Content Warning: The following article features discussions of racial insensitivity and sexual harassment.
The reality show Survivor prides itself on being an accurate reflection of society, but in recent years, the series has been put to the test with several social issues that were handled well or poorly. Fans still wonder if the Survivor production team did these issues justice. Some viewers feel that the show's higher-ups downplay the importance of certain issues for the sake of the game.
Reality television shows have been forced to evolve as society does. For example, society has become more sensitive to social issues, such as racism, sexism, and transgender rights, and reality shows must embrace that new sense of empathy and sensitivity. That being said, each reality show, including Survivor, must maintain its concept and give audience members the types of viewing experiences that they want.
When it comes to Survivor, this means maintaining the concept of the game and being fair to the contestants who are competing, while still doing justice to the issues being presented on the show. The fact that it's a competition show makes that task all the more challenging, as producers cannot show favoritism towards certain competitors over others, regardless of how they identify and/or their beliefs,
A Conversation About Race Was Meaningful
Survivor: Island Of The Idols tasked the show with handling the issue of race, which was dealt with positively. The issue began when white contestant Jack Nichting referred to Black contestant Jamal Shipman's buff as a "do-rag." Jamal was visibly upset and Jack seemed to regret making the insensitive comment. The two men sat down and had a long discussion about racial relations and deep-seated racism.
It was a teachable moment for Jack and Survivor viewers alike, and the show allowed Jamal to be a voice for necessary change. During the show's finale, Jamal and Jack spoke about the incident and said that they'd remained friends. This showed the strength of education and understanding.
Female Contestants Didn't Think Their Voices Were Heard
The very same season of Survivor failed to do justice to the gravity and importance of the #metoo movement. Several female contestants on the show accused fellow castaway Dan Spilo of making them feel uncomfortable. They accused him of being overly physical. The castaway who led the complaints, Kellee Kim, was quickly voted out, while Dan remained in the game.
On the show, Dan's closest female ally Janet Carbin attempted to confront him about the womens' complaints, as she believed that Dan respected her and would listen to her concerns. Janet's brave and honorable attempt to protect the younger women led her to the fringes of the tribe. She spent the rest of the game fearing that she would be sent home.
Eventually, the producers did eliminate Dan from the competition, meaning that he was never actually voted out for his behavior. While the show did not publicize why Dan was asked to leave on-air, it was later revealed that he had made a female member of the crew uncomfortable via unwanted physical contact.
The fact that Survivor's producers did not listen to the contestants' complaints, and only dealt with the issue when it became a question of workplace harassment, revealed that producers were more interested in avoiding a lawsuit than what the women were going through. Survivor is a reality show, so almost everything is recorded. Therefore, it is extremely doubtful that producers were unaware of Dan's inappropriate behavior or the effect it was having on contestants like Kellee.
Survivor Is A Microcosm of Society
There was one thing that Survivor did right in this incident, which was holding up a mirror to society. What's sad is that the reflection was definitely anything but flattering. Unfortunately, the victim Kellee was voted off the island for speaking out about Dan's behavior. The show mirrored society's tendency to not believe victims of sexual harassment. Such victims are often villainized for speaking their truth.
Janet's attempt to protect her female castmates unfairly ruined her game, since it minimized her chances of winning the competition. Similarly, in society, women who stand up to sexual harassment and try to make a difference are often seen as difficult, paranoid, and argumentative. Finally, the fact that Dan was never voted off by his tribe perfectly mirrors how some sexual harassers are rarely judged appropriately by their peers. Perhaps Survivor producers can take credit for forcing audiences to look at the way that society handles these issues.
Zeke Smith's Experience Showed The Importance Of Transgender Rights
Survivor: Game Changers was another season that reflected social issues in society, as contestant Zeke Smith was outed as a transgender person by fellow castaway, Jeff Varner, during a Tribal Council. Zeke was visibly upset by the situation, as his tribe members appeared to be shocked and angered by Varner's behavior. Survivor host Jeff Probst did a spectacular job of handling the situation. Probst gave Zeke the opportunity to speak but made it clear that there was no pressure if Zeke wasn't ready to share his thoughts.
At the end of the Tribal Council, Varner was unanimously voted out via a verbal agreement by the tribe. Survivor made it clear who was the victim and who was the villain in this instance. The show's decisive management of the situation showed its stance on the issue and demonstrated to viewers that there is no grey area when it comes to standing up for what is right.
Survivor Exposes Societal Flaws & Strengths
The contestants on Survivor have the opportunity to create their own mini-society during their time on the show. More often than not, they create an exact replica of the society they live in outside of the show. This gives Survivor the unique opportunity to show societal flaws and how they can be repaired. The series also has the ability to display the beauty in society, and to praise the things that are done right. A show that has been around as long as Survivor must learn to change with the times, and the show has proven that it's up to the challenge.
Survivor has constantly adapted to meet the changing demands of society and new social issues. The show's most recent season has changed its casting method to include a more diverse group of contestants. Furthermore, Probst stopped using his catchphrase, "come on in, guys,"so as to be more inclusive with his language. Ultimately, Survivor seems to be leading by example, while being cognizant of the fact that the next generation is watching.
Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.