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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 8:29:31 AM | This is hogwash for many reasons. First, men and minorities can make the same argument, hell, Home Improvement was based solely on the guy's guy that didn't know how to show feelings, was led around by his intense interest in toys, etc., not a flattering persona and yet the show ran successfully for how many years? Latinos and blacks have complained, and rightly so, that they were for years protrayed as the shuffling negro, the wife-beating male, or the criminal just as women until fairly recently, could not find any good leading women roles in film if they were too old or didn't fit into the stunning beauty category.
People like these shows because while the character is usually overblown, there is a grain of truth in them. American humor has always been able to look at the idiosyncrasies of life through humor of this sort. The Cave Man probably did a lot more for male/female relationships than the Mars/Venus b.s. There are people that are like this just as there are people like those portrayed on The Cosby Show. The fact that some people buy into the scenario depicted by the shows is an illustration of ignorance and while it may be influenced by the shows, it was not created by them.
Most people who think of others this way, judging a gender, ethnic group, race, national origin or whatever as indicative of the entirety of that gender, etc. is ignorant and changing programming is probably not going to make a dent in the way they perceive the world around them. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 9:14:56 AM |  ...
In the dense forest comes a bit of sense...farceur, you nailed most of it...
When TV celebrates raw sexuality that is undiluted by noisy ideas, it presents us with the ideal each of us should strive to copy first before adding on any further qualities and abilities. The foundation of every well rounded person is their sexuality. I don't think women are being told they can only be bimbos and nothing more, but being told that unless they are bimbos at heart, then their personality is founded on a lie that works against the survival of the species
1. Fact: Most men are attracted visually...and sex is sellable. Trillions of dollars do not lie. From stripper venues to porn sites. From sexy TV (Victoria's Secret Show) to sexy clothiers that sell anything sexy from lingerie...to costuming...sexual aid shops..
Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton did not get where they got by being non-sexy.
2. Fact: Cosmetic companies will thrive in boom or bust years. From hair dyes to lipsticks! The balance sheets show billions of dollars spent. Anything to look sexy and attractive.
3. Fact: Magazines and books aimed at females/males attraction/interactions. All have incredible articles on how to be sexy and attract men. These sell by the billions of dollars.
When trillions of dollars are spent on being sexy...then it's alive and well...IT IS A REALITY.
Accept it. Don't fight it. The 1970's - 2009 is just a teeny tiny speck in earth's history.
Mother Nature and Evolution will always dominate.
What God/Bible brings into Mother Nature's dominence is an edict called conscience and an ability to use our intelligence to put our animalistic humanity into a structured social environment that works with Mother Nature and NOT against it. Every social group..whether it be bees or ants..lions or humans has an order.
All of it is to enable the species to stay strong and enable it to continue....as tens of thousands of years has already allowed it to do so.
Most Males will be attracted to the Females that show that they are willing to copulate and make new babies....initial attraction..
What makes him stay and make a relationship if there are no babies for him to raise??
A wrinkled old harpy who is still yelling "I am woman..hear me yell!"????
That is the conumdrum of middle-aged BabyBoomers who decided it was fun to take on Mother Nature in their wild and mispent youth.
Happy Mother' Day!
I am opening classes on Learning to be a Bimbo......$100.00 per session... | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 9:27:58 AM | Isn't the real problem how people feel that imitating anyone on television will somehow make them a better person in some way shape or form?? Not that it should be surprising since the tube has done such a wonderful job of raising our children over the last 30 years and the parental units have allowed this to happen instead of putting away those golf clubs and actually take an interest in their offspring.
But hey, this is also coming from a guy who's user name is based off of a character on Scrubs so take whatever I say for whatever it might be worth. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 9:28:06 AM |
The foundation of every well rounded person is their sexuality. I don't think women are being told they can only be bimbos and nothing more, but being told that unless they are bimbos at heart, then their personality is founded on a lie that works against the survival of the species. The more that modern life demands of women the farther it pulls them from their reproductive nature, and so there exists in response a great need for women to relate as purely sexual beings, keeping in touch with what is natural and innate.
^^^farceur, a very interesting post. I get what you're saying but surely doesn't a relationship with a man in itself not produce the desired action/response that connect us to our innate objective---no matter how harried we are? Isn't that how it's supposed to work?
In time, as society progresses, men will likewise need to be helped to return to their himbo roots , getting back in touch with their sexual side, reclaiming their capacity to lust without shame.
