between diversity and opposing sexism. thing that is forgotten is that Miss America pageant contestants are awarded scholarships to continue their education. Miss America will get a $50,000 scholarship to go to medical school. She will also earn about $100k in speaking fees during her reign. She will graduate from medical school debt free. How many medical students do that?