Big Brother Shenanigans: BB16: BB Misogyny

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

BB16: BB Misogyny

It seems that I blog about this topic every single season - there is an element of misogyny in the way women are cast, seen and treated on BB. This topic has come screaming into the forefront because of not only the way Caleb has been treating Amber, but by the way the others encourage his psychotic delusion. I can say that because I have a degree in psychology.

It's so bad that even CBS is using it on the show tonight.

Caleb has devised a fictitious romance with Amber in his head causing him to stalk her around the house, call her his "queen", talk incessantly about her, get riled up when she doesn't act/talk the way he wants, get jealous if she talks to anyone else, especially Cody, treat her like she can't take care of herself, talk down to her and make these idiotic moves like volunteering to go on the block despite her protests, only to be further enraged that she doesn't prostrate herself in front of him, and finally is gunning for her because she's trying to distance herself from this psychotic behaviour.

He's made statements to many that he wants to cuddle with her (against her will), that he wants to date her, that he wants to be the first two in jury. He's pressured her with subtle threats. He's talked about her so much that every person in the house has turned his/her back to her - wanting her out. All this without her knowledge. All this despite the fact she's said "no" repeatedly in myriads of ways.

When Amber finally figured out that Caleb has gone too far, she tried to talk to people like Jacosta who then went to cuddle poor broken-hearted Caleb and to Cody who doesn't have the balls to defend her to his boys who think Amber is a user and a tease, a notion that is, disturbingly, shared by others outside the house. The girls are no help either. Rather than rally around one of their own and commiserate in her predicament, they say they do not trust her; they bash her; they want her out. Who are these people?

Caleb staring at Amber with Cody on the hammock last night, getting increasingly irate.

While those of us who are witnessing this scenario that reads like a script from a psycho-thriller are horrified, the house guests are enabling and encouraging Caleb's delusions. Many have figured out that he's not all there but have not seen that what he's doing is detrimental to Amber's game and character. They don't care, as long as it doesn't affect their game. People like Hayden, Devin and Zach, who have a hate-on for Amber not only listen to Caleb but fuel his fire. People like Derrick, who is a cop, encourage using the "Amber situation" to benefit their game.

Amber is in a no-win situation. She speaks up. She is a cruel bitch who's hurt the kind-hearted and self-sacrificing Caleb. If she doesn't speak up, she's teasing him and deserves what she gets. This is sparking outrage in some sectors of the viewers, wishing someone, anyone, will take Amber's side in the house. Yet there are others who excuse Caleb's deranged behaviour. blaming Amber. This culture of blaming the victim, of assigning responsibility to the woman just because she's a woman must stop. In the real world, Amber would have recourse, in the BB house, she is trapped with this lunatic who threatens her game.

Devin, who is equally condescending and disrespectful has been called out, but Caleb hasn't. He gets sympathy and hugs. His victim is shunned and disregarded. She has not been allowed to play her own game and now that she wants to, she will be targeted. It seems impossible that the women will wake up, unite and take out some of these men, starting with Caleb.

I have wished for years that women would form an alliance like the men have successfully in BB. Other than Rachel and Jordan in BB13, there has not been an enduring all-woman alliance in Big Brother. There are several reasons for that, but primarily it starts the casting which uses social, gender and physical stereotypes to fuel its formula.

This season, Joey tried to, very awkwardly, form a woman's alliance but was evicted first for it. The men, especially Devin and Caleb, (shocker!) scoffed at her audacity to want to do so. Nicole and Christine formed an alliance but they had to bring in Hayden and since then they have expressed doubts about each other.

The situation in the house brings to light how some men view women, how women view each other, how society perpetuates these detrimental notions and how women need to end this catty bullshit and take control of themselves and their destiny.

Stay tuned! :)

Big Brother Lexicon

There are certain terms that have been used in the course of this show that should be clarified. Here is a list:

Team America: Yet Another tool for production to manipulate the game. Three players will be placed in alliance by "America" and will be given tasks that apparently will change the game. So far, it didn't change Joey's game, first member of Team America slated to be evicted first.

Battle of the Block: The 2 nominees of each of the 2 HoHs will battle each other. The winner duo save themselves and dethrone the HoH who nominated them, throwing them back out of power at risk of being a renom.

AGP: Allison Grodner of Fly on the Wall Productions which is the company that has been hired by CBS to produce the show.

PoV: Power of Veto. This allows the holder to save one of the nominations for eviction. The last PoV of the game is the most powerful, as it determines who will be evicted.

HoH: Head of Household. Along with getting a primo suite, a letter from home, pictures and treats, this person decides who will be nominated and renominated should the veto be used.

Floater: This term is often misused. A "floaters" strategy is legitimate way to get through and win the game. A prime example of this is Jun Song (BB4). This strategy allows the player to switch alliances when necessary, win when necessary, but always work under the wire. It doesn't mean just going with the power in the house (let's call those floppers). It means manipulating the house, ergo having the power. In later years, the term has been misused for players who do not make any moves in the game but work for whoever has the power.

Backdoor: This strategy is used when the true target for eviction is not initially nominated, does not get a chance to play PoV, is subsequently nominated and evicted.

Blindside: When a player is evicted without even suspecting that he/she is the target.

Pawn: This is a person who is nominated but is part of the HoH's alliance and is used as a decoy, to ensure that the other person nominated gets evicted. It has often happened that the pawn has been blindsided.

America's Player: This is a player in the game, chosen by the viewing public, who is told how to act and vote in the house. They do this for a separate monetary reward.

Fast Forward: When there are two evictions in one week. Typically they tape an eviction on Tuesday followed by a quickie HoH. They have nominations later that night, followed by a PoV competition and PoV ceremony the next day. The second eviction and HoH comp for that week happens live on Thursday.

Double Eviction: On the live show on Thursday, there is an eviction (sometimes pre-taped), followed by a quick HoH comp, immediate nominations, a PoV competition, PoV Ceremony, followed by another Eviction, culminating in the second HoH comp which is usually a physical skill or Endurance.