One of TV's hottest shows, The Bachelor, is full of
drama, scandal, and heartbreak. It is no secret that some of the contestants
have sex and their lives are very open to the public. One of the 2014
Bachelors, Juan Pablo, publicly slut-shamed a contestant, Clare, after they had
sex in the ocean. In the video, he explains that his actions are not fair to
the other women and to his daughter who should see him acting in such a manner.
To this, Clare profusely apologizes and fans were furious. Juan Pablo had
opportunities to say no or stop the consensual sex. His public display of
regret and blame led Clare to feel shamed and like the event was all her fault,
for which she was the one who apologized. Slut-shaming can be detrimental to women’s
self-worth, image, and opportunities.
Between reality tv, movies, and other forms of visual media, slut-shaming is no new ordeal. In the classic show Friends, Monica was slut-shamed by NBC executives, saying Monica got what she deserved for sleeping with
a man on the first date. The act of slut-shaming can easily shift blame onto
women and creates a sense of shame for women for engaging in a private act. It
can take away a women’s credibility and can target them for future harassment. Social
class status can be a factor sometimes. If Monica was a powerful woman who had
lots of money, would NBC executives feel the same about her getting her just
desserts?
Sometimes women in lower social statuses in a hierarchy can be
the target of harassment and blame. Kristen Stewart stated that her
affair with her director, Rupert Sanders, was the reason she wasn’t hired for the sequel of The Huntsman. Stewart was lower in the hierarchy
of Hollywood and casting companies wouldn’t touch her.
Even though Juan Pablo shifted the blame and portrayed himself
as the victim, many of Clare’s fellow contestants stood by her side during the slut-shaming. To her fellow contestants, Clare choosing to sleep with a man was
just that and not a taboo thing that involved shame or humiliation.
Course Concept Citation: Elizabeth A. Armstrong, Laura T. Hamilton and J. Lotus Seeley. 2014. "'Good Girls': Gender, Social Class, and Slut Discourse on Campus." Social Psychology Quartley 77(2): 100-122.
I appreciate the connections and examples you included here. As someone who has only see one season of the Bachelor (the most recent one due to the VA Beach contestant), it was important for me to see this context.
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