
Basically, the boys are asked to hit a girl. The responses were precious and candid. Each of the boys was so appalled that anyone would ever hit a girl - leaving many to wonder why something apparently so simple to little boys could be apparently so foreign for many grown men. I thought the video was cute, I talked about it with friends for a couple days, then pushed it to the back of my mind.
Until a couple days later.
I was appalled. For the span of nearly ten minutes, I watched men degrade women.
Sure, it wasn't physical abuse; but all the same, those women were reduced to the status of sex objects. It didn't matter that the women were willing participants. The message that came across loud and clear was that women are worth little more than entertainment. This initial disrespect for women would, I was sure, escalate into different kinds of abuse. I was not surprised to find out that early in the first season, one of the lead women was punched in the face by a man at a club. But what shocked me was that the ratings continued to rise after that inexcusable act of violence, finally making Jersey Shore the number one show among 12-35 year-olds for the 2009-2010 season. (1) Shows like that, especially reality shows, continue to enjoy popularity.


We can't expect this kind of inconsistency to foster the dignity of women. Rather, until this inconsistency is resolved, the culture will not change. Knowledge of the truth demands that we live that truth out - not only in our actions, but in what we choose to support, even passively.
Christ was willing to defend the dignity of the human person to the point of scandal; we can certainly follow his example.
So change the channel. There's got to be something better on Netflix.
(1) "Deal With it Ratings for Jersey Shore," accessed online here.
(2) John Paul II, Letter to Women.
(3) John 4, RSVCE.
(4) John Paul II, Mulieris Dignitatem.
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