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Do reality shows like “The Bachelor” set women back?
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Reality shows are guilty of many things, but the biggest crime for most is the way in which they portray women and the scenarios that are set up to bring out the worst in them. No matter what the subject matter is of the show, women are cast and/or edited into fulfilling roles and negative stereotypes about “typical” female behavior, namely cattiness, backstabbing, forming cliques, and constantly talking behind each other’s backs.
Last night, I watched the season premiere of ABC’s hit, The Bachelor and to no avail, all of these reality show requisites were in abundance. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, The ‘Bachelor ’ Jason Mesnick, has one goal and one goal only – to find the woman of his dreams. He starts out with a group of 25 bachelorettes and as the season progresses, whittles the number down by offering roses to his chosen ones. Eliminations from the group ensue and the last two standing have to duke it out to get the big ring (likely paid for by ABC) and the proposal.
As the program started, it was no surprise that the claws came out and the cattiness began within the first ten minutes. When the 25 women were introduced to viewers, all had some kind of snide comment to make about the others. Some of the women said things like, “I can take her,” or “She better not mess with me,” all likely spawned on by the producers asking contentious behind-the-camera questions to prompt these kinds of answers. And of course, when they were introduced to Jason, they were dressed to the nines and as expected, cleavage galore.
I know I don’t have to watch it and it’s my choice to do so, but whenever this particular series is on the air, it’s a love-hate thing. It’s like a car wreck where you don’t want to see it but you just have to look. I grudgingly but consistently watch each week just to witness and scoff at the behavior demonstrated by these women, yet am truly entertained by how ridiculous some of these women act towards each other and themselves. They know they’re being filmed, right?
Yes, it is television and yes the network must keep it entertaining and dramatic to keep the viewers coming back for more. Ever notice how each rose ceremony is “the most shocking one yet”? Why all the drama? Women already get a bad rap for being too emotional, too dramatic, too moody. Need the networks continue to add fuel to this unfair fire by only portraying behavior to support this notion? OK, I will take some of the blame merely by watching the show. After all, the networks wouldn’t put a series like this on air if people like me didn’t watch, just like the paparazzi wouldn’t stalk celebrities to take pictures if their magazines didn’t sell. But there’s still a lot of room for improvement.
Jennifer Pozner, founder and executive director of Women In Media & News (WIMN), a women's media analysis, education and advocacy organization, is widely regarded as an expert in women in TV, specifically reality TV. She has traveled the country giving lectures such as “Not My Reality: How Reality TV Distorts Women and What You Can Do About It” and “Bachelor Babes, Bridezillas & Husband-Hunting Harems: Decoding Reality TV's Twisted Fairy Tales.” She talks extensively on how women are portrayed on reality TV and on her blog, says, “The more profitable so-called unscripted programming grows, the more poisonous its representations of women become…No one wants to see a brainiac in a bikini in reality television. In this unreal world, women aren’t just stupid — they’re also catty and bitchy.”
We know that the networks will continue to fulfill this false prophecy about women because let’s face it, scenes of beautiful, scantily clad women who fight with each other and call each other derogatory names do draw big numbers. Until this changes, we need to take it with a grain of salt and realize that this reality TV isn’t so real after all.
Click HERE to read more thoughts on the media’s portrayal of women.
Photo RealityTVWorld from ABC/Craig Sjodin
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