I hate the Bachelor/Bachelorette

I absolutely, completely, unconditionally hate “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.”

There, I said it. Maybe I am the only 20-something female who abhors everything related to these reality television shows, but I cannot understand why anyone in their right mind would waste their time to watch a group of grown women acting like idiots to win a man’s heart (and vice versa).

I cannot say I did not try, though. After a few years of hearing my friends gushing about the latest season, I decided to try and watch it. Maybe it was not as bad as I thought.

No. It was absolutely as bad as I thought.

I spent an entire episode cringing on the couch as I watched beautiful women attacking one another in the attempt to be chosen by a man I, quite frankly, did not think was all that great.

While I could go on and on about all the surface-level reasons I cannot stand “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” there is a deeper-seeded issue in these shows, which needs to be addressed: These shows undermine what love really looks like.

They teach viewers: 1) you need to look perfect for anyone to even consider falling in love with you, 2) you need to change who you are to be loved by someone, and 3) it is okay for there to be competition in your romantic relationship.

Take reason number one, for example: Every human being on both shows is physically attractive. I do not mean this in the “everyone is beautiful in their own way” sense. If I could write a list of all the traits, which make a person attractive in our society, every single person on these shows would fit the bill.

The people who qualify to be on the show do not have an ounce of fat or flab on their bodies. Their teeth are perfect. They always look flawless.

That is not reality.

Now, take reason number two: While all the men and women initially have different personalities, likes and dislikes in episode one, the competition of the show causes each of them to morph into someone they are not to win the approval of the bachelor/bachelorette.

I understand the show is just that––a television show. Some of the individuals may act a certain way because they are on television. Still, what does this say about a show that is supposed to lead to a “happily ever after”?

Lastly, reason number three: The show is a literal game. The bachelor/bachelorette can treat each participant like they are in a committed relationship without the commitment. People get furious when their significant other cheats on them in the real world, so why is it different on a television show? Even the “winner” of each show will have to live with the fact they were only one of many.

The statistics of both shows reveal the truth: “The Bachelor” has boasted 21 seasons since 2002. Out of every season, only one couple is still together, and they are married. After 14 seasons, six of “The Bachelorette” couples are still together. The data does not suggest either of the shows are successful at bringing participants to a happily ever after.

While I am glad a handful of the participants now have happy marriages and beautiful families, these shows are purely entertainment. To put it bluntly, the majority of the participants are toys.

I am not a toy. You are not a toy. Our hearts are not toys.

Whereas the show provides a good laugh here and there, why should we support entertainment in which the meaning of love and people’s feelings are degraded and disregarded?

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