Scholars have extensively studied how race, ethnicity, and media portrayal overlap, especially in reality television, where storylines about identity, romance, and cultural differences come together. The Bachelor series has gained acclaim for its engaging love stories and diverse representation of participants in terms of race and ethnicity. This project will use previous literature on race, gender, attractiveness, femininity, and the performativity of gender to shape the study and the research topic. By examining beauty standards, stereotypes, and theoretical frameworks, we may analyze the environment of reality tv and determine the specific criteria being sought in the tweets for content analysis.
The Bachelor and Race
Dubrofsky is a well known researcher of the show “The Bachelor” and has looked at how race and The Bachelor intersect. According to Dubrofsky, if the primary objective of the series is to endorse romantic relationships, with the ultimate goal being marriage or a significant long-term commitment, and the winners are those who manage to become the central figure in the romantic storyline, then the prevailing message sent is that women of color are not considered significant or important(Dubrofsky 2006; Monk-Payton 2019; Jervette R. Ward 2015; Brühwiler 2019; Coles and Pasek 2020). Women of color are positioned as ambivalent romantic prospects for the bachelor. Dubrofsky (2006) talks about how women of color are present in the context of The Bachelor, but the primary storyline often overshadows their significance. Their activities are only acknowledged in relation to how they contribute to the portrayal of white women’s involvement in the narrative or the white bachelor’s quest to find his perfect partner. Additionally, Dubfrosky discusses the idea that women of color on The Bachelor validate the actions of white women, hence emphasizing the importance of whiteness. Women of color often interpret the inappropriate actions or overly emotional behavior of white women, so emphasizing that these specific women are not ideal partners for the bachelor. Dubrofsky and Hardy (2008) reference how white contestants on The Bachelor are not shown as representing their race. Their identity is not disputed because whiteness and middle-classness are considered inherent and unquestioned default identities that do not need active assertion. These details by Dubrofsky and Hardy are important because they emphasize the significance of racial representation in the context of reality television, especially in programs like The Bachelor, where romantic connections are crucial to the narrative. If the victors and prominent figures regularly support white candidates while women of color are routinely ignored or removed early in the competition, it conveys the message that they are not respected or regarded worthy of the same amount of attention for romantic relationships. This is relevant to my topic because it provides background on how women of color are framed within the show. It showcases that because the framing of women of color is a result of racialization, and potentially viewers are picking that up and discussing it on Twitter. It’s important to understand how the television show The Bachelor has substantially influenced the formation of societal perspectives toward romance, beauty, and relationships. The franchise’s impact goes beyond amusement, as it actively contributes to wider discussions about race, ethnicity, and representation in the media.
Stereotypes and Femininity Standards
Stereotypes are influential in shaping our perceptions of other people, locations, or objects, and they are often used in media, particularly reality television. In general, stereotypes are unintentional or unconsciously held presumptions regarding the personal qualities of a group of individuals; they are frequently inaccurate generalizations that are resistant to new information
(Ward, Bridgewater, and Overstreet 2023). When investigating the influence of The Bachelor candidates’ racial/ethnic identities on public perceptions of women’s beauty and femininity among Bachelor Nation Twitter users, it is critical to understand the complicated dynamics of stereotypes that can potentially at play. Looking at African Americans generally, Glascok and Preston-Schreck (2018) find through content analysis that African Americans were disproportionately represented as those who initiate aggressive behavior, and they were also disproportionately represented as victims of verbal aggressiveness, as were females. Looking specifically at Black women, mass media persist in portraying Black women as aggressive, highly sexualized, and strong. Common stereotypes often mentioned include the Jezebel, Sapphire, and a contemporary combination of the Mammy and Superwoman stereotypes known as the strong Black woman (Ward, Bridgewater, and Overstreet 2023; Kim, Bay-Cheng, and Ginn 2022; Avery et al. 2021; Coleman, Reynolds, and Torbati 2020;Glascock and Preston-Schreck 2018; Jervette R. Ward 2015; Maryann Erigha 2015 ; Kretsedemas 2010). Similarly Latinas, along with many other female minorities, are often objectified. The media portrayals present Latinas as voluptuous, overly sexualized, and provocatively clothed, often with an exotic and dangerous allure. The spitfire stereotype is associated with a hot-tempered personality. Latinas are often depicted as theatrical, passionate, and vocally assertive. “Spitfires” are known for their impulsive, illogical, and emotional behavior, but are also sought after for their high level of sexual desire (McLaughlin et al. 2018; Sowa 2021; Kim, Bay-Cheng, and Ginn 2022). This trend towards sexualization still continues when looking at Asian women. Asian women’s bodies and femininities are limited to stereotypes like geishas and dragon ladies, perpetuating the idea that they exist only to satisfy the sexual demands of white men. Asian women are often seen as separate from or in conflict with white feminism. This exacerbates conflicts amongst women and contributes to the fetishization and marginalization of Asian women (Azhar et al. 2021; Kim, Bay-Cheng, and Ginn 2022; Ahn et al. 2022). The persistence of stereotypes and restricted feminine standards not only restricts representation and opportunity for women of color, but also contributes to systemic inequities and discrimination. This is crucial to the research because tweets may be looked at to determine whether the frequent reinforcement of these stereotypes are picked up by viewers and discussed on Twitter with reference to The Bachelor franchise.
Beauty Standards and Femininity
The historical, cultural, and socioeconomic variables significantly shaping beauty standards for women of color have been explored. These criteria often vary greatly from those set by media, which mostly focus on eurocentric characteristics and lighter skin tones. Women of color may experience pressure to adhere to limited standards of beauty that may not match their natural features, resulting in feelings of insufficiency and exclusion. When understanding Asian beauty standards, these standards frequently favored Eurocentric traits while undervaluing Asian ones which led to the normalization of cosmetic practices to achieve said features such as a larger breast size (Brady et al. 2017; Tsutakawa et al. 2024). Similarly, Latina woman are also impacted by the beauty standards and sometimes navigate a cultural dualism characterized by contrasting beauty standards: the curvaceous form valued in traditional Latino culture and the ultra-thin shape celebrated in mainstream U.S. society(Franko et al. 2012; Poran 2002; Gruber, Kalkbrenner, and Hitter 2022).