The time has come. There are certain moments, when, as a blogger who reads other blogs, EVERYONE weighs in on a given topic, and I come to terms with the fact that I cannot ignore the issue any more. Current issue: Jersey Shore on MTV.
Ok. I am Italian. But I also am a girl, and I think that its the latter identity that this show may offend. I mean, it appears that MTV is receiving death threats over the show, something that doesn’t really *surprise* me. I mean, I watched the Sopranos, I know how these things work. Just kidding.
The show Jersey Shore follows eight tri-state locals, self identified as “guidos” and “guidettes” (which the group insist is NOT a racial slur, but instead a lifestyle involving copious amounts of gel, drinking, tanning etc.), as they all live in a house and work for the summer on the Jersey shore.
I watched the show for maybe fifteen minutes, protested heavily by C, and I saw these things: girls with a lack of work ethic that think their looks will smooth it over, girls in absurd, tiny, shredded outfits, girls making out with one another in a hot tub “because the guys think its hot”, and girls engaging in acts of reckless promiscuity. Now: I believe that girls should do/say/wear/sleep with whatever and whomever they want. Really. One of the values of this blog is the promotion of a sex positive culture, even though its one that I don’t really talk about all that much, but I feel the need to emphasize it now. I do not care if girls want to have sex with everything that walks *IF* it is coming from a place of confident, self-assured, self-awareness.
However, I am increasingly concerned with the prevalence of teenage girls who are using their bodies as a social bargaining chip. I am concerned about: sexting (fun when safe), slut-shaming (abhorrent), the Victoria’s Secret “Pink” line, alleged rainbow circles, etc. etc. etc. and MOSTLY, I am concerned about the fact that they are ALL CONNECTED and happening ALL THE TIME.
So, back to Jersey Shore. I mean. Who didn’t love Italian favorites like Growing Up Gotti? And I assume THEIR producers weren’t receiving death threats, not that I heard of anyway. And the Sopranos, my own personal favorite. But, the discerning viewer needs to take into account that not all Italians are gel haired, spray tanned, “waste managing”, philandering, thugs. In the same vein, someone watching Jersey Shore needs to conjure everything they’ve ever known about reality TV culture and know that they amp this shit up for ratings! MTV is not saying that Jersey Shore is representative of all of the Italian American youth in the area, soooooooo, Italians everywhere can maybe stop taking themselves so seriously, maybe. I mean, I understand why you’re upset. But this show is SO absurd, I find the argument that it is promoting negative Italian stereotypes to be a bit of a reach. Also. I’m Italian. And I know some people *like* the people on this show. Do I love them any less? Do I think they aren’t worth knowing? No. But, I mean, I’m just saying, stereotypes are kind of rooted in reality, and while I don’t think this means ALL Italians are this way, some are.
Now, this show is kind of revolting and nearly unwatchable in my opinion. So, is it worth it to go through all that personal growth to become a good, enlightened, and mind expanding Italian just to watch this stupid show? No. Just turn it off if it offends you.
From a feminist perspective: Now that the Italian issue is taken care of ; ), we can talk about the real issue at hand, the girls on this show. [And by "girls" obviously I mean "overarching patriarchal culture that has born and raised these girls with unrealistic images of womanhood that no one could ever live up to, and yet we can't seem to stop trying".] These girls break my heart, just like booty shorts for two year olds and eleven year olds getting abortions. I just want to freaking squeeze you and tell you to value yourself more highly.
Eeek, but I think I’m going to go right on ahead and tuck this in the: I have way more important things to think about to even BEGIN to care about this – category. And I might have to encourage you to do the same.
- The Frisky, “Jersey Shore” Is The Best Thing To Happen To MTV Since Music Video
- sexgenderbody, Media, Pop Culture, and The Continued Support of Violence Against Women
- Jezebel, Jersey Shore Bruiser’s Dad Blames Snooki
