Bachelor in Paradise returned with a splash for its 2020 season, and with it, drama, drama, drama.
While the series promises to be its best and most iconic yet — after one week, we’ve already run into some very problematic behaviour.
During the first two episodes, Twitter was alight by pointing out the double standard in treatment that the male contestants get over the females. Namely, Ciarran Stott — arguably the most popular bachelor to come out of Angie Kent’s season of The Bachelorette and Matt Agnew’s runner-up, Abbie Chatfield.
Before we discuss the double standard, let me paint you a picture.
During his first day in Fiji, Stott, who arrived naked, only to be “covered” in plastic grapes, expressed his desire for jewellery designer Cassandra Mamone, before taking her away for a “chat”.
Then, during a dinner party, the much-loved reputation he had earned from Kent’s season was quickly tarnished after it was found out that he had previously cheated on ex-girlfriend, Renee Barrett (another former contestant), ending their years-long relationship.
Later that same evening, Stott then had a very steamy romp with Chatfield before setting his sights the very next day on Jessica Brody. Who by the way, arrived on the island after Stott had returned from a date (a.k.a steamy pash fest) with Chatfield. Keeping up?
This behaviour — which has so many issues within itself — isn’t the only problem.
Chatfield, who has become known for her honest and overt approach to owning her sexuality, went into Paradise with only one person on her mind. Stott.
However, it is she who is being labelled “aggressive” for her approach, for asking for something that she wants. Talk about a double standard.
Here is Stott, very obviously trying to be with as many girls as possible, however, Chatfield is the one being labelled and shamed.
So, we ask this question: When is it OK for a woman to express herself and her sexuality without being shamed?
Twitter user Peter Johnson made a very good point.
“Ciarran doesn’t get slut shamed despite fooling around with half the girls on the island in one day. But people attack Abbie for liking 1 guy? How about from now on nobody ever gets shamed for consensual sexual activity? [sic],” he wrote during Wednesday’s episode.
Ciarran doesn’t get slut shamed despite fooling around with half the girls on the island in one day. But people attack Abbie for liking 1 guy? How about from now on nobody ever gets shamed for consensual sexual activity? #bachelorinparadiseau
— Peter Johnson (@P_Johnson9) July 16, 2020
Amen, Johnson.
Even Mamone took to shaming Brody in front of others, calling out her former profession as a stripper.
So, it’s not acceptable for Brody to have been a stripper in the past, but it is acceptable for Stott, a former stripper who not only admitted to cheating on his girlfriend but has hooked up with two girls in two episodes?
How is this OK and how is this fair?
The conversation surrounding sex and owning your sexuality as a woman needs to change. It needs to be OK for a woman to say, “Hey, I am a sexual being and I have needs and wants”.
Chatfield has always been a fierce advocate when it comes to double standards on TV.
Last October, she took to her social media, posting a photo of her posing naked with only grapes; like Stott had done in an episode of Kent’s Bachelorette.
“Ok I’m nervous AF about posting this due to the possible backlash, but nothing will change if we all just shut up right? Yes, sorry guys, it’s another feminist rant,” she began.
While she “admired his confidence, sense of humour and cheeky behaviour”, she found the comments section to be troublesome.
“The comment section on every social media post of Ciarran’s photo was full of 😂 and 🔥 emojis. It was an awesome and iconic moment in Australian TV,” she said.
“While I LOVE that the majority of the public got behind Ciarran, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if the gender roles had been reversed. What if I had been on a group date, offered to strip down to nothing and posed nude on National TV?
“What if in the same week I had shared that I had had plastic surgery and had danced in night clubs?! I can imagine the nation would riot. I’m sure I’d be accused of being cocky, not confident, attention seeking, not funny, “slutty” (not that that means anything), not cheeky and “fake”, not just comfortable enough to admit to having surgery. [sic]”
Chatfield then went on to detail how she was shamed for wearing a short skirt on TV, saying she “got messages saying that I was unworthy and unlovable for showing some skin”.
The 24-year-old certainly has a valid point and it’s high time that we listen to her.
Let’s lift each other up, instead of tearing each other down. Let’s openly talk about sexuality as though it is normal — because it is normal and let’s stop allowing a double-standard on our television screens.
Change is in the air. I can feel it.
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