I have to say, when I heard about the new show Bridalplasty on the E! channel I was equal parts horrified and intrigued. Part of me wanted to watch the inevitable train wreck and the other part of me wanted to write a 2-page diatribe about the degeneration of our society (hence, this cheerful post).
Well, for the sake of "research" for this blog post, I decided to watch an episode. And I have to say that it was pretty much as bad as I thought it would be. It's truly sad that some of these beautiful women are so desperate to change themselves. It's also easier to judge them negatively because some of them have terrible personalities.
But at the end of the day, it's entertainment, and addictive entertainment at that, and in this era of MTV's Jersey Shore (which I must admit I watch religiously even though I hate myself for doing so) and Bravo's Real Housewives franchise, watching "normal" people behave badly seems to be a regular pastime for most Americans.
Now, don't get me wrong...I don't think there's anything wrong with a little touch-up here and there...there are plenty of cosmetic procedures that can be really beneficial when done the right intentions. I myself am in the process of getting a couple of facial scars removed. I have a friend who has gotten breast reduction surgery, and another who went the opposite route. After having two children who did quite a number on my stomach, I may not be opposed to a tummy tuck in the future either.
At the risk of sounding like a crazed feminist, I guess my problem with the show is more its exploitation of these women. Rather than taking it seriously and considering the psychological effects that come along with such decisions, the show encourages competition and takes a "the more the better" approach. I think that's just encouraging the body image issues so many women have these days.
Granted, 99.99% of the media exploits women and body issues in some way, but it's sad to see it creeping into weddings, which are supposed to be joyful celebrations of love, not attempts by the bride to more closely resemble Barbie in time for her big day.
Which brings me to the point of this blog post--what do you think of Bridalplasty? Is it harmless, fun entertainment or should it be taken seriously as yet another negative effect on women's body images? Despite my above rant, I'd say it falls somewhere in the middle: it's frivolous entertainment...but it's also not something the everyday bride should try to emulate. Tell us what you think below!
