We Ms. staffers don’t normally gather ’round to watch the Miss USA pageant. In fact, feminists have long protested such pageants and considered them exploitative of women. But we found a little something to cheer about this year.
Rima Fakih, 24, is the first Arab American to win the pageant, and probably the first immigrant. (Pageant officials said records haven’t been kept on participants’ race or immigrant status.) Fakih scored points with feminists in the interview portion, when she was asked if birth control should be covered by insurance.
I believe that birth control is just like every other medication, even though it’s a controlled substance.
Fakih’s big “scandal” is that she once won a pole-dancing contest in which she didn’t take off her clothes.
She’s already been the target of subtle racism and sexism. Fox News’ story focused almost entirely on runner-up Miss Oklahoma, Morgan Elizabeth Woolard–who expressed support for the new Arizona immigration law–and noted Fakih only briefly:
Fakih, an Arab-American from Dearborn, Michican [sic] took home the crown, despite nearly tripping on her evening gown.
The AP, to its credit, quoted Abed Ayoub, legal director for the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, saying Fakih’s crown was an important win for diversity. Unfortunately, his quote also trivialized the win:
Her religion and race was not an issue during the competition, and I hope not during the judging either. She won on beauty, elegance and eloquence.
Gosh, Mr. Ayoub, thank goodness a woman wasn’t judged for anything besides her appearance! Oh oops, we forgot–there was also her “eloquence.” That may be a start, but it appears we still have a long way to go before it’s Ms. USA.
Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceanandjen/ / CC BY 2.0
Post updated May 24, 2010.
I was expecting another article when I saw the title on twitter. I am disappointed. I cannot believe they are still doing this kind of contests. I do not care if is Mexican, White or Muslim. I think this is a disgrace for all the women who are fighting for equality.
Nicely written, but just because Miss American makes a giant PC move doesn’t mean the pagaent is making “progress.” It’s still the same exploitation it always was, they’re just letting smarter people and minorities win.
I appreciate your post, Kate. Gloria Steinem (founding editor of Ms.) was recently interviewed on the Joy Behar Show, and asked what she thought about all these young women having plastic surgery, whether they were wrong and anti-feminist. Of course Steinem didn’t take that bait, the woman is a genius and doesn’t need to waste time condemning plastic surgery. She made it clear that it was not for her to judge other women, and that the real problem is patriarchy.
I think your assessment is appropriate. Of course Miss USA is sexist, duh! You pointed out the racism and sexism that was unique to the coverage of this years’ pageant. Just because Fakih participates in beauty pageants doesn’t mean she deserves to be the target of sexism and racism.
I just have to wonder, is it really the beginning of enlightenment for pageants or just savvy political maneuvering by The Don? Controversy=ratings.
I don’t understand how Abed Ayoub’s comment trivialized Fakih’s win. Assuming there is still interest in the contest (obviously), he is right to say that she was judged on the criteria used by judges. That makes her win well-deserved and a real acceptance of diversity. In the long run, that is what society needs in all areas of life. Fakih has to be commended for being courageous and outspoken.
I think more important than Fakih as a symbol, should be her father.
I’m glad he didn’t decide instead to behead her as a ‘too westernized’ woman and an affront to the honor of his family…
Let’s hear their side of the story, Ms.!
FMaggi
Burnt by the Tuscan Sun
Why do you assume that would be a possibility? There are plenty of moderate Muslims out there who would never think of beheading their daughters or wives, especially in the United States. I grew up in the area of Michigan where Fakih is from, and many of my high school friends were Muslim. What you describe was never a possibility. They wanted the same things for their girls that non-Muslim parents did.
Christianity has its own virulently patriarchal strains, but I'm guessing that if we were talking about a Christian pageant winner you wouldn't be commenting on how wonderful and surprising it is that her family lets her work, go to college, leave the house and wear "immodest" clothing. The fact that you automatically connect that with Muslims is VERY Islamophobic.
HELLO! are we ignoring the fact what are the motives to BEAUTY PAGEANTS! ” A competition in which the entrants, usually women, are judged as to physical beauty and sometimes personality and talent”
http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac131/newyorknicks/People/rima_usa.jpg
HELLO! Are we ignoring the fact what are the motives of BEAUTY PAGEANTS!? “A competition in which the entrants, usually women, are judged as to physical beauty and sometimes personality and talent” It is a beauty contest! In other words beauty pageants do nothing to empower females. This article undermines and condescends women’s exploitation.
It is another source (out of the many) in this culture that objectifies womyn’s bodies and psyche. Beauty pageants play a large role in misleading our womyn (especially our young grrrls) to low self esteems, poor body images, and eating disorders.
Just because an immigrant or a colored woman receives recognition in this oppressive practice IT DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MERE FORCES THAT CAUSE BEAUTY PAGEANTS! Let us not be fooled!
By the way Ms.Fakih reinforces the westernized beauty myth. She portrays the characteristics of an Anglo woman, (((although she is a colored woman!!!!!!!)) For example look at this picture. She is slim and light colored; she has little to almost no resemblance to her ethnicity. Does she really embrace diversity?
http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac131/newyorknicks/People/rima_usa.jpg
And as of Ms. Fakih’s comment on birth control, I Say BIG F***ING deal. I am not going to applaud or give her a cookie for her view/comment on birth control. Birth Control access is a RIGHT to all womyn! There is no question about that. We as feminists should be past that.
There are more important things going on in the feminist community. There are more critical things to be reading than a beauty pageant winner (that by the way has all the characteristics of anti-feminism.)
I will not support a system or a person in an oppressive system that teaches me to value myself through my physical image over intellect and feelings. No matter how great it sounds!
I am surprised and disappointed that Ms. Blog is showing articles like this. The saddest thing is that Ms. Fakih’s triumph in this beauty pageant is seen as a victory in the feminist community! Are we going back in time?
I don’t say congratulations, I feel sorry for the Arab women now part of the westernized objectification of our beauty pageants. Research shows the more a country becomes westernized the increase in eating disorders. Beauty is wonderful, we just can’t make it a competition or there will always be something greener for women. Without competition, women can live in their bodies in peace. Take the hierarchy down for what is considered beautiful, don’t just change around what we consider beautiful, take it down. Sorry runway models that means every and all bodies are sexy and beautiful. Jung talked about the extremes and being able to hold both at the same time. I wonder if we will ever have a time when thin and fat are both behold as the same in beauty? With any pendulum I think the only way to do it is to reject all that is thin and love what is curvy–fat rolls and all, even though thin people may suffer until the pendulum equalizes. Any doctor that is worried about our health I would say tell me when thin is not considered beautiful in America and then you can worry about people trying to eat to gain weight to be pretty. If and when people are trying to actively gain weight to become overweight to be pretty is when you should worry–don’t think that will every happen in my lifetime–sad to sit on this side of the pendulum for so long in our culture. Many hundreds of years ago, when food was not plentiful and only the wealthy had access to high quality food did the rotund figure equate with a high beauty rating. There were accounts of women actually trying to overfeed themselves. When you have a hierarchy of beauty there will be “classes”, “competition” and women will be distracted from really living. I wonder what women could have accomplished without the years of servitude to beauty as a competition?
to Linn Natean. Miss USA is not Miss America. These are two seperate organizations. Most people do not understand that Miss USA is owned by Donald Trump and Miss America Organization is a scholarship organization, in fact, the largest donator of scholarship money to women in the world.