Producers have to get ratings, and drama and sex sell. Sadly, usually it's women who are viewed in a sexualized manner- but that's another topic. How do all of the reality shows which portray young people out partying, drinking and having sex affect young teens, especially young women?
Gone are the days of the fairy tales when a lady was pursued by a gentleman and a healthy relationship started. The latest episode of "Party Down South" on the CMT network features a group of young people staying in a house in Murrells Inlet, SC. It starts the same way your typical reality show does: each member of the cast walks in and starts drinking immediately, both the male and female cast members size each other up and pass judgement.
Although I know it's scripted, the show does not give young teens and pre-teens a good example of how to conduct themselves...and when every reality show has the same progression, then what are people supposed to think? That this is acceptable? That acting like this will make you famous on a reality TV show? That this type of behavior is AT ALL normal?
Just take a look at these advertisements that are made to "promote" the show...And you can't tell me that teenagers aren't up at 10 p.m.
"I'm not a whore, but if it happens, it happens"
"You know what shuts guys up? Boobs!"
So this is just saying it's fun to get drunk and disrobe not only in front of a crowd of strangers but also on TV?
And this one is just flat out disturbing. But yes, all three of these scenes appeared on the very first episode of "Party Down South." Along with drinking to extreme excess, foul language, hooking up, and fighting.
But this is just one show. The truth is they are everywhere, and they all feature pretty much the same. Drinking is glorified, having unprotected random sex is what makes it exciting, and of course it's not a show without fighting and using foul language towards everyone.
My fear is that a lot of people view this as an acceptable way to act. If this is what it takes to be semi-famous on a reality TV show, then many young teens will look to act this way.
Where I attended high school, you weren't "cool" if you didn't physically fight someone. It was all about who wasn't scared of who and who could be the most intimidating. I thought it was awful (and no, I was never involved in an altercation of any sort.) But the fact that your ability to intimidate someone or try to hurt someone is what made people look up to you?
That is horrible.
I'm not just blaming the cast of "Party Down South." As I said earlier, "The Real World" started it, and "Jersey Shore" really embodied it. The truth is, people like watching others act in a way they wouldn't, but high schoolers don't know the difference.
Of course, I have to bring up "Teen Mom." The show that follows young mothers through pregnancy and through the first few years of their child's life. When I watched this show, I thought it glorified teen mothers. I mean, just take a look at Farrah, the teen mom who accepted an offer to paticipate in adult films. According to an article by Michelle Castillo on CBS News published on January 14, 2014, the reality TV shows "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom" have actually been linked to a drop in teen birth rate.
According to the Castillo, research has somehow proven that the shows have shown the hardships of being a teen parent and that young people are choosing other methods of teenage pregnancy prevention. Click here to read the full article.
I'm not quite sure what to think of that study, and I keep thinking how can they even tie the lower number of teen pregnancies to the show itself, but eitherway it's an interesting read.
My question to you- what do you think of reality TV shows? Do you think they are harmless fun or that they promote a harmful image to teens and pre-teens?
Pictures courtesy of www.savingcountrymusic.com
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