Protesting Miss America

Abstract

Topic statement: How did the 1968 Miss America Pageant protests exemplify the values of women during this time period, and how did the feminist movement affect other civil rights movements at the time?

“The 4-H club county fair, [a place] where the nervous animals are judged for teeth, fleece, etc., and where the best ‘specimen’ gets the blue ribbon.” This was the metaphor published in the New York Free Press by the Women's Liberation Movement describing the Miss America Pageant in 1968. The Miss America protests were used by women as a way to gain acceptance and support for women's equality. The women of the Women's Liberation Movement felt that the Miss America Pageant was sexist, racist, and held women to an unrealistic beauty standard. National media coverage allowed women to exemplify their values of equality, opportunity, and natural beauty, and launched the beginning of the feminist movement we know today. Because of the success women attained during this time period, other civil rights movements were encouraged to continue their fight and achieve a success of their own.