Watching daytime T.V., we are constantly bombarded by images of the “perfect” man or the “desirable” woman. These images and these projected ideals are a huge reason as to why America faces disorders, diseases, and sexism. Channels such as MTV, VH1, and E! show women and men, beautiful and fit, in constant gender roles. They show what is cool, what is acceptable, and what men and women are supposed to be like. A show called “Undateable: 100 Things Guys Do that Guarantee They Won’t be Dating or Having Sex” is the epitome those shows, targeting guys and showing what exactly they have to do to get a woman. Because it’s that easy, obviously.
During the countdown, I found myself agreeing with some of their points…pit stains are unappealing and shirts with dumb sayings aren’t always that funny. But with these points come other ones that just made me cringe. There were ones that address a man’s body or a man’s clothing and all go back to that typical male image that are all over the media. The title of the show itself implies that men have to adhere to these gender roles and societal rules in order to be considered an attractive man of today. These rules are ridiculous and unnecessary, but it got me thinking…if men have these shows to inform them of what they have to do, where are the rules for women?
The truth is: there is no list for women. Sounds good, right? Not at all…Men don’t look at a list to determine if women are dateable, they look at their bodies.
They don’t exist because, as VH1’s show directly says, there aren’t a lot of reasons why men won’t have sex with women. Although I’m glad that there’s no televised list of do’s and don’ts for women to berate themselves with, the absence of a list for women is almost as offensive as if there were one. Not having a list simply shows us that as long as a woman looks, acts, and talks like the women that are on MTV, VH1, and E!, then you’re good to go. A man doesn’t need any type of intelligence, personality, or morals, he just needs a vagina and someone to say ‘yes’. This doesn’t apply to all men, of course, but the “Undateable” show doesn’t help out this idea. One guest literally says that men start assessing a woman from the vagina and then go up to the mind, while women start from the mind and go down. He even comments that it’s the way that buildings are made so it must be right. Well, isn’t that just what every woman wants to hear? He might be telling the truth about how men and women think, but it makes it no less offensive and no less sexist.
“Undateable” doesn’t include a list, but VH1 does include some suggestions for women that would help both men and women out. Even though VH1 takes time out to recognize that women are worthy of being considered, they still direct the suggestions towards bettering men. Items like ‘Don’t take men shopping’ or ‘Don’t make men watch sex and the city with you’ show women and men that everything women do is and should be addressed towards men. These tips make it seem like the title of the show should just drop the whole dating idea, because tips like these repeat the idea that women are only good for sex. These last minute add-ons only contribute to the sting that this show already delivers.
Men receive ridiculous shows like “Undateable” to show them what the stereotypical, superficial woman wants and women receive a pass because they have a vagina. Last time I checked, women and men both need a little more than looks and a sexual desire to be considered dateable. But these shows don’t address respectable issues like that. Sure, a show like “Undateable” is meant to be entertaining and even sarcastic, but it doesn’t stop women and men from absorbing these societal ideals into their expectations.
Since its part of our society, these shows will continue to air. They will continue to tell men that if they follow society-expected ideals concerning their outward appearances, they can sleep with any woman. And women will continually be looked at as just a vagina.
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