Survey: Reality TV Affects How Teen Girls View Themselves

Teen and tween girls who regularly view reality television expect a higher level of drama, aggression, and bullying in their own lives, while measuring themselves primarily by their physical attractiveness.

That is according to a national survey by the Girl Scout Research Institute, "Real to Me: Girls and Reality TV." The survey found that the majority of girls (86%) think that females on reality TV shows purposely pitted against each other to drive excitement. When asked if "gossiping is a normal part of a relationship between girls," of those who watch reality TV, 78% said yes, while only 54% of girls who do not watch those shows, concurred. When asked about romantic relationships, a higher percentage (74-63%) of those who view reality television said that "girls often have to compete for a guy's attention." "Girls today are bombarded with media -- reality TV and otherwise -- that more frequently portrays girls and women in competition with one another rather than in support or collaboration. This perpetuates a 'mean-girl' stereotype and normalizes this behavior among girls," states Andrea Bastiani Archibald, Ph.D., developmental psychologist, Girl Scouts of the USA. "We don't want girls to avoid reality TV, but want them, along with their parents, to know what they are getting into when they watch it." Girls who view reality TV are also more concerned on their physical appearance. 72% say they spend a lot of time on their appearance vs. 42% of non-viewers, while more than a third (38%) agree that a girl's value is based on how she looks.