The drinking, the drama, the parties, the addictions, the relationships, the hook-ups: these things are all a part of what modern society declares as “the real world.” However, within that “real world,” do we as the viewer really understand the risks and objectification that comes with what we find ‘entertaining’?

“The Real World” is a reality television program on MTV that was first broadcast in 1992. The show is the longest-running program in MTV history, as well as one of the longest running reality series in history. The series was hailed in its early years for depicting issues of contemporary young-adulthood relevant to its core audience, such as sexuality, prejudice and substance abuse, but later garnered a reputation as a showcase for immature and irresponsible behavior.

Looking at the contract, under Clause 7, it is noted that:
“I understand there are risks in such interaction, including but not limited to, the possibility of consensual and non-consensual physical contact, which could result in my contracting any type of sexually transmitted disease, including, without limitation, HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), chlamydia, scabies (crabs), hepatitis, genital warts, and other communicable and sexually transmitted diseases, or pregnancy etc.”

So, it’s socially acceptable to sign a contract saying that you may or may not get raped or get a disease. When did we as a society become foolish enough to actually sign up for such things?

We are a society focused on Hollywood’s expectations and images; we are feeding our children the superficial lies that beauty is found within the tubes of make-up, the higher heels and the barely there attire. Whatever happened to the kindness of the heart, the beauty within the conversations that revealed intellect and intelligence? We traded it in for more sex, more alcohol and more partying.

We are a society that doesn’t take rape seriously; we blame the girl on seducing the males and patronize a female whenever she loses a case. This really is a social issue that faces our nation, and I really feel like we need to make it more of a big deal of it than we do. It needs to be known that rape isn’t a joke; rape ruins the lives of those it affects. It is a serious problem that Americans don’t even consider until it comes up in our own lives.