"...nations would tease each other until they developed eating disorders. "

Hah! Ok, ok, just kidding. Or am I?

It's sad, but I think the show "When Women Rule the World" is basically out to say "look, see what happens when we put women in charge? They can't corral others into doing what needs to be done, they become bitchy and catty, and everything falls apart".

A quick statement about this show:

"The participants will be brought to a remote, primitive location where the women will have the opportunity to “rule” as they build a newly formed society – one where there is no glass ceiling and no dressing to impress. For the men, their worlds of power and prestige are turned inside-out and upside-down. And for these women, turnabout is fair play!"

Now, to be fair- this IS an idea from FOX. We can't expect anything challenging, or even terribly entertaining. However, I was caught up by the images of half naked men having paint slapped over them, and walking on the beach with pots balanced on their heads, and I had a tiny glimmer that this would at least have some imagery that would be sexy, you know, with the sound turned off. And I figured, as they'd pick guys who were chauvenist and obnoxious, watching them get taken down a notch would be... well, fuel for my fantasy fire, for sure.

When it starts, the host makes a point of saying that this is a world where women rule and men are subservient... you know, the opposite of the everyday. This is sad, and, I daresay, ignores other issues like class (I think a "festum stultorum" would make for a great show) and ethnicity (ooh, boy, now imagine a show where, say, black people are allowed to enslave and harass white people... somehow I doubt that'd be shown anytime soon). Oh, yeah, he also says "here, men are the weaker sex"... riiight.

Even so, I thought, hey, there's 8 women, at least a couple of them must have some tricks up their sleeves. One of them HAS to be a dominatrix, or at least a nanny. Now, I don't know how this happened, but the women choose one of the youngest people in the group, one of the women with the most attitude, to be the "Queen" and rule the roost. How they thought this would be a good idea, I don't know- I would've picked the calmest person there, maybe the person who wanted it least. Likely, it was fixed.

Anyway, as the men weren't told about the role they would be playing, many of them bristled. "I'm not going to be ruled by no woman!" more than one cried, though one seemed to be pleased- he was also the best behaved of any of the men. The women were all wearing various amounts of skimpy clothes (but all reflecting bad taste) in animal print- showing their authority, of course, but also their tits and legs! Hooray! (I imagine women in charge would be wearing comfy pajamas, but hey). The men are NOT forced to be half naked, but given rather ugly and dirty looking clothes to wear- not conducive to subjecting them to the female (or my) gaze, and rather a sad waste of some pretty flesh.

Each week, one of them gets voted off, presumably for being the least productive or the most difficult. I don't think they're allowed to whip them, sadly, or even slap them for fun, or possibly even tie them up (a damn shame, really- there were a couple who would've benefitted from being made into a table, or a sign, or just left to sit in the Naughty Chair).

The show spends a lot of time focused on the men rating the attractiveness of the women, but not vice versa. I was sort of hoping for the women to comment to each other about how sexy the men look lugging wood and furniture around (they have to set up the camp themselves, you see). But no, the women don't seem interested in much more than bitching and nagging the men constantly- which makes the men hate and resent them more, while reinforcing gender stereotypes AND making sure this "social experiment" isn't at all relaxing for the women! Score!

Only woman encourages her servant by complimenting what he does well, which means he works harder for her- this is the singular well behaved guy on the show. He's likely a dickwad- FOX did pick him, after all- but he gets what it's about and he keeps his mouth shut. Like a good pet.

At least they didn't pull out aprons or some shit for them to wear for the domestic housework... oh, sorry, "women's work" as it's referred to in the show. The only punishment I really saw was a man getting water in his face and the same man having to eat alone... in the nicest place in the village. Puzzled? I am- even the least experienced Dominatrix wannabe knows about making men kneel and eat their food from a plate on the floor. Or not letting them have a plate. There's even a threat about putting him in women's underwear- because, you know, that'll humilate him, having to DRESS LIKE A WOMAN while DOING WOMEN'S WORK! I can't believe this is for real. Oh wait, it's Fox.

There's one guy on the show who fusses ad whines a lot. I wonder if these women have no experience with children, or have never watched "Supernanny"- when they act up, they want attention, so sit them down, tell them to think about what they've done, and disengage. Don't chase after them whinging and pestering.

Also I was irritated that the women would load the men up with stuff to do and then nag them. Keep it simple- a couple of things, reward or discipline, then a couple of things. This allows you time to chill out. Isn't that the point?

I kind of enjoy that they're reluctant to obey, but, if they want the money, they have to shut up and take it. Still, I wish the women were more respectable. I was amused that one guy bucks the "women rule" thing by up and quitting instead of the women choosing a guy to go. I was infuriated when the host asks him if he thought women could rule the world... this is NOT a good example of women being in charge, and it's sort of unfair to suggest that it is, even indirectly. It's just stupid reality television.

And I'm still pouting that there's no bondage or sadism. I was hoping to get some interesting ideas from this show, maybejustmaybe, but nah. If these women knew what they were doing, even if they can't physically discipline these guys, I would so totally wake them up at dawn with ice water in the face. :D

So, in conclusion? It's FOX. Why was I expecting any different?