A few weeks ago, rumours began to circulate about the possiblity of a Canadian version of the Real Housewives of ______.  Scary, if you think about it.  I didn’t even think that women in Canada would want to be followed around and filmed like that.  I thought that the women, especially those here in Toronto, are too refined to bother.  Being a reality star, especially candid ones about well-to-do women, can really hurt one’s repuation.  Shows like that, after all, aren’t all that “real” and rely very much on clever editing. 

Cast of The Real Housewives of New York.  Do you think appearing on a show like this will ruin one’s reputation?

Who really wants to be on a show where the main focus is on how much money one has and the types of parties they go to?  While yes, this does get your name in the spotlight (a lot of people want that), it often isn’t for the best.  Really, how many Real Houswives of ______ have a good reputation?  And depending on how you are edited on the show, it could possibly hurt you in the future – especially if you want to have any sort of political career.   Would you really want a politician, regardless of whether she’s local, provincial or federal, to be a reality star? 

It’s interesting how people today are so desparate for fame.  In the past, there was a “rule” for women – they were only supposed to be in the paper three times:  when they’re born, when they marry and when they die.  Of course, this has changed, but the original meaning of the “rule” was really to say that one shouldn’t have her name in public except for good reasons.  Being on a reality show, unlike, say, running a successful charitable organization or being an elected official (even if a hated one), is not a good reason.

Would you go on a reality show?  Why or why not?

Image of The Real Housewives of New York courtesy of Shutterstock/DFree