The Problem with the Bachelor | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

The Problem with the Bachelor

743
The Problem with the Bachelor

With the new year also comes a new season of the Bachelor. I am not afraid to admit that the Bachelor/Bachelorette series is one of my guilty pleasures. While I'm sure all the fans who choose to indulge in this show think that it is a harmless reality show, the more I watch the more I realize that almost everything the show stands for enforces a traditional and outdated view of love and marriage. Between the heteronormative expectations in all the relationships and the stereotyping of both men and women as certain kinds of partners, The Bachelor franchise essentially disempowers its contestants and our society as well.

Given that the Bachelor is a reality show, we can't really expect the depiction of love and romance as something ethically and politically correct, but I think the immense audience that the show attracts, it is worth discussing the way they portray couples. Just by looking at the most recent season with Colton being labeled as the "Virgin Bachelor" is enough of an indicator to see the harmful stereotypes that are highlighted within this show. Why is it that when a man is a virgin it creates such shock and attention, but when female Bachelorette/Bachelor contestants have been virgins it did not create this same level of attention?

The men on this show are expected to fit very specific stereotypes, usually a sharp contrast between the hyper-masculine tough men and the sweet, sensitive men. Meanwhile the women on the show face similar stereotypes as either villain, sluts or prudes. Along with the immense lack of diversity on the show, this show is such a poor representation of the different ways that love and romance can emerge or even the different capacities of men and women. The current generation is pushing so hard to erase the binary between masculine and feminine, as well as just stereotypes in general, so it is a little surprising that this show is so popular despite the way it depicts men and women as surface level characters who have no passion outside of getting married.

This is another unrealistic expectation that the Bachelor creates: marriage as the end all, be all. This show draws in an extremely large audience of young people who are then wrapped into a show who places so much value on a proposal after only 6 weeks of dating! The emphasis on marriage being a necessity after such a short period of time only further empowers the false expectations and misunderstandings of marriage as a form of validation for relationships. Not only the Bachelor reinforce heteronormative views of men and women, but it also places the idea of marriage on a pedestal. Without marriage, the entire relationship falls short of the happy ending the Bachelor intends to create. This is an unrealistic and outdated view that only restrains the couples on the show.

Given the popularity of the show, I think it is very important to recognize the harmful stereotypes portrayed on the show and not fall into that way of thinking. Beyond that it is definitely necessary to push for more diversity and inclusion within the contestants and couples on the show. But at the end of the day, we're all probably still going to watch the Bachelor once in a while because who doesn't love some of the drama?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

846
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

522
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199569
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20501
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments