Comments on: Beauty and the Media Beast: the 2009 Miss Arab World Pageant

By: Eman Hashim

Eman Hashim — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:28:31 +0000

Well,
I can see that most if not all the comments are concerned with the concept of “beauty pageant” and discussing it.
As much as it is related, but it is a bit diverted, the post was not defending beauty pageant or discussing them at all!
It is about the “Arabic” version and the standards issue
so even if it is only dealing with the looks, who said one look is beauty and anything else is ugly?
This is what the post is all about.

By: camila

camila — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:04:53 +0000

Thinking more about this makes me more irritated: the problem is with the notion of “pageant” itself, which must by definition be based on the visual appearance of women. The twist, in this case, is the emphasis on “traditional costume” which is a superficial adjustment of a fundamentally demeaning, objectifying exercise.

Instead of measuring a woman’s worth or success in these silly, infantilising contests, we should be promoting their advancement in the workplace, in politics, and accomplishments in the academy. That is particularly important in a patriarchal society that seeks to define women by their domestic (and therefore private and invisible) role. This stupid pageant accomplishes ZERO in that regard, and merely reinforces the erroneous idea that women must strive most of all to satisfy the male gaze. Is that not one of the main criticisms that the Arab world has of western society?? Bleugh.

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:49:04 +0000

i appreciate the whole Miss Intellect Pageant and beauty comes from within and all these notions. But Miss Arab was not the case it was a beauty pageant what i don’t appreciate is that everyone is trying to find a way out. It is a beauty Pageant based on the outer look!! If Mawadda was crowned based on her education and intellect than it is fine but she knows very well that it was a beauty pageant and so did the other girls so she cant change the whole concept now by saying beauty comes from within plus u can be the perfect miss inside and out! lets all try it shall we???

[This comment has been edited to fit within comment moderation guidelines.]

By: Zaufishan

Zaufishan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:40:07 +0000

As’salamualaykum,
In response as a Muslim woman: Strip away the outward justifications for the sincerity of such a pageant and the basic objectifying of women is still the foundation of any ‘beauty pageant’. Objectification is always objectionable in a world of right and wrong.

But as we are all too grey, I wonder if the contestants were challenged on their mental ability? Was there a talent round?

In second to Camila – I’m also disappointed in this for the Arab world missing an opportunity: can they only ‘go with the flow’? Wearing national costumes does not change the assimilation.

Looking forward to the Miss Intellect Pageant insha’Allah.

By: samar

samar — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:52:29 +0000

Who is Lying Mawadda Nour Or The 15 Participants? check this link to know more: http://www.wikeez.com/en/people/who-lying-mwadda-nour-or-15-participants-5919

By: camila

camila — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:00 +0000

“In the Miss Arab World contest, a woman is free to wear what she wants–veil or not. ”

so, would a woman have been allowed to wear a bikini–if she wanted to? Just curious if there were rules against it or if women really did have the choice.

I find such a contest disappointing, to be honest. The “allowances” for non-western sensibilities amount to mere tinkering; we are still confronted with a sexist paradigm which ultimately values women for everything but their intellect. sigh.

By: Yusra

Yusra — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:03:12 +0000

I like that this contest emphasized being proud of one’s own culture and not not imitating another. I don’t think that would have changed if a thin girl one. The national costume part replacing the bikini strut was genius. National costumes like tradition vary from region to region so showing them off is a tasteful and nonpolitical way to counter societies inclination to homogenize Arabs. Also, while wearing a bikini is not an an Arab tradition, I don’t think the pressure comes from looking “like women from totally different countries” as it does looking like other Arab women on say LBC.