Hello, World! I'll bet you thought I'd make it all the way through April without making a single post. Well, you were wrong, weren't you?
Let's see here. I finally have a job (two actually) and I'm all the way back into the suburban lifestyle in which I grew up. Some things, such as cable television, I would have gladly done without, but I have this sister who has been supporting me since I moved back to Ohio and she really really wants cable. So we have it.
As a result of this, I find myself watching a lot of TV. Having your only job for two months be looking for jobs can do this to someone. Is anyone else noticing a serious feminist backlash in recent popular television media? I am.
I'd like to address just a few examples.
1. Tough Love - On this show, a bunch of ladies in the throes of "what am I doing wrong?" look to this guy to teach them how to act in a way that is more pleasing to men, so that they can "find love." Some of his advice to them is pretty standard. For instance, there was one woman who would decide whether or not she could date someone based on the shape and size of his feet only. I'll agree that's not really conducive to finding a partner. However, most of his advice is just a reinforcement of archaic gender roles and this reinforcement is being legitimized by the fact that some TV network is giving him credibility. To keep this short, the one piece of advice that stuck out to me was when he told all of the women that men need to feel needed and in order to give a man the idea that he is needed, it is necessary to not appear too self-sufficient. More on that after the rest of these.
2. Rock of Love - Now don't get me wrong, I'd much rather watch Bret Michaels try to get a date than watch Flavor Flav and the show was actually interesting at times because the verbal exchanges between the ladies was somewhat intelligent (I mean, of course, after the blond-tourage left), but there were a few things about this show (or, let's just say, this entire concept) that left me fuming. First of all, what is the deal with popular media perpetuating the myth that competing like dogs for a date with any man is acceptable or conducive at all to having any self respect. One of the first things my mother taught me about dating was that if it becomes a contest, it's not worth your time. Second, did anybody else notice the double standard? All of these competing women are expected to be totally physically and emotionally faithful to Bret. They even call in ex-boyfriends and interview them as a sort of background check of love. Yet, Bret has a harem of rock chicks on his hands and it's totally okay that he's switching between them all the time in order to make his decision. That kills me.
3. Millionaire Matchmaker - The premise is that women are matched up with millionaires. That's basically it. However, there are a few things here that I find laughable. First of all, the women are encouraged and taught how not to appear to be gold diggers, and yet, they all signed up for a dating service that is matching them up with millionaires. Hello. Second, while the service is run by a supposedly ball-busting strong female (supposedly), one of the main things she crams down everyone's throat is that men should act like men and women should act like women. What she means by this, of course, is that women should be passive, somewhat evasive and always irresistible, while men should be in charge and should enjoy the act of "hunting" for a girlfriend.
I don't know if this is a new thing or an ongoing thing, but is this making anyone else sick to their respective stomachs? I mean, are we in the year 2009 or what, because all this talk about hunting and passivity and living to please and veiling one's true intentions makes me feel like I should slap on an apron and get dinner on the table promptly by 6.
Don't we think it's time to just let the patriarchal paradigm go?
