Summary: Reality TV resets tween, teen girls' expectations about own lives

Recently in pop culture, reality tv shows have become a major brand of entertainment. There has been much speculation from parents and others that reality tv is affecting the way that the minds of young girls develop and grow. In October of 2011, a survey was released called "Real to Me: Reality Girls and TV" in which the Girl Scout Research Institute polled girls on what they think about reality tv shows and corresponding aspects of life. In this study, the surveyors separated the questions between girls who watch reality tv shows and girls who do not, however, 86% of all girls were found to have believed that reality tv shows pit girls against one another for ratings and to make they show more enjoyable overall. When segregating the polls between girls who watch reality tv shows and those who don't, there were some significant differences in opinions. For example, 86% of girls who watch reality tv shows were found to believe that gossiping was a normal part of female friendships, while only 53% of girls who did not watch reality tv shows believed the same to be true. Girls who watched reality tv shows were also more often found to believe that girls must compete for a guy's attentions and are happier when they have a significant other. The survey suggests that more often than not, young girls today are taught to work against each other rather than collaborating to achieve common goals an promoting overall social wellness. This leads to the perpetuation of a "mean girl" stereotype that makes the behavior more socially acceptable. The survey also suggests that girls who watch reality tv shows are significantly more worried about appearance, evident by the 72% of reality show viewers who say they spend a lot of time on their appearance as opposed to the 42% of girls who do not watch reality tv shows. In addition, almost 40% of girls who watch reality tv shows believed a girl's value is based on how she looks. Despite evidence of superficial mindset and behavior, girls who viewed reality tv shows were polled to be more confident than girls who did not. By means of aspiring to leadership, believing themselves to be leaders, and believing that they are role models for other girls, those who watched reality tv shows responded more confidently. Personally, I do not believe that this is evidence of the affect of reality tv shows as much a predisposed personality traits and nurturing. Reality tv shows only appeal to a certain type of person, so it makes sense that the type of personality that is more attracted to said forms of entertainment could be the more confident, superficial person. One upside to girls watching reality tv shows was that it displayed a correlation between viewing and believing in oneself. 68% of girls agree that reality tv shows have made them realize that they can achieve anything in life, while 48% of girls agree that reality shows have made them aware that there are girls out there like them. Perhaps most importantly, 62% of girls reported in believing that they were made more aware of social issues from their time spent viewing reality shows.