It might not be our reality; but it's someone elses

When we think of "reality tv" we think of the trashy fights, random hook ups, the dramatic behavior and just over all drama and disappointment in the human race shoved into a tv show with a specific group of people that for some reason other people seem to care about and find  entertaining for whatever reason.

For some examples: Jersey shore, COPS, 16 and pregnant and dance moms.

As you can see; I chose a wide variety of shows and they all have something in common other than of course being a reality tv show. They are all shows that we attach a stereotype to. We watch these shows and become brainwashed that that's the way all of these people act in that social group. We watch jersey shore and think that everyone from jersey is a fist pumping idiot, we assume that all cops do is handle idiotic situations fairly poor, every pregnant teenager is doing it just for the tv show and to be an over dramatic brat and beat on their boyfriend when they're not even legal yet, and that every mom in competitive dance is living through their daughter because they were too fat to do that when they were her age. You're probably agreeing with everything I'm saying and that's, that's exactly my point.

But just step back for a second.. put yourself in the shoes of a person who is living those specific life styles every day but without the tv show. How do you think they feel when they watch these shows expecting to bond with them and they just see people making damn fools of themselves? Not all young mothers are over dramatic brats; some young mother actually change for the better when they become pregnant at a young age. But, you do not see that side. You see the "entertaining" aspect. Not all people from Jersey act like the jackasses from jersey shore, but do we think they do? of course. Because that's the only thing tv is exposing us to. They're not showing us a bunch of moms and daughters getting along and pursuing a passion all together through hard work and dedication.

Therefore; if we're not exposed to both sides, we stereotype. In this case, what else are we left to do? Are we supposed to somehow know better?

Read what some of the teenager's on teen mom have to say about the teen pregnancy culture as a whole here: http://www.npr.org/2011/08/16/139676173/does-reality-tv-misrepresent-teen-parenthood