Will you accept this…Racial Homogeneity?
A rumination on the lack of racial diversity in romance-themed ‘reality’ television.
It’s a typical Wednesday night. I’m cleaning up after dinner and arguing with my daughter about brushing her teeth before bed when my phone rings. It’s my son’s family daycare provider- a lovely Sri Lankan-born woman. I answer immediately as something must be up for her to call me at this time. She sounds breathless. Alarmed, I ask if she is OK.
She is.
She’s excited.
Her son, Niranga, is making his television debut as a suitor on the popular ‘reality’ dating program The Bachelorette tonight. I don’t usually watch the show, but I promise that I will tune in and debrief with her on Friday when I drop my son off into her care.
As it turns out, the debrief was brief, as Niranga received barely any screen time. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, as the “Bachelor Nation” as the suite of Bachelor/Bachelorette programs are called, are routinely criticised both here and abroad for a distinct lack of racial diversity. Here in Australia, The Bachelorette, in particular, year after year, is a total whitewash of hopeful paramours.
Some media commentators argue that Channel 10 is under no obligation to be representative and we should stop the outrage over The Bachelorette’s lack of diversity, saying “The Bachelorette is not a social commentary.”
I disagree.
To my mind, representation matters in all formats, even fantastical ones.
Journalism lecturer Helen Vatsikopolous says the role of the media is crucial in normalising diversity and the dismantling of the “othering” of differences that seek to divide us. It has been suggested that the way racial minorities are portrayed on primetime television can perpetuate or diminish racial stereotypes, so wouldn’t a non-fiction program offer the opportunity for non-white people to transcend typecasts?
What’s more, the media we consume does influence and shape our worldview, whether we are conscious of it or not. Television is still a very popular medium for entertainment, with 82.6% of Australians watching broadcast content (both free-to-air and subscription) at home on TV sets weekly according to a recent Nielsen report. So what message is this sending to viewers?
While other reality programs such as Survivor or MasterChef are more inclusive, they generally feature platonic, not romantic relationships. Writer Allison Samuels suggests this portrays minority groups as not attractive or interesting and cautions that young minority viewers may perceive themselves as unworthy. Unfortunately, in Australia, the lack of racial representation is not only harmful but structural.
Media scholar Graeme Turner explains the Australian television mediascape in dealing with diversity:
“We have a highly concentrated commercial system which still addresses the traditional conception of a mass media audience in ways that almost inevitably tend towards the reproduction of an image of cultural homogeneity.”
The problem is, this does not reflect the actual Australian audience nor our multi-cultural society. Whilst I understand ‘reality TV’ is a misnomer anyway (what’s real about swanning around in cocktail frocks and dating 20 guys at once?) what is real is the blatant racial tokenism in this iteration of The Bachelorette. Sadly, this perfunctory and lacklustre effort has been noted before.
Assistant professor of media and cultural studies from Fordham University, Brandy Monk-Payton, in a critique of the American version of the show, points out that historically, even when people of colour participate on The Bachelor/Bachelorette, they are marginalised. Excluded from the main narrative, their emotions, perspectives and characteristics are not explored and they are expelled from the contest early on.
Oh, you mean like Niranga?
Lasting just four episodes with an approximate average screen time of four seconds per show, Niranga’s elimination was met with indignation as the Twittersphere reacted:
With Niranga’s departure from the show, so too departed my personal connection and interest in the show’s shenanigans. Now, far be it from me to deny anyone their fix of the fluff, frivolity and frippery that is this season’s programming on The Bachelorette. But as you appreciate the entertainment value of romance-themed reality TV, perhaps also consider the socio-cultural values that are being perpetuated through a distinct lack of diversity in the contenders and the missed opportunity to promote a more tolerant and accepting society.
Personally, forget the rose and the ‘romance’- I’ll accept a glass of rosé and some racial diversity on my telly instead, thanks.
