Diversity on Real World
Hi, I’m Christine and I’m a Real World junkie. There I said it.
I’m referring to the MTV series, Real World. The true story of seven eight (this year) strangers picked to live in a house, have their lives taped and find out what happens when they stop being polite and start being real. Yes, I realize I’m in my 30’s and should be watching shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives (which I do), but I just can’t quit my old favorite.
The Real World premiered the year I graduated from high school. It was this new show with kids just my age facing some of the same “real world” issues I was facing. Back then reality TV was a rarity. In those days we had scripted comedies or dramas that always solved a problem in 30 minutes and always had a happy ending; shows like Cosby Show, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Roseanne. This reality TV thing was exciting and new (am I the only one who just started humming the Love Boat theme?). I was addicted and still am.
There are a lot of things to dislike about the show. Especially now that I’m a parent. Of teenagers. There’s a heck of a lot of drinking, sex (often unprotected and with multiple partners), and temper tantrums. But there are also a lot of things to like. Throughout the years we’ve seen young people on the show deal with alcoholism, depression, AIDS, prejudice, pregnancy scares, abortion, anger issues, finding love, and getting married. These are things teens who aren’t being followed by a film crew every minute of every day are facing.
One of the reasons I keep watching every season is the diversity. I love seeing these naive kids from small towns living with and learning from people of different races, religion, and sexual preferences or kids from big cities letting their guard down to accept somebody they never thought they’d be friends with. In past years we’ve seen castmates who are white, black, Hispanic, Mormon, Catholic, straight, gay, bi and more. I think it’s great for teens to see real people doing real things and making (and learning from) real mistakes.
And just when we thought we’d seen it all, Real World shook it up again this season by adding a transgender cast member. Katelynn Cusanelli moved in to the Real World Brooklyn house just three weeks after gender reassignment surgery. Right from the first handshake a few of her male roommates knew she was transgendered and at least one of them was clearly very curious about it.
I’m happy to see Real World taking on the transgender issue and allowing viewers to “meet” a transgender woman. It will be interesting to see how Katelynn’s roommates interact with her and (hopefully) accept her.
I used to watch Real World, but I guess I outgrew it because one day I just couldn’t take all that whining anymore. I would shout at the TV “You don’t know what a real problem is!” because they’d be like “Waaaa! I was up all night partying and I don’t wannaaaa go to work!” Drove me nuts, so I stopped watching. But it’s good that they are so diverse, and I’m glad they have a transgendered person now.
That’s impressive. I wish more parents made it a priority to expose their kids to diversity, on the Real World or otherwise. I grew up in a part of the country where most people were taught to fear anyone different from themselves. Luckily, my parents didn’t subscribe to that point of view. They taught me tolerance, acceptance, inclusion. I am thankful for that every day.