Introduction
In the early 2000s, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie starred in a reality show called The Simple Life. The show wasn’t all that good but it had enough of that one thing that would propel reality TV into what it is today: drama. One of the things people loved about the show (and all reality TV) was the fact that it was real. Unlike sitcoms or dramas, where people seemed to fall into internal conflicts without rhyme or reason, this was some actual human behavior they were seeing. It was real life, with all of its messy glory, right there on their television screens.
In the early 2000s, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie starred in a reality show called The Simple Life.
In the early 2000s, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie starred in a reality show called The Simple Life. The show was about two wealthy socialites living in the country. And working hard to earn money so that they could live off their trust funds. It was an instant hit with viewers but was canceled after four seasons due to poor ratings.
The term “homewrecker” is actually quite funny when you think about it!
Unlike sitcoms or dramas, where people seemed to fall into internal conflicts without rhyme or reason, this was some actual human behavior they were seeing.
The realness of it all is what makes reality TV so compelling. Unlike sitcoms or dramas, where people seemed to fall into internal conflicts without rhyme or reason, this was some actual human behavior they were seeing. And it’s also why we consider it more authentic than scripted television.
For example: In one episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey (RHONJ), Teresa Giudice was asked if she would ever consider taking her husband Joe off public assistance. She said no. They both have jobs and make money. They just have the added benefit of having a mortgage payment covered by their business profits. She then went on to talk about how money isn’t everything and how important family is in life. An opinion that’s shared by many Americans today. But also seems like something you’d hear at your grandmother’s house over dinner!
It was real life, with all of its messy glory, right there on their television screens.
The term “homewrecker” is actually quite funny because it’s an insult that you can’t take seriously. It was real life, with all of its messy glory, right there on their television screens. In the early 2000s when this show was first aired, reality TV wasn’t a thing yet. And it didn’t have much going for it at the time either. But if you were watching at home and saw those two women fighting over one man in front of cameras like they were some kind of action movie (which they did). Then yeah…that might be enough to make you laugh out loud!
It was such an easy joke to write because this show was about two women who were friends and not enemies: Danielle Staub and her friend Melissa Peterman competed against each other to find love while also trying not to hurt anyone else along the way. Who wouldn’t want that?
The term homewrecker is a misogynistic slur used by married men to try and shame other women for sleeping with them.
You never hear that term when describing men “messing up” a happy home. It’s always used to demean a woman. I’m not siding with the woman, but I do think it is important to be cautious in using this term. They are both bad guys. There are men who stalk women in relationships and there are women who stalk men in partnerships. It isn’t cool. Relationships serve a purpose, temptations will exist, and it’s a dangerous game. The issue with “homewrecker” is that yo man, not them, is the one who damaged the house. Sometimes the mistress wasn’t even aware that he was dating someone. But you still want to try to “beat her ass”. Where is this enthusiasm for the cheater? I never understand that.
Conclusion
There you have it, a short history of the term “homewrecker” and how it came to be. I hope that if any of my readers are ever in an uncomfortable situation where they feel like someone is trying to shame them for sleeping with their significant other then this post might help.
