Ashley Dupre'
Kristen McCauliff
Women's Studies 2010
April 20, 2008
Rock of Love?
Today's media is consumed with gossip, pointless reality shows, and distorted stereo types. Unfortunately, most of America is guilty of indulging in this type of entertainment. Society has made it acceptable and almost a priority to have television shows, especially reality shows, portray women as promiscuous, wild, party girls. However, throughout history women have endeavored to create a society that accepts a sexually positive woman, who is not afraid or ashamed to claim sexual pleasure, to drink in public, or stand up for themselves. But has the media gone too far? Has the world of entertainment created a stereotype that destroys instead of build up their character? I consider the VH1 hit reality show Rock of Love, to be a perfect example of this argument. Though the sex positive ideas in Rock of Love may present the idea that it represents feminist qualities. This paper will argue that Rock of Love is indeed navigating away from what feminist are striving for by objectifying women, making women fit a stereotypical idea of dependence on a man, and supporting the world's distortion of beauty.
Today's feminist and I have similar views on current media. Women's morals, dignity and pride have been harshly altered over the last century. Women's attempt to be confident, equal to man, and sexually free and shameless has punished their sex. Men have taken advantage of this movement; turning it into a show to please their sexual desires and allowing them to continue to tower over women. Anti-feminist ideals and sexism can be seen in practically every sitcom or reality show in the business; “The media love to trot out the idea that feminism is dead, and every so often it will be the cover story in Time or somewhere else. But feminism is as alive as ever”(Pop Goes the Feminist). Most directors would probably deny anti-feminist intentions, but that is the current problem.
Anti-feminism is usually not intentional, because sadly, it is the way society runs. Women in the Feminism movement are usually expressed through the media as psychotic crazies trying to rid the world of the male sex. However, the women that may feel that it is necessary to find a partner, have kids, and a nice house are ridiculed as well at times. Also, any form of sexual liberation or desire in regards to women is taken advantage of. “Somehow I don't think this is what our feminist foremothers had in mind when they set about to liberate women from the patriarchy. Nothing much has changed when women are reduced to sex objects in exchange for T-shirts and trinkets, while men walk away with the cash”(). Beauty and love in entertainment is misleading and quite frankly, mostly fake. We live in a world so entirely consumed with outer appearance and I blame the media, because“our media's stylized construction and portrayal of female beauty [is] problematic. It's bad enough that unattractive people don't appear in movies, on TV or in magazines unless the narrative expressly requires someone unattractive, and sometimes even that isn't enough. I mean, the star of Ugly Betty isn't really ugly”(). Not only does television give the impression that happiness is only found in beauty, but it has created an expected character for women. Women agree to supporting this bold, sexual, attractive persona, because they have been led to believe that it produces happiness and a stable self-esteem. However, this has proven untrue to many intelligent and accomplished women. Not to mention, men do not really respect women for this persona, even though they gravitate towards those qualities. “It's difficult to make the case that women are gaining ground by exercising sexual autonomy when they're essentially being ridiculed by men”(). This idea is exemplified by many aspects of the media, especially youth-oriented television.
VH1's newest hit “reality” series, “Rock of Love” is a mass media catastrophe. A television series centers around a famous rock icon, Brett Michaels, who is the frontman of the well known band “Poison”. According to a tv guide website, Rock of Love with Bret Michaels is now one of VH1's top rated shows. The reality dating series has just topped Sunday night's ratings chart as the number 1 program on all cable shows.”
(http://www.buddytv.com/articles/rock-of-love/rock-of-love-soared-in-ratings-11333.aspx). He is attempting to find “love” through an elimination based competition that encourages the exploitation of women in order to “win his heart”. The challenges the girls must go through in order to “win” this love centers around the standards he has for the women. Michaels' personal relationships with these women are based on sexuality rather than emotional connection. These challenges are based on sexual openness and emotional detachment that the women possess. His challenges are meant to show him whether or not the women will be able to handle his rock star lifestyle and sexual hunger. For example, the girls participate in a mud wrestling match practically naked as Brett watches he comments,“I hope these girls are willing to take a beating for their man” (http://youtube.com/watch?v=EgbqTYjmKts).Michaels and VH1 are proficient in providing everything that the women will need in order to objectify themselves and increase the shows ratings. To stimulate the expected behavior, there is an exponential amount of alcohol, a stripper pole, and the encouragement from Brett. Very quickly, the girls begin to realize that in order to keep Brett interested, they must advertise themselves as promiscuous showcases. One example of this activity is when the girls first arrive at the house. Heather in particular, catches the rock star's attention by taking off her shirt during the photo shoot that is being conducted. Because of this action, Brett then says that he knows that Heather will be one of the women who makes it to the end.(http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?id=1564511&vid=162073).
Another degrading instance in the house could be during one of the many nights of partying, one night in particular Sam, one of the shyer contestants, begins to pole dance. Brett, who was earlier covered in girls, is immediately drawn to her side (http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?id=1567161&vid=169058). Throughout the series, Brett continuously bases his attention upon the women's sexual qualities and aspects.
Rock of Love represents the idea that women depend on men. The women in the show ridiculously fight over Brett and humiliate themselves so they can be a rock star's girlfriend. It's mind boggling to me how the women in the show continue to shovel out their emotions to Brett even after he sleeps with several of the girls and physically relates to almost all the girls openly. Whenever a girl is eliminated she is interviewed with tears streaming down her face, as she tries to figure out what she did wrong. She was not sexy enough. Most of the women there eventually do fall in love with Brett, it may not be true love, but emotional attachment is clearly formed. However, I believe that Brett is not on the same level. I think he just needs a new girl to parade around with him as he tours the world and someone to sexually enhance his life. Simone de Beauvoir explains that “for him she is sex-absolute sex, no less. She is defined and differentiated with reference to man and not he with reference to her; she is the incidental as opposed to the essential. He is the subject, he is the absolute- she is the other”(Beauvoir).
Rock of Love almost perfectly represents the media's opinion and qualifications of beauty. To Brett beauty is being thin, wearing as little clothing as possible, and having an open mentality regarding to sex. Just like most television shows this idea of beauty is disfigured. In season one, during the first two episodes, Brett began sending girls home before he had a chance to get to know them, he based to decision on looks alone. Only hours after they arrived, women were eliminated due to not participating in the drinking, dancing, or sleazy attempts to seduce Brett (http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?id=1564530&vid=162096, http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?id=1564511&vid=162069).
Although I am claiming that Rock of Love is a sexist, anti-feminist, degrading show, regarding women I know that counter arguments can be represented, but also defended. Yes, the women on the show chose to be there, but women should be able to express their desire for love without being labeled as desperate, loose women. If men are profiting from women demeaning themselves, are the women still in charge? “For starters, it may not be you that needs the extreme makeover. It may be your TV”(Lexis Nexus).
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