Why Reality TV is a Female Favorite
From the estrogen-filled drama of The Real Housewives series to the dreams-really-do-come-true American Idol and obsessive shoppers in Extreme Couponing, reality TV shows have really captured the ladies’ attention. But why? What about these notoriously “trashy” TV shows makes us tune in time after time?
Let’s back up a little bit. Did you know reality TV can be rooted back to the beginning of game shows in the 1940’s? Think about it: people compete against each other for a certain goal or prize; the same basic premise of today’s popular shows. Add in a dash of drama and a pinch of production tweaks and you’ve got the modern reality TV show.
Today, reality TV shows take all sorts of different forms: they document lives, offer makeovers, make love connections, search for talent, and the list goes on. Networks are offering more reality TV programming than ever before, (remember when MTV used to actually play music?) but why? Because something about them keeps us tuning in, talking, and tweeting until we’re totally hooked. But to be more specific, here are eight common reasons why we—especially as women—love them:
It’s mindless entertainment: sometimes there’s just nothing else on besides old reality show reruns as you flip through channels on a weekday afternoon. It’s not your first choice, but it does the job and distracts you from your own stressful reality.
For a drama fix: maybe there is a part of you that loves the tears and triumphs of reality TV. You’re happy your own life isn’t so dramatic, but it sure is entertaining to watch it ravage the lives of others.
To escape from our world: sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and let your mind wander for 30-60 minutes in a world that’s not your own, no matter how fake or ridiculous it may appear.
To connect with their world: maybe you’ve always wondered what it would be like to be a Kardashian or an Osbourne. Reality TV gives you a bird-eye-view into a different lifestyle that you wouldn’t see otherwise. It makes you feel “in the know” about your favorite celebrities personal lives.
It’s relatable, sort of: deep down, there is a part of you that identifies with the reality TV star that everyone loves to hate. Maybe it’s the “The Unapologetic Beyotch”, “The Innocent Goody-Goody” or “The Unrestricted Bad Girl”.
It’s unscripted: it seems we may never know just how “real” reality TV is. But that’s so easy to ignore. You still want to believe what you are watching is documenting real life, real time. And oh, the suspense of what will happen next is just so enticing. Secretly wish it was you: you don’t just relate to the reality TV stars, maybe you secretly wish you were one of them. Fame through reality TV seems so easy to attain, there is always a little bit of hope that you will someday make your own debut.
It offers interesting psychological insight: why does it seem that some people on TV are so driven to maintain fame? Analyzing the actions of others on screen is just fascinating.Â
So next time you’ve got your favorite Real Housewives gals on, try to take a second and ponder. What about reality TV makes you click?











