The best thing about The Bachelorette is the subversion of the stereotype.
Women across the country who just couldn’t – and wouldn’t – watch The Bachelor have tuned in to witness men grovelling and competing for a woman. It’s a nice change from seeing women compete for a cardboard cut-out bloke. The male contestants on The Bachelorette are, well, loveable. Most are, sweet, funny, kind and even a little emotionally vulnerable.
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And there’s a certain something that unites them all.
The way they stand – hands folded in front of their manhoods, the way they walk – solidly upon the earth, the way they talk ‘bro code’ and ‘mate’ and ‘goodonya’, the way they pat each other on the bum and rub each other on the head.
They are so goddam Aussie.
This week on the Debrief Daily podcast Just Between Us we ask can you spot an Aussie bloke? Is there an Aussie bloke sensibility and masculinity and if there is, what is it?
If you doubt it, ask yourself this: is there another culture where men slap each other on the bum as a sign of affection?
For mine, Hugh Jackman is the ultimate Aussie bloke - but I know many men would disagree, because Jackman plays on Broadway, and we still seem to like our blokes tough and rugged and boofy.
This week Kyle Sandilands mocked a contestant on The Block for crying in disappointment. Our new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, made a 'goose' of himself trying to act all matey and knowledgeable about rugby league. Worse still, a puerile gossip columnist penned an offensive post urging Jesinta Campbell to postpone her wedding because her boyfriend Buddy Franklin admitted his vulnerability and mental illness.
