Good Intentions....Awful Manners.

I recently saw an episode of Jessica Simpson's new reality show, "The Price of Beauty". When I had seen advertisements for it earlier, I thought it was going to be really cool...because the whole concept is to go around the world and see what other cultures think is beautiful. I had high hopes and was excited to see what she found. However, I was disappointed in the episode I watched. She had gone to Thailand..and she did find interesting perspectives on beauty..for example they value pale skin because it shows a symbol of high status because those who have lower class jobs usually work out in the sun which causes them to have darker skin.
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I really like how she is truly interested in learning new things from women around the world, and how open and honest she is with them. However, what I found to be disappointing was her occasional lack of respect and cultural sensitivity shown. For example, their host Thai woman showed them a street vendor who sold fried bugs...which have good nutrients that keep your skin healthy and beautiful. They all tried a bug, and made a HUGE scene in the middle of the market, gagging and screaming in a very obnoxious way. Yeah, eating fried bugs is gross...but these are delicacies to the Thai people...you need to show some respect. Jessica also had a laughing attack during a meditation with a Buddhist monk. That's a very sacred ritual to them, you need to keep it together. Yeah it makes for funny tv...but it also makes Americans look even more full of ourselves and hopelessly ethnocentric than we already are.
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Don't get me wrong, I will still probably watch the show because of my obsession with learning about different cultures, and she does learn alot about other perceptions of beauty. I like her curiosity and adventurous spirit. With that being said, although there are good intentions and I like the idea of seeing how different cultures pursue and define beauty, I hope Jessica and her friends also learn to be more respectful and culturally sensitive throughout their experience.