The men of the franchise may not get a spot holding their city's respective sparkling item, but they have become important players in the series. Showing the good, the bad, and the ugly of love and marriage, the husbands and partners might need a contract in order to provide the story's full experience. With The Real Housewives of Potomac's Stacey Rusch and her "friend" TJ Jones becoming one of the latest headlines, it's time to explore giving the men some time to shine.
Husbands and Partners Have a Big Part in 'The Real Housewives'
Right now on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, we're watching dueling separations from two of the most prominent couples on the franchise. We are getting, essentially, only half the story as there is no incentive for the men, Maurico and PK, to come on screen and bring their perspective if they're not prompted. The story of the season is watching Kyle Richards and Dorit Kemsley navigate this new chapter of their lives, so isn't it fair to get the complete picture? Over on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, it's safe to say that certain fellas have had more screen-time than any short-lived full-time cast member. The central story on the series has focused on Teresa and Melissa, but those stories heavily involved the men. While some may not advocate giving Joe or Luis any more screen time than they're already getting, shouldn't they be compensated for sharing almost as much as their wives?
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Bravo Needs to Pay the Partners, Not the Housewives
Stacey's instance begs the question again of the purpose of the partners on the series. Are they needed, and, if so, can Bravo cast women who are not tied down? The title of the show is pretty strict in ideals, but does it have to be? Can we expand past the idea of a Housewife and showcase incredible and strong independent women? The show has already broken ground. We have two brilliant queer women in Jenna Lyons and Racquel Chevremont on The Real Housewives of New York City. And like the heterosexual couples, they too are experiencing the battle of to show the partner or not. Jenna keeps her relationships mum. Racquel proudly shares Melissa Corpus with the world. We could easily go through the entire franchise and point out the inconsistencies of showing partners or ot. But at this point, we've come to an impasse. If the husbands, partners, lovers, or friends are on-screen, they deserve a contract. They're there for a story. Without them, the story isn't told.
