I Hope 'The Bachelor' Abstains From Focusing ONLY On Colton's Virginity The Rest Of This Season
If you're reading this, you probably like "The Bachelor" as much as I do.
"The Bachelor" is a rather infamous ABC reality TV show that takes viewers through the journey of one man trying to find love by dating 30 different women at the same time, finally choosing one woman to marry.
The star of this season's show is none other than Colton Underwood, a former NFL player who first appeared on Becca Kufrin's season of "The Bachelorette" and later had a rocky relationship with Tia Booth televised on "Bachelor in Paradise."
Despite his tumultuous past with the franchise, Underwood seems to finally be ready to find the woman of his dreams, participating in the show for "the right reasons."
However, it seems that Colton's emotional journey, at least so far, is being overcast by the fact that he's a virgin, much like Becca's season had a strong focus on the heartbreak she felt after Arie's season of "The Bachelor."
I understand the appeal of focusing on Colton's virginity. After all, it isn't every day that you have a 26-year-old man willing to discuss his choice to wait for the right person to lose his v-card to on national television. But I can't help but notice that focusing the season on his virginity creates a dangerous narrative about sex.
Talking about Colton's virginity plays into typical gender stereotypes, though I suppose the entire show does that. It specifically draws upon the fact that men are supposed to have sex because it makes them appear more masculine. There's this connotation behind every comment about a man's virginity that you are less of a man if you do not have sex.
Underwood's choice to remain a virgin gives ABC to opportunity to spread a message about how sex does not need to define a person or determine their "manliness." But, instead of taking this chance to spread positive messages about sex, "The Bachelor" is continuing unhealthy narratives about how having sex is an expectation in a man's life. The show chooses to poke fun at Colton for being a virgin. Instead of treating virginity as a personality trait, the show should focus on the special parts of who Colton is as a person, including his passion that led to him create a foundation that helps support people with cystic fibrosis.
Of course, I will continue to watch this season of "The Bachelor," mostly in hope that as the season progresses there will be moments that allow Underwood to spread positive messages about being a virgin.
