As a new convert to the reality TV dating phenomenon that is The Bachelorette, I enjoy the hilarity of this real life eHarmony social experiment. But I have noticed inconsistencies in gender equality …. and not just towards Queen Bachie. 

1. Group Date Testing Program
Group dates or psychometric testing, as they are commonly used for on the show, allow Sam to mass evaluate whether her potential suitors tick all those necessary boxes. For further proof that the group date is a blatant stunt of humiliating assessment, Sam consistently refuses to take part in them. But why would she get involved, dates are not traditionally designed for socialising and fun, right?

Often the aim of Bachelorette group dates is to test for generic romantic attributes, but sometimes the point of them is not always clear. A classic example of this occurred in the second episode, when Sam asked the gentlemen to jump off a cliff. Yes you did read that correctly, she literally told them to “Jump” and all of them asked “How high?”. Was this a thinly veiled attempt to evaluate how much control Sam has over these men (and their lack of dignity) or perhaps it’s a Bourne-Identity-style test of their commitment to the program?

2. No Kids = Deal breaker
This leads me to my next point. Children. While the ongoing group date performance review occurs, an immediate kiss of death to any candidates chances is a lack of desire to breed. In the last episode Dave, my personal favourite, seems to be struggling to impress at the kiddy party. BTW it’s totally normal to make a group date a planned kids party, right?

Why is not wanting children become a taboo? Is Sam and the guys DNA so special that they must have the prevailing desire to pass some genetic material on? That sounded less gross in my head.

What if you are not able to, or are not sure about having children yet? There are at least three people in the house that are under 27 years old, including the Bachelorette herself, must they all have biological clock plans in place?

3. Shirts Off Lads
On yet another group date Sam got a 2 for 1 test done, physical attractiveness and good with animals (is ASIO this thorough?). Because all the ladies out there know that a man cannot be a complete psycho if he is a) good looking without a shirt and b) loves animals. It’s a fact.

While this might be pleasing to the eye, it would not work in the reverse. If the Bachelor said to his lady loves, “alrighty tops off girls time to pose nude with some rescue dogs”, the show would have a whole different rating. So why don’t the same principles of gender equality apply to the men? The “it’s for charity” excuse does not cut it this time.

4. #ASK HER MORE
Five episodes in and I am still waiting for a man to ask Sam one question about herself. At this point I would settle for anyone asking her why she decided to switch up her hair colour. Let alone why Sam – a confident, easygoing woman of the tender age of 26 years – feels the need to appear on not one but two national dating shows. Is there something I am missing? Is her dating time ending at age 27 in some Mayan-end-of-the-world like prophecy?

I see plenty of same-same encounters where Sam asks the men about their hopes and dreams for the future, and she agrees with her own perfectly matching ideas on the matters. But I want a guy to take the brave step and ask her opinion on something. Anything.

Perhaps the next episode will cause one of the dashing dudes to show some interest in her thoughts and feelings – I guess we’ll wait and see.