Why Do Mamas Love Reality TV?

Why do us well-educated, once or currently professional mamas love to tuck our tiny terrorists into bed, take a hot shower, and turn on Bravo to relax?  What do I call my penchant for the Shahs of Sunset, the whole Real Housewives franchise, Vanderpump Rules, the Singles Project, Southern Charm, the new Jersey Belle, and Below Deck?  A “guilty pleasure,” a reflection of the “dumbing down” of our culture (or, good heavens, me?), a tap into my prurient depths, or just an addition to my repertoire of US Weekly, the E channel, NPR, Slate, Facebook, the New Yorker, “Broad City,” “Mad Men,” “House of Cards,” “Through the Wormhole,” and “Downton Abbey?”  All of them are are an escape; but the Bravo shows and celebrity gossip mags and articles keep me in touch with aspirational fashion and pop culture.  Although many disagree, I don’t think reality television is necessarily a reflection of an intellectual void.  A survey from Psychology Today found that people with intellectual interests were equally as likely to watch reality TV as those without an intellectual bent.  

From watching or talking about [insert your favorite Bravo show] with other moms, I have tried Skinny Girl Margaritas; browsed through “Widows Guide to Dating;” checked out aerial yoga; bought some low-cut stretchy tunic tops; looked into juice cleanses and healthy food delivery services; know where to buy knock-off runway fashions for reasonable prices; and know the latest dvd, book, and movie releases. These shows also have the added bonus of making intimidatingly unrelatable people and glitz relatable.

But I have to give the detractors of reality television credit.  They are correct in contending that these shows intentionally mock people to make the viewers feel good.  And for that, thank you Alex, Aviva, Danielle, GG, Kim, Porsha, Taylor, Teresa, Michaele, Luci, and Stassi. Because sometimes you help me feel more confident in my sweet, suburban domesticity.

 Here are our favorite shows on Bravo:

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