Stereotypes in Reality Television

Jennifer Pozner, a journalist and media critic, cited that "reality television is far from harmless entertainment," on February 9, 2006, in her article in the Lincoln Journal Star. The main reason why reality television is harmful to those who watch it is because it is very stereotyped. Pozner's perspective to the stereotyping is that "women are portrayed as Barbie-types while men are portrayed as rich, sucessful jerks." This creates the thought that women are respected for their looks, so women watching the reality shows are lured into the notion that appearance is the most important thing. This thought makes women strive to be more like the "reality star" women through things like makeovers. So, reality television may seem like harmless entertainment, but pay attention to the people on the reality shows and for the stereotypes of these people because the stereotypes of people used in reality show is what is harming the viewers.