^^^Does getting back to those roots imply that one should forgo monogamy because it works against the imperative of a man which, I'm assuming is similar to that of a woman...to live in concert with their reproductive nature---or, are you merely suggesting that men should go about their lives being able to lust wildly? (Most of the men who I know seem to have no problem lusting...) jmo. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 9:47:05 AM | I feel I need to point something out, OP: reality shows aren't. In the same way that StarTrek wasn't a real depiction of anyone's life events (I know, a shock, eh?). Also not "reality": Grey's Anatomy, Oprah, Jerry Springer (is that still on?),House, Law and Order(s), CSI(s), and , quite frankly, the news.
On the other hand, it does p me o that these shows are out there because there ARE some men who say, "See, women are like this. I have PROOF, it's on TV" | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 10:08:00 AM | TV did not give “birth” to bimbos, rednecks, dweebs, doofuses or asshats. The VIEWING AUDIENCE is responsible for the plethora of $1.98 Gong Shows that now permeate the airwaves. The reason there are so many shows featuring people like this (or gross EXAGGERATIONS of same) is because the viewing audience keeps drooling, rubbernecking and tuning in to WATCH. These shows make mile high RATINGS and that brings a shitload of MONEY into the network coffers via advertising revenues. The TV industry wants to SELL to the sheeple, not TELL them things that could actually be construed as educational and informative; they want them fat, dumb and entertained, so they can make MONEY off of them. Period.
So, if you don’t like the Bridezilla, Dr. Phillzilla, TMZzilla, Jackasszilla, or the Zilla in Manila, then make your NON-viewership speak for you and DON’T watch this schlock. It will still be an empty gesture, one that will be about as effective as farting into a Dorothy Gale Kansas cyclone and expecting it to “raise a stink”. However, I find that such tactics can lull me into a false sense of complacency and actually cause me to believe that I’m might be “making a difference”.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to watch The Hitler Channel (in HD! and in mein “kampfy” chair!)  | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 10:12:17 AM | | Face it, the way TV has portrayed BOTH sexes is really sorry. Unfortunately, when there are millions of viewers that will tune into this stuff, sex & stupidity will always sell. The only reality show that I enjoy watching is "Amazing Race". | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 10:20:59 AM | | I've wondered about the stereotypes portrayed on tv and if the people watching them actually see themselves as like or wanting to be like them. But I'd have to say by the number of woman who seem to have gone through some kind of 'bimbo-ization' that at least some of them must. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 10:27:49 AM |
(Msg 50) desert wildflower, unfortunately both men and women are being misled by pop cultural illusional images of the ideal attractive and sexual appealing woman and man, propagated by TV shows and films. Such images frequently impacts on the values of many as to what they find sexually appealing, such as defined six pack abs in men along with Tom Cruise facial features while women are being bombarded by bimbo-like images of such personages as the Brittney Speares, Paris Hiltons and numerous others. Unfortunately when many men and women do not perceive themselves as being as attractive as these pseudo-icons, it impacts on their self-esteem and their feelings of attractiveness to the opposite sex.
This has got to be one of my pet peeves.
Yes, there are people who are more attractive than others." There are people who sing better. There are people who play basketball better. There are people who play piano better than others. There are people who are smarter than others and, yes, there are people who are more attractive than others!
Well, I feel better now.
What men and women find attractive, visually speaking, is a no brainer. Any club, any dance, any social event......just watch who attracts the most members of the opposite sex.
Sure, we all have individual tastes and there is always someone who prefers the "different" but TV is based on numbers. What person is attractive to the most people?
This idea it harms a person's self-esteem is nonsense. 99% of the people won't be the best singer nor the most attractive. It's called facing reality.
The problem is telling people, especially children, they are something they are not. Talk to the average teenager. The average teenage girl has some guy after her. At least it was like that when I was a teen. Maybe she didn't have the top athelete at the school chasing her but if any teen girl was interested in a boyfriend she's have one.
With teenage guys it was usually a different story. The male pursues and the female rejects. Some guys took it personally. But even in those cases the teen boy could find a girlfriend as long as he wasn't foolish enough to compete in the same pond as the school jock.
While I was "acceptable" I know that driving to school on my motorcycle, at 16, certainly increased the available selection of dates. All a guy can do is work with what he's got. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 10:31:00 AM | | A lot of the popularity of these "reality" shows is due to the feeling of superiority it gives it's audience. No matter how big of a loser you are, 5 minutes of Jerry Springer helps you realize just how bad things could be. One reality show I do like though, is the new one on VH-1... "Tough Love". Great show! | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 11:30:13 AM |
More and more TV shows are portraying women as bimbos,
Really?
