Bachelor."Here's my qeerie: 25 women fighting for the attention of one man in the desperate attempt at matrimony? How is that a tv show? Have these producers even seen what my ward's Linger Longer sessions are? Or FHE? Or an HB party? Or ANY LDS party, for that matter? How is this any different from REAL life, besides the over-processed hair, excess of plastic surgery, runny mascara, and ill-fitting bikinis? PS- I live in Orange County, so...NOTHING. NOTHING is different here.
What's even more alarming is this: I can see myself in one of these girls. Shocking, I know. In the commercial clip, I rolled my eyes in embarrassment at the girl who hopped up and started dancing in front of "The Bachelor" during a party. But then in the full clip, I saw her- a perky little cheerleader who smiles like an idiot, can't stop giggling, and (when asked to) hops up and performs part of her dance routine for him. I hate to admit it. It shames my soul to know the truth, but...I would totally be That Girl. Do I smile constantly? Yes. Giggle at EVERYTHING...Well- when it's funny. And let's face it. That situation of 25 women showing off their "tricks" (like webbed toes) in order to get attention from a man? Hilarious. And sad. But also- hilarious. And if someone asked me to hop up and dance during a party, well...They don't pay me the big bucks for nothin'.
But please. To pass this off as entertainment? Hits a little close to home, people. And when your real reality becomes akin to a reality tv show, that has got to indicate some serious moral values are in the toilet. Along with self-respect, dignity, and self-esteem. And then when a girl has him use her body as wetbar, following up with a very serious, "I'm a Christian and I believe in old-fashioned moral values," followed up by a lapdance and taking her top off...well...I wish I could say I didn't know anyone like that. But the desperation reeks of reality. Of women who cry because they think the man they've met is the ONLY one they want, or who are convinced this is their last shot (when they're 26), or those who are so desperate for attention that they will do anything to get it- even if that means backbiting, stripping down, making a pass too early in the game, or (fill in the blank).
How is it that, after all these years of progress in the Women's Movement and with Women's Rights, we have come full-circle (albeit with degenerative moral values)? How did it happen that women are still made to feel like they are "competition," desperate for the attention of a man they barely even know more of a profile of? I'd almost love the opportunity to be on
a show like this, if only to stand up and say, "No. I cannot, in good faith, accept that rose. Because I think you are a white-bread statue with a lot of money and very little character or personality. And I refuse to be put into a competition for your affection with strippers, alcoholics, and desperate gold-diggers. Thanks for the shrimp cocktail."What would happen to our LDS social scene if every woman stood up and did much the same? If we all said, "I'm sorry- I refuse to take part in this social madness you call a party (or linger longer, or ward activity, etc.) and respectfully request that, if you'd like to get to know me and become REAL friends, spend some one-on-one time with me. Don't facebook/myspace/linkup friend me; forge a real, honest-to-goodness rapport with me through conversation and short-term adventures, as you would devote to any friend you find interesting."
Last night I refused to "stop by and hang out" at a guy's house; when the surrounding 6 women expressed shock that I "don't hang out anymore," one of them laughed and said, "So what? You just date?" And I thought for about 1.2 seconds and answered, "Yes. Yes I do. I date ALL my friends now," explaining that, male and female alike, every actual friend of mine gets exclusive time and attention. Why? Because it shows them they matter to me, that I care about their lives, and that they are special individuals. That time alone together- even when it's a 30 minute jog along PCH or a quick trip to the grocery store together- allows me to get to know them better and then, yes- we really ARE friends. And when we go to parties and see each other, we know better. We're don't feel devalued or desperate for attention. We've already elimiated the competition.
11 comments:
I hate the Bachelor.
I work with Charlie, runner up from the Bachelorette-season 1... be impressed- oh, and the mormon girl that was on season one of The Bachelor (Kyla), she was in my singles ward in Utah, gave the most interesting teastimony in testimony meeting ever...but I digress. I'm with you, this show exploits everything that is wrong with women.
In addition, I find it sad that there are less prostitutes in the world today than there were 20 years ago. Why? Because before men had to pay for it- now women are morally degenerate and such big skanks that men can easily get it for free.
farrah, sometimes you take the thoughts right out of my head and articulate them better than i could and post them online.
All there is left to say is AMEN, Farrah! A-FREAKIN'-MEN!!! Like I always say....I love your mind.
I love your body.
But who doesn't?
"Rudie, we are nominating you to be on The Bachelor."
"Oh, uh.."
"Except it's not going to be the regular Bachelor, it's going to be 'The Mormon Bachelor'."
"Ermm.."
"Instead of choosing just one girl, you'll get to pick seven! Har har har."
Yeah, my friends are hilarious.
I applaud you giving up "hanging out". Some of the best conversations I've had have come from the sometimes random one-on-one interactions while at the grocery store or Jiffy-Lube. They have rarely come from the standard hangout/pseudoparty with the same people. (And never on a "group date".)
Didn't Elder Oaks say no more hanging out a couple years ago? Didn't he say that this is a cop out to dating? Didn't he tell the guys to get off their butts and date? Didn't he tell the women to lock their cubords and all that?
Good for you for following this.
How quickly we all forget.
I'm with you 100%. It's a never-ending source of amusement/bemusement to me that women on this type of show will line up and fight over some guy who is usually some over-tanned, over-sexed, emotionally under-developed hollow shell of a man that they probably don't even want anyway. I am convinced that it's not as much about the guy as it is about time in the lime light. The whole concept is kind of a train wreck, really.
On another note, it never ceases to amuse me when the ads in the column of your blog fall ironically out of synch with the content of your posts. I had scarcely finished reading the paragraph where you bemoan the sense of competition to win the attention of some guy by pretending to be something you're not when I noticed the ad in the column of your blog.
It would appear that the answer to your question is, "because it sells."
I enjoy the bachelor in a grotesque sort of way. And it is scary how the women fight over this guy who is obviously a moron to the us viewers (there have been some that I had a ounce of respect for in the past, and then the fact that they were in fact on the bachelor discredited that).
It makes me sad that these women sell themselves so short and exploit themselves in such a fashion.
And how closely it correlates with our lives.
Why do we subject ourselves to it? To judgement or competition of any kind? To make ourselves feel important because we "beat" someone else? And for what? A "prize"- one that is only respected as valuable BECAUSE of a competition? Who the hell came UP with this kind of system? And WHY are we buying into it???
And yes- I did quote Elder Oaks, or rather, told the girls that, "I choose to follow the prophet!" They thought I was kidding.
I'm not.
Man, Daisies are ugly flowers.
Be your OWN kind of Beautiful, Tanner! YOUR OWN KIND!!!
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