The Bachelor is an American dating and relationship reality television series created by Mike Fleiss and first aired on the ABC television network. The show follows a bachelor who is presented with a pool of 25 women who compete for his affection by going on dates and participating in various competitions (Fuchs, 2023). The show is then broadcast weekly and culminates with the bachelor selecting one of the women as his chosen one. This reality film aligns with the conflict theory, which indicates that society is in survival for the most fitted situation whereby only the people who change to fit the restrictions maintain their status (Campbell, 2021). Therefore, “The Bachelor” is a film that represents the imbalances in society when examined through the sociological lenses considering its unequal representation of gender, race, class, socialization and impression management.
Sociological Analysis
The Bachelor is a controversial film that reinforces gender stereotypes by promoting coercion and techniques to portray women as inferior. The show is misogynistic, with the male protagonist playing the role of the pursuer and the female protagonist assuming the role of the pursued. Physical attractiveness and conventional ideas of femininity, like beauty and charm, are given prominent treatment (Fuchs, 2023). The show also suggests that women should be aggressive in their pursuit of men and that men should have their pick of several potential partners from which to select the “suitable” match.
The show also reinforces the idea of class and social roles whereby individuals with high economic disposition control others. The women are portrayed as more privileged, while the men are often seen in more working-class roles. For example, one episode features a male construction worker, while the female characters are shown in more professional jobs. In addition, the show often portrays the men as more “macho” or aggressive, while the women are portrayed as more nurturing and passive (Fuchs, 2023). This idea reinforces gender roles and stereotypes perpetuated in society for centuries.
The show also reinforces ideas of race and ethnicity. The characters are predominantly white, and there is little diversity in race or ethnicity. This concept reinforces the idea that white people are the “norm” in society and that other races and ethnicities are not equally represented. Additionally, this biased representation shows that individuals who present the best traits dominate over others. In this case, it highlights the aspect of impression management (Fuchs, 2023). The reason is that the characters are often seen trying to present the best version of themselves to their peers, family, and colleagues. For example, one episode focuses on a female character trying to make a good impression on her boss to get a promotion. This concept indicates that people constantly try to manage their image and present themselves in the best possible light.
Overall, the show reinforces many ideas of inequality and social roles today. The show takes place in a world where the protagonists are mostly white and wealthy, with a clear hierarchy of power and privilege. This issue is most evident in the main character’s job as a financial analyst, which is a position of both financial and social power (Fuchs, 2023). The show follows her as she navigates her way through the corporate world, dealing with inequality, gender roles, and social roles.
Alternative Representation
One Day at a Time is a television sitcom aired on Netflix portraying a family facing life crises. The show follows the Alvarez family, a Cuban-American family living in Los Angeles (Calderón & Royce, 2020). The family consists of single mother Penelope Alvarez, her teenage daughter Elena, her pre-teen son Alex, and Penelope’s mother, Lydia (Calderón & Royce, 2020). The show focuses on the Alvarez family’s everyday struggles and issues, such as money, gender roles, and racism. The show is a refreshing take on the traditional family sitcom, as it features a diverse cast and tackles issues that many other shows ignore.
The tv show illustrates the complexity of social issues and how these exclusions affect individuals. The Alvarez family is a Cuban-American family facing many of the same issues that many American families face. In the beginning, the show explores gender roles through the characters of Penelope and Schneider (Calderón & Royce, 2020). Penelope is a single mother trying to raise her three children while also managing her career. She often struggles with the traditional expectations of being a woman and a mother, and she does not always conform to the traditional gender roles.
Meanwhile, Schneider is a white male struggling to find his place as a member of the Alvarez family. He often struggles with the expectations of being a man and how he fits into the family. The show also addresses racism and prejudice through the character of Alex. Alex is a teenager struggling to find his place in the world due to his race (Calderón & Royce, 2020). He is often faced with racism and discrimination and is frequently the target of jokes and bullying. The show also explores mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, through the characters of Elena and Lydia. Elena is a teenage girl struggling to deal with her anxiety and depression. At the same time, Lydia is an older adult who is dealing with the effects of ageing and loneliness.
The show also examines how class and gender affect a person’s life. For instance, Lydia is an older woman dealing with the effects of ageing and loneliness, while Elena is a teenage girl struggling to find her place in the world. The show also examines how social roles and socialization can affect a person’s life. Alex is a teenage boy struggling to find his place in the world due to his race, while Elena is struggling to find her place in the world due to her gender. The show also examines how impression management can affect a person’s life (Calderón & Royce, 2020). Alex is often faced with racism and discrimination and is frequently the target of jokes and bullying. Elena struggles to manage her mental health issues and fit in with her peers. The struggles also represent the challenges necessary for individuals to survive.
Reframing One Day at a Time to address issues of inequality, particularly racial and socioeconomic, would give the show a new perspective on social life. The show could delve into the effects these problems have on the characters and their relationships and display their efforts to cope with them. Immigration, LGBTQ rights, and other social justice issues could also be explored. The show could be a forum for open dialogue and awareness-building on these topics if it chooses to focus on them. Doing so has the potential to foster a more accepting and empathetic culture.
References
Calderón, G. K.& Royce M. (2017-2020). One Day at a Time. Netflix.
Campbell, B. (2021). Social justice and sociological theory. Society, 58(5), 355-364. Web.
Fuchs, K. (Director). (2023). The Bachelor. ABC distributors. Web.