PARIS — France's Senate has voted to ban beauty pageants for children under 16, in an effort to protect girls from being sexualized too early.
Anyone who enters a child into such a contest would face up to two years in prison and about $40,000 in fines. A pageant organizer lamented that the move was so severe.
The Senate approved the measure 197-146 overnight, as an amendment to a law on women's rights. The legislation must go to the lower house of parliament for further debate and another vote.
Reader poll
Do you agree with the French Senate vote to ban child beauty pageants?
- Yes: Pageants inappropriately hypersexualize young girls, and the ban would protect them.
- No: Child beauty pageants aren't harmful.
- No: Pageants should be regulated, but the ban is too sweeping.
- Other (please contribute to comments section).
16 total votes.