I sometimes watch desperate housewives. I have no idea what it's about...I'm too busy thinking about engaging in private activities with the female cast.
Another time, I caught an interview with Margaret Atwood. She had some really brilliant and profound things to say... validating concepts I used to tell my mom when I was 8.
In both cases I had the power to turn the t.v. on or off AND change the channels. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 11:38:01 AM | These are reality shows and most people here seem to be missing the point of reality shows.
The target market of these shows is not for people to get their thrills seeing sex or some flat stereotypical ideal.
That "bimboization" of women isn't there to titillate or suggest some ideal, it's there to make women watching it feel better about themselves. Th target market is watching to see others humiliate themselves. That's what the show is about in the first place. Starting with the first reality TV show, Candid Camera, reality TV has always been about people embarrassing, humiliating, or otherwise making fools of themselves.
[and off topic]
"...women control who gets sex or not. "
The only thing a woman can control sometimes is who does not have sex with her. Attractive people tend to be able to have sex with a pretty good variety of partners be they male or female and control who does and does not. Even then, I've met very attractive women who can't get the men they want to have sex with them. Unattractive people don't have nearly as many options. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 11:39:28 AM |
unfortunately many women in real life dress, act, relate and behave like bimbos so when many men watch these shows it serves to reinforce the stereotypical images that they percieve from their personal experiences.
Yea, and Jim already pointed out that the stereotypes are heavily reinforced with shows like "Married With Children" and "According To Jim" just the same...I don't see anyone raising their hands in objection over those shows.
Art imitates life. These shows demonstrate that there are still way too many women out there that are living just the lives that most of us here have denounced. If they didn't act that way, there'd be no show. It's pretty simple.
Same thing applies to those shows that paint all males as incompetent buffoons. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 11:53:27 AM | I hardly notice the tv shows that bimbo-size ( feel like W.Bush using this word: I am embarrassed) women. What are these shows? My curiousity is picqued. No, I don't want to know.
The shows I watch usually do not portray shallow, stupid people as a rule. I do notice that they are populated with people who are young or visually attractive but inevitably intelligent, male and female: CSI anywhere, House, Law & Order any unit, Cooking channel, Bones, documentaries, history channel, news (ok not Fox)
If I were to speculate, there is an intelligent show for every one that "bimbo-sized" women. And there is absolutely no relationship between any tv shows and personal relationship unless you live your lives imitating what you see on the tube. Are there people that stupid? Please advise. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 11:58:33 AM | Ok, I am blonde... my most recent gripe about this is... I went to Gatwick airport to pick some-one up..... got there in record time and so decided to park and have a walk around...... that was fine, until I went to the machine to pay... to get out ... £5.80 for the hour... put in "£20.00" and got change for £10.00.... was waiting to see if the ten would appear, when the bloke behind me pointed out, "you need to put your ticket in"! He has no leg's now....as I pointed out , I knew ,....I had to put my ticket and was waiting for my change!i.......... | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 12:50:53 PM | the only people bothered by bimbo-ization are poor men and ugly women and they're not even real people so what's your point? :) i joke i joke
tv also portrays a lot of smart, successful women. it all depends what you aspire to and if a woman is silly enough to think that just because that's how they roll on the OC that's how she should be then it's not really TVs fault that she's an idiot is it? | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 12:54:45 PM |
but sadly, life imitates art.
So, Lucille Ball really WAS an inept redheaded moron? In the 50s and early 60s, there were more stable nuclear families like Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver etc.? TV shows are VERY accurate portrayals of American life? The Brady Bunch was a realistic show?
Interesting to note that all of the examples you give are "Reality" shows. The TV programs aren't "portraying" those women as anything. The women are portraying themselves.
Reality shows do not portray "reality." By the virtue of putting people before cameras, it changes the dynamics. And those chosen for those shows are not representative of the population at large. THOSE women might be portraying aspects of themselves, but the stereotypes that they present do NOT apply to all women.
And how does it compare to shows like "Married With Children", "According to Jim" or a host of others where the guy is always portrayed as an inept buffoon?
In Married with Children, ALL the characters were farcical--Peg was not superior to Al. As for According to Jim and other such TV shows, who writes, directs, and produces them? I bet there are more names of men on the credits than there are women.
It doesn't imply anything.
If art is imitating life, yes, it does! | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 12:55:29 PM | Just reiterating what other posters have pointed out, that the same stereotypes can just as easily be applied to men.
