The study’s objective was to examine the impact of the racial/ethnic identities of the contestants on The Bachelor on how Twitter users, who are part of Bachelor Nation, perceive women’s beauty and femininity. The research aimed to analyze social media conversations to see whether there were any associations between competitors’ racial/ethnic backgrounds and how they were evaluated in terms of beauty and femininity by a particular audience.
The research focused on Twitter conversations about two seasons of The Bachelor, aiming to understand how the racial and ethnic backgrounds of contestants influenced perceptions of attractiveness and femininity among Bachelor viewers. Using a meticulous sampling method, data was collected from tweets discussing contestants during the first week of each season, utilizing advanced twitter search with the contestants names. The data was analyzed quantitatively to identify prevailing discourses around race and beauty standards, while qualitative analysis delved into subtler aspects like tone and sarcasm. Results aimed to reveal patterns and trends regarding beauty and femininity perceptions among white women and women of color within Bachelor Nation. The findings ultimately indicated that while there are differences in the perception of women of color and white women, these disparities mostly revolve on physical attributes. Women belonging to ethnic minority groups get greater attention and discussion on their physical appearance, while white women are mostly addressed in terms of their behavior and attitudes.