Reality television show The beauty and the geek It’s currently in the depths of giving “geek” contestants makeovers, and while it’s presented to the audience as inspiring and fun, I find it more depressing and outdated.
Makeovers are simple and purely based on physical appearance. No one goes to therapy and work for themselves. Instead, they’re just given a new look, as if a haircut could somehow solve someone’s confidence issues.
The geeky contestants are usually given a new haircut, a new wardrobe and some basic grooming and then when their new look is revealed, the beauties react with excitement and delight! Usually there are even some squeals and tears.
Yes, that’s what this show means looks matter.
A makeover often helps the relationship move forward. Suddenly, a beauty sees a geek in a new light and romance begins. But what kind of message is it sending? He is sending a very strong message that how you look should determine whether you are worthy of love.
The makeover is nothing new. We’ve seen it in a thousand romantic comedies, from The Princess Diaries a Miss Sympathy. The makeovers in these movies, just like a The beauty and the geek, were used as a vital plot point. Ultimately, it sent a message that the female character wasn’t lovable unless she looked a certain way, and that’s exactly the same message. The beauty and the geek is sending Geeks are not enough as they are; they must change to win love.
One of the geeks who just got a makeover is software engineer Christopher, who later said: “I feel amazing. The reaction to my appearance is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life “.
Meanwhile, when Batman fanatic Mike got a makeover, he said, “I’ve never been called hot before.”
But why do they feel that way? Because of the overreaction of beauties. In the face of everyone’s excitement and fanfare, they are told that they are finally worthy, which also tells them that they were not worthy before.
For example, one of the beauties, Heidi, reacted to Mike’s makeover saying: “Not only did he look good, but he looked unreal, perfect.”
The emphasis on appearance is awkward. Surely, in our appearance-obsessed society, we should push a different narrative. Shouldn’t geeks be enough as they are? The truth is that geeks never look that drastically different, but the reaction they get suggests a huge difference, which is depressing.
Surely the message of a show like The beauty and the geek, which brings together different types of people, is that you don’t have to change to be worthy of love. That beauties fall for geeks all the time, how we see beauty and “hotness” is very subjective and ultimately love has nothing to do with looks. And that beauty is often skin deep.
The show is billed as an attempt to change our perception of how we see ourselves, especially in romantic relationships. That beauties are not only about being beautiful, but must be valued for their whole self and not just for their appearance. And that geeks have a lot more to offer than you might imagine.
But instead it’s just enforcing tired stereotypes.
The show has decided to expand on the idea that a geek can only be lovable if he physically transforms. It’s sad, depressing and outdated; frankly, geeks deserve better.
Mary Madigan is a freelance writer.