The Bachelor: A Negative Reflection on Women?

I admit to watching The Bachelor, ABC's reality show in which a handsome bachelor chooses Mrs. Right from a sea of prospective mates. I used to think of the program as a better alternative to other reality shows like American Idol, where off-key or nasal-voiced contestants would give me a headache in a matter of minutes. The Bachelor involves a love story - er, at least heavy editing and an idyllic locale give viewers like me that impression. While I applaud ABC for choosing better bachelors as of late, the disparity between the bachelor and his choices is widening. I wonder about the women - are the female contestants regressing?

On the first episode, the Bachelor - this season it's Andy, the tri-athlete military doctor hunk - meets his cast of twenty-five choices. Not only do we see the women make their first impressions, but we also learn about their career aspirations and backgrounds. Three categories generally summarize the contestants.

First, there are the "High Achievers." There are always at least a few candidates who clearly match the bachelor's high-achieving disposition. While these women come across as more mature and put-together, they often also feel pretentious or overly intellectual - as women who are not "fun" and will not make for juicy television. In some instances, a candidate will share the exact same career as the bachelor. As evidenced during previous bachelor Travis's experience, that can backfire; the woman may see the career match as an indication of true love, while the bachelor fails to share that sentiment and decides not to reward the contestant with a rose. What results is a neurotic tirade against said bachelor on the limo ride to the airport - another mark against the intellectual.

Then there is the "Young and Immature" category. These are the young women who are either still in college or freshly out of college. These are the ones featured in "exclusive" behind-the-scenes content guzzling wine while the bachelor is on a date with another house mate. These are also the ones more prone to the catfights that we have come to expect from reality television. This season we met Lindsey, a college student who made a name for herself in the very first episode. Andy gave her the boot, but her loud, self-indulgent behavior set the tone for things to come.

And then, there are the "Legitimate Choices" - the teachers, social workers, executive assistants, and boutique store owners. These women have honorable careers and give an aura of stability; they do not intimidate the bachelor as driven or neurotic individuals. My hunch is that Andy will pick someone from this pool. My early bet would be for Tessa, a social worker - but then again, the season is young.

The "High Achievers" and "Legitimate Choices" seem to be dwindling, whereas, increasingly, the chosen bachelors have shown depth. We're now seeing well-educated, disciplined and genuine young men rather than the third string quarterbacks and playboys just there on a lark. On the other hand, we are seeing a female pool dominated by obnoxious personalities and lacking intellectual conversation. I realize that gossip and backstabbing makes for better television, but in the name of women's rights and America's future, wouldn't a few more little nuggets of meaningful interaction be a good thing?