WHY is it that reality TV brings out the worst in women? Reality TV is a guilty pleasure for me, akin to sneaking in a full-fat frappuccino (with whipped cream!) every once in a while, or buying a pair of shoes that I know I'll only wear once or twice because they're so damned cute. However, I really hate that most shows are a playground for the worst sort of catty, bitchy behavior that just perpetuates the stereotype of women as vapid Barbie dolls who only care about clothes and men.

That's not to say that I don't get my own catty sort of enjoyment watching when a bunch of stupid people act...well, stupidly. I'm not a TOTAL hypocrite. But still, it would be great if there were more women who used some of these opportunities to, I don't know, make friends are something. Empower others. You can still compete and be friendly. That's an overriding credo for me...I really, truly believe that women should, in general, be friends. I don't feel the need to compete with other women just because they're women. Sure, if I'm competing for a promotion or something, but overall, I don't view a group of women as my potential enemies or competition for men. There's plenty to go around, girls.

So, to prove what a really horrible, awful feminist I am, the reality shows I'm talking about specifically are The Bachelor and Pussycat Dolls: Search for the Next Doll. Especially The Bachelor. I know...I am ASHAMED. Just...remember what I said earlier...GUILTY PLEASURE. Anyway, the overriding bitchiness really struck me last night, watching The Bachelor, because all of the girls were ganging up on another girl (Stephanie) because the bachelor in question seems to have taken an early liking to her. Inevitably in these kinds of situations, the girl who is winning is a DIRTY, DIRTY WHORE, even though she's done nothing wrong except (gasp!) do well in the competition. I mean...what? It's not like she's flashing her vagina around! I could get really wanky and argue that's not even worthy of the "whore" title, but who are we kidding here? I'm watching a show about the Pussycat Dolls. I'm not exactly aspiring to lofty heights.

I'm probably going to get a letter in the mail from Gloria Steinem, revoking my feminist membership. *facepalm*