MAFS definitely isn’t known for it’s bleeding-heart-feminist-content, but that doesn’t mean that some of the contestants toxic behaviour should be ignored. Throughout episode four of the insane reality show, there was a lot of blatant misogyny (like a lot) and many people on Twitter agreed that what we saw was completely unacceptable.
During the episode, we hit the douchebag trifecta with three of the grooms showcasing their pretty icky attitudes toward women. It sets a really bad example for men and women alike, and makes you wonder whether those opinions are more commonplace than we’d like to think.
Let’s start with the interaction between Sam and Coco. Basically, Sam said that things didn’t work out with his ex, because: “She didn’t have features that I desire, which is a female with a bit of curve.” BARF.
He then really put his foot in it and said: “It’s frustrating for me, because it’s like, I need a girl with boobs, and it’s like, not everyone has big boobs, do you know what I mean?”
No, Sam I really don’t.
https://twitter.com/xwickedmindx/status/1364860640112697347
How is not having “curves” a deal breaker for this man? Seriously am I hearing this for real, he left his ex because of the size of her breasts. No wonder people need a TV show to find a relationship 🙄 #MAFSAU #MAFS RUN AWAY WOMAN. RED FLAGS.
— Jennifer Duke (@JennieDuke) February 25, 2021
More toxic het male energy than my tinder inbox #MAFSAU #MAFS #MAFSAustralia #MAFSAus
— Troy Delmege (@thetroydelmege) February 25, 2021
And that’s not even the first example of body-shaming on MAFS.
https://twitter.com/sew821/status/1364860154022219777
Sam, women aren’t a car that you choose which extras you put onto – we are who we are.#MAFS #MAFSAU
— So Dramatic! (@sodramaticpod) February 25, 2021
Bryce is another person who again, values a woman based on her appearance. Just last episode, he said that Melissa was not his usual type and when he first met her thought that because she has “blonde” hair that she’s “not ugly.”
Not ugly! Not ugly! That woman is an ethereal goddess.
https://twitter.com/erinomelette/status/1364863674473541634
Australia’s biggest knob right now! #MAFSAU #mafs #MarriedAtFirstSightAus pic.twitter.com/gDXtWpr94y
— Nadi (@nadigents) February 25, 2021
AND Cam told A MOTHER OF TWO BOYS (who is obviously busy AF) that she’s not his usual type because she doesn’t go to the gym. SORRY WOT????
If one more man comments on a woman’s body on this godforsaken show I will frisbee my laptop into the ocean.#MAFS #MAFSAU
— So Dramatic! (@sodramaticpod) February 25, 2021
Cameron is concerned Sam doesn’t go to the gym and isn’t a fitness freak, but she’s a full on busy working mum. He doesn’t want a cheater but doesn’t mind one night stands or relationships without feelings. Whaaat? Gimme a break. #MAFS
— Jayele (@msjayele) February 25, 2021
The reason that this type of body-shaming is extremely concerning is because there are a lot of people who might watch these encounters and think THAT’S NORMAL, or that’s what men *actually* think.
There’s a really unhealthy narrative that plays out on reality TV (particularly dating shows) where a woman’s value is all put on her appearance. And yes it goes for men too.
My concern is that women (and young girls especially) might watch MAFS and think that they should change themselves to suit this seriously unattainable high standard of what we should look like.
Even Coco who is fit AF was judged by Sam for weighing out her macros last ep. So she has to be thin, but she can’t care about what she eats? Do you see how this sets an impossible standard??
This is when the ‘experts’ kind of need to do something aside from patting themselves on the back for what a ‘good’ job at matchmaking they’ve done. They need to say, “if a guy only values you on your appearance, then fuck them.”
Because all that’s happening is that these women are having to accept this behaviour for the sake of the experiment. BUT what kind of example does that set for us sitting at home?
PSA: if someone isn’t interested in who you really are, nothing you do will change that. Not a boob job, not going to the gym and not being thin. It truly doesn’t matter to them.