I have this theory that the people who appear on reality shows, take a psychological evaluation and fail (as if there was actually failing...right) and that the people who appear on sitcoms, dramas, etc. are better at hiding it. (Disguise=Acting) A psych eval. only measures the capacity as to which a person may adjust into a specified culture. (Mostly the ideology of the "norm"). There are a lot of micro- cultures (a.k.a subcultures), and some of the questions are slanted, because they do not take this into account. (geography, race, age, gender, nurture vs. nature, etc.etc.) I would offer examples but, the National Geographic Channel can do a much better job than I can. (Taboo, Locked Down, and the most sadly missed shows of Worlds Apart and Going Tribal)
****Unfortunately the fact is that these shows are being aired because there is a large segment of women who watch and enjoy them. ****
I confess...I watch these shows. Some of them. The ones that pique my interest. As other posters have pointed out, they are exaggerated personalities shown to provide entertainment. Really no different than the rehearsed scripted shows... they serve the same function...to provide entertainment. Exploitation at its best. At least the people on reality shows volunteer, while the "characters" on, say "Law and Order", it is not. Because there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the show, even though it follows a headline, is not "meant" to exploit an actual segment of human life. Although often it does.
Has anyone noticed how television has changed over the last several years? It seems it is all about how is how I am/this is what happened to me/this is how I am different? Reality show or not? Therapy at it's best. "It is the things behind the things..."
Who cares what people watch t.v.? Who cares what people watch ON t.v.? (ewww. okay I do care...pedophilia, rape, murder, oh wait, we already covered that under "Law and Order", I like that show, and of course the "News").
Bimbozation? Why not let us get away from the generalizations, and more into the specifics. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 1:48:55 PM | Calling reality TV realistic is laughable.It has nothing to do with reality.Its edited to give a biased slant and with each edit a character can be liked or hated, silly or smart.A lot of truth is left on the cutting room floor.
If one wants to truly say what defines women as sex objects or non people, its got to be porn.Where women are portrayed as panting, wanton, ever ready sex machines, up for any violation of their bodies.Porn has been mentioned many times as a negative influence on mens perceptions of women.
Every where we look sex is used to sell merchandise from soap to cars.Why? because it works.We now have a youth culture,a perfect body culture, impossible standards for normal people.People have forgotten to think for themselves, form their own values and not follow the ways of the world.Perfection is impossible, we all age, and yes die.Why waste a life trying to be Elle McPherson, when you are Annie Smith.We need to learn to be ok being ourselves, unique and special, not copy TV shows.
Yes some women are vain, materialistic and selfish and yes so are some men.Men use plastic surgery and can be just as vain as women, all these weaknesses are human fallibility in action.It all about being wanted, found attractive and fitting in.It takes a strong minded person to think for themselves and see it all for vapid rubbish, that it is.
The thing is men want hot women and are often made a fool of, in the pursuit of same hot woman.They then make threads about womens vapidity and grasping nature.Ignoring their role in their downfall.
Reality tv is manipulated, edited to shock, and fake.The contestants are usually vulnerable and deliberately baited and prodded , buttons pressed to produce behaviour unusual to the norm.These people are usually far different in real life.Reality Tv is not real life, nothing we see on TV is.Its Tv, la la land, not real life, as adults,we are supposed to know the difference. | |
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| The bimbo-ization of women and its effects on relationships
Posted: 5/10/2009 2:37:33 PM | My, my... This dance floor is just a-hoppin'... As member of what may be called the initial T.V. generation, I remember my parent's addiction to the "Burns and Allen" show... George and Gracie had been a team since long before my time and television; first in vaudeville, then radio, and had a amassed a following of devoted fans who happily transitioned with them into the new medium...
And thought outwardly portrayed as an air-head, Gracie's character was imbued with a kind of fuzzy logic that could, with wry humor, pointedly make plain the emperor's nakedness...
Back then - as now - there was good writing as well as bad; and even sex was evident - though cleverly couched in innuendo so as blow past the heads of censors and other dim, objectionable adults while remaining safely beyond the grasp of a kid's sensibilities...
But it was just television... An occasional pastime to quell boredom or ease the discomfort of illness... The visions conjured up from the pages of books were by far preferable... And still are...
When the delineation between fill and content became obscure - when I began to find some commercials more entertaining than the shows - is about the time television and I parted company...
It's interesting how - in the parlance of contemporary programming - content is the stuff that brings in the dollars... Your favorite sitcom is merely fill... | |
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