Opposed to Pageant

In the story about the Imperial Beach sand castle competition (“Strand of Creativity,” July 29), a sheriff’s deputy said that the National Organization for Women was protesting “The Little Coppertone 10 Pageant” for children because “apparently, the women thought that the ad for the suntan lotion, showing a dog pulling down the bathing suit of a suntanned little girl . . . was a negative sexual image for children.” That’s true as far as it goes. But there were other reasons for the protest.

We object to the pageant because it perpetuates the emphasis that a female’s greatest validation is achieved through her appearance.

Children at a very early age are being taught that they will be rewarded by society and their parents for their appearance. They are being taught to be competitive rather than cooperative. Children are learning that they will get attention if they are cute. The prize for winning the pageant--a combination TV-stereo--was for the parents, not the children.

Too many young people spend more time daily on their personal grooming--hairstyle, makeup and clothing--than on homework, because an adult society bombards them daily via commercials and advertisements, and beauty pageants, that it’s looks that count and are rewarded. Not education or their talents or their participation in group activities, such as playing in a school band.

It’s a poor standard that children are receiving. And to think that it is done just to promote another product.

SHIRLEY PORTER, ROXANA BLISS, San Diego Chapter, National Organization for Women