Two Bachelorettes: A Feminist's Worst Nightmare

Last week, 14.3 million viewers tuned in to watch the finale of Chris Soules' season of The Bachelor, and I would bet not one of these viewers wasn't shocked at the announcement that the next season of The Bachelorette will feature Kaitlyn Bristowe and Britt Nilsson as the bachelorettes. At first I thought Great- double the dates, double the drama, double the love. But no- according to the show's host, Chris Harrison, "The 25 men on night one are going to have the ultimately say about who they think would make the best wife." One of the bachelorettes will be rejected and sent home by 25 men after one night. This kind of rejection- 25 men voting on which woman will make a "better wife" after just meeting her- is completely insulting and degrading to women, and sends a horrible message to the millions of young female viewers that tune to the show every Monday night.

The main reason why I think this "two Bachelorettes" thing is degrading to women (especially Nilsson and Bristowe) is because it gives the power to the male contestants, not the bachelorett(es) that the season is supposed to be focusing on. The men will send one woman home based solely on first impressions- looks, mostly, because who can get to know a person fully in a few hours? Additionally, I have a problem with the fact that the men are literally voting on not who they think would make a better bachelorette, but who would make a better wife. Inevitably, either Kaitlyn or Britt will be sent home after the first cocktail party, and as she is filmed crying to herself dramatically in the limo, she will think, Wow, it wasn't just one man who thought I wasn't the "best wife," it was the majority of 25 men. 

Previous Bachelor Sean Lowe stated on his blog that, "When I was The Bachelor, the producers selected girls for my season whom they thought were well suited for me." Who are the producers choosing this season- men that are right for Britt or men that are right for Kaitlyn? Half and half?After watching Chris Soules' season, I can safely say those are not the same guys. This fact makes me feel like there isn't a great chance that whoever is chosen as the next Bachelorette will find true love- which is what the show is supposed to be about.

Kaitlyn Bristowe and Britt Nilsson

I have a lot of problems with the fact that there are two Bachelorettes next season, and so do a lot of other people. Above all, I think that it shows women that men have the power, that they can choose who is and isn't a good wife, a good in general. Having two Bachelorettes on an already controversial show just won't work, and most importantly, it just isn't right.

With that said, I understand that the show did this for ratings, that last season was so dramatic that they couldn't choose one woman for next season, that having two Bachelorettes is exciting. However, I think there are better ways to make the show more exciting and increase ratings. How do you think they should have gone about this issue?