No other presidential election in American history has been as controversial as the 2016 election, and for that reason, I’m glad that it made an appearance on Real Housewives Of New York. Why? Because the women on Real Housewives Of New York have opinions on the election, just like everyone else in this world, and Bravo airing Carole and Dorinda attending the women’s march in Washington, D.C. on Real Housewives Of New York the day after the inauguration made a big statement — these women should be taken seriously.
The Real Housewives franchise is founded on watching rich people spend their money and then yell at each other, but what it takes away from the cast is that these women are people, too. Celebrity opinions are often dismissed with a “shut up and [insert talent here],” and if you’re a woman like I am, you know that it only takes one statement out of our respective mouths for a man who thinks he knows better to say, “Well, actually…” But just because you’re in an ensemble of rich women on television doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It doesn’t mean that you’re not capable. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t speak your mind because someone on Twitter is going to shut you down.
It’s easy to discount reality television stars, but by showing that Carole and Dorinda are civically minded enough to make sure that their voices are heard, Real Housewives Of New York demonstrates that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Carole is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who used to work with the late Peter Jennings at ABC News, and Dorinda moved to a foreign country to start her own business, selling fancy cashmere to the English royal family. Carole and Dorinda are no slouches. They’re smart ladies, and they know what they’re talking about when it comes to their opinions. Carole came on a little strong during the election, but hey — she’s passionate. She does her research, and that I can forgive. What I can’t forgive, though, is denying women like Carole and Dorinda (or any of the other real Housewives, for that matter) their voices and opinions because they’re on television. The public writes them off as airheads, but they should really be commended for being engaged, proactive, and brave enough to state their case.
