Miss America: Realty Check

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Did anyone notice that the challenge during the dinner with the controversial questions, the majority showed a very conservative side. It's fine to not believe in sex before marriage and have certain views on gun control and virginity and what not, but I felt so awkward hearing girls my age ALL say the same thing. It sounded like a white male conservative convention than most modern American 20+ year olds. 8 out of 10 girls my age I know would not answer the same way. No one was different! Were they afraid to be different? Were they putting on a show for pageant time? Is this how they truly felt?

I didn't see it, but I think I'd have to agree. I highly doubt this is how they really feel. While sex before marriage is virtuous and all, I would seriously doubt that all of them really are "saving themselves"... they probably don't want to sound like the only hussy on the show.

Esp. while trying to impress complete strangers to win something, ya know?

Take Teen Miss South Carolina for example. Her answer made absolutely NO SENSE, but every single word sounded all pageant-like. She could have said "People can't find the U.S. on the map because our education system is a failure and they are all dumbasses because all they do is watch TV and play XBOX" but instead she said some random stuff about Iraq, Africa, helping the education system to help the children of the future and helping foreign countries.

[SWTXBelle]

Miss Vermont was trying to be different - with her take on gay marriage.

[bluefish81]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

I didn't see it, but I think I'd have to agree. I highly doubt this is how they really feel. While sex before marriage is virtuous and all, I would seriously doubt that all of them really are "saving themselves"... they probably don't want to sound like the only hussy on the show.

I realize that you didn't see it, but one of the judges tried to call some of the women on it (sex before marriage). Sort of a, are you really practicing what you preach? I think she was saying something along the lines of, "Are you a virgin, Miss "Insert a State here"... I don't think she got a response.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Originally Posted by bluefish81

I realize that you didn't see it, but one of the judges tried to call some of the women on it (sex before marriage). Sort of a, are you really practicing what you preach? I think she was saying something along the lines of, "Are you a virgin, Miss "Insert a State here"... I don't think she got a response.

I saw that part too and no one's response was shown. It felt so awkward to me. I want a Miss America who can be herself whether or not she's having sex or whatever. They just HAD to bring it up so everyone could look around accusingly and be like "not me you whore"!

[SWTXBelle]

In their defense - it is entirely possible that one or more HAD sex and decided that she would hereafter wait until marriage.
AND - it is possible to be a virgin past the age of 16, Jamie Lynn Spears to the contrary.
I went to college in the 80s - my students assumed I HAD to have done drugs - uh, no. Not even a cigarette. So I'd hate to make a blanket statement either way about a group of 52 young women. I hope "updating" the pageant doesn't mean going the way of slutty Miss USA.

[bluefish81]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

In their defense - it is entirely possible that one or more HAD sex and decided that she would hereafter wait until marriage.
AND - it is possible to be a virgin past the age of 16, Jamie Lynn Spears to the contrary.
I went to college in the 80s - my students assumed I HAD to have done drugs - uh, no. Not even a cigarette. So I'd hate to make a blanket statement either way about a group of 52 young women. I hope "updating" the pageant doesn't mean going the way of slutty Miss USA.

Oh, I'm not saying it's impossible that some of these women may very well be virgins. However, given that they range in age from 19-23 or 24, the odds are probably slimmer than if this was taking place eons ago (also assuming all the women were still unmarried at said point eons ago). I don't think the intent of updating the pagaent is to make them all fullblown sluts, I think it's to make them more authentic, and bring them out of the late 80s/early 90s.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by bluefish81

Oh, I'm not saying it's impossible that some of these women may very well be virgins. However, given that they range in age from 19-23 or 24, the odds are probably slimmer than if this was taking place eons ago (also assuming all the women were still unmarried at said point eons ago). I don't think the intent of updating the pagaent is to make them all fullblown sluts, I think it's to make them more authentic, and bring them out of the late 80s/early 90s.

agreed. no one made any blanket statements saying "they're all sluts and they need to own up to it!"... just saying it's highly improbable that ALL 52 19-24 yr olds are virgins.

If they have had premartial sex, so what? Why can't they be REAL and not pretend like they haven't. The reason of course being that if they have judges that want women who are waiting until marriage and are for world peace, they want to be that girl so they can win.

They can take the stance that people need to be responsible when having premartial sex and be fully aware of the consquences (*ahem*JamieLynn) including pregnancy and STDs.

[SWTXBelle]

I don't know that the contestants agreed to have their sex lives discussed - I'm a big believer in keeping private lives, uh, private. My point is that all of us, I hope, have high standards to which we strive to keep, but may sometimes fail. That doesn't mean we are bad people - only human. "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?", to quote Browning. With a whole wealth of controversial subjects available, it seems rather sensational to put this one out there the way they did. What contestant is going to say "Premarital sex is great!"?? They kinda loaded the deck against the girls at that table especially given the short amount of time they had to discuss it.