Social Consequences Of The Bachelor

Everyone wants to find that special someone. The idea of love has become an obsessive fascination among modern society. The Bachelor, is a reality TV show that appeals to that obsession. The entire premise of the show is centered on the notion of finding love. Such a simple concept has created an empire for ABC. With a diehard fan base that calls themselves “Bachelor nation” , thirty consecutive seasons, three spin off series, and on average 11.7 million viewers (Mullins,2013) , it is no surprise this show has social consequences. The bachelor has unparalleled entertainment value. With systematically placed drama, and too good to turn off plot twists the show is a smashing success. The Bachelor franchises in particular the bachelor, indorses

One of the main themes the series projects onto society is the misrepresentation of extravagant dates. In 2013 OK magazine ran an article highlighting some of the most lavish dates from bachelor Sean Lowes season. The number one date was called the “The pretty women date,” Sean took Leslie H. shopping on Rodeo drive, where she was gifted a new dress, shoes purse and to top it off a one hundred and twenty carat diamond necklace from Neil Lane. This is a prime example of the unrealistic tendencies that run amuck in this series. It is unrealistic to even believe when going on a first date with someone they will buy you anything, let alone a multimillion dollar necklace. The over the top nature gives society a false image of dating. Gabrielle Frank a writer for Women’s Health Magazine recalled an unfathomable date from season fourteen with Jake Pavelka, “Jake kicked off this extreme date by picking Vienna up from the Bachelor mansion in a helicopter. Next stop: the San Gabriel Mountains, where they were bound together and physically shaken, then forced to bungee jump off of a bridge overlooking a river.” This type of date is a staple for the bachelor. Helicopter rides to glamorous location are not seen as anything more than transportation. The producers use this same extreme take again and again, season after season making it appear to be no big deal. The

ABC does not accurately reflect interactions between women but, influences society thoughts about their relationships and interactions. In reality TV shows women only ever appear to be judging each other, treating them as competition and undermining their relationships with men. All of which lead to an unhealthy vision of women in our society. According to a study conducted by Jen Christensen a writer at CNN “About 78% of girls who watched reality TV thought gossip was a normal part of a relationship between girls, while only 54% of girls who didn 't watch it did.” This can be mirror in many episodes of the bachelor, in particular season 16 with Ben Flajnik. Throughout the season Courtney Robertson had been villainized by the rest of the female cast. Four different women ended up confessing their problems to Ben Flajnik. All the while creating such a harmful gossip train that later ruined their engagement. The same Study went on to say “Another 68% of reality TV viewers thought it was natural for girls to be "catty and competitive" with each other, while only 50% of non-viewers did.” Arguably one of the most catty seasons was the most recent season with bachelor Chris Soules. As noted by Abby Draper a columnist for the Baltimore Sun the contestants made many comments such “Carly, the cruise ship singer, says that if Kelsey gets a rose, she