Week 6 Response to Class Blog

I feel frustrated with the amount of air time reality shows devote to women in vain pursuits of beauty, fashion, shopping, glamour, and basically an ideal of physical “perfection” and social status. I talk about this in my final paper and think it is only getting worse as the years and seasons of TV programming go by. Often when a woman is depicted as strong or smart she is demonized as the villain or the “bitch.” Most women are still portrayed as fitting a stereotype of either the nurturing mother or the sex object. I find most of the shows that do depict women as self-sufficient and smart are not reality TV, but shows like Law and Order SVU, Bones, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Hawthorn, Saving Grace, Medium, and The Closer. I can not bear to watch the Real Housewives series or these ridiculous shows that set back women and equality one hundred years. I don’t think they are an accurate representation. While we may still have a patriarchal society, these depictions of women are extreme and I think provide escapism for those in the “real” world which can explain their high ratings. I definitely think they hinder our progress recognizing women as capable equals. I wonder too why so many women tune in and claim these silly shows are “guilty pleasures.” Is that because they are aware that they should know better? Or enjoy TV that does not portray women in his manner? And notice how the “male” reality shows provide images of men doing stereotypically masculine things; Man vs. Wild, Man vs. Food, Dirty Jobs, Mythbusters, Ghosthunters, etc. My research showed that audiences are drawn to watching shows with the familiar gender roles so it makes sense that shows try to appeal to this with men doing manly things and women conforming to outdated ideals of feminine. Honestly, I can not think of any reality shows where women are not portrayed in this manner and I find it discouraging.