Salt n Pepa, the “Virgin vs. Whore” Show

I caught a bit of the Salt n Pepa Show last night (shut up, I haven’t had cable in over a decade), and was struck by the way the show is largely framed by the old dichotomy for women, virgin vs. whore. Salt has had some sort of religious conversion, and is very proper, living in her clean suburban-looking home, hosting prayer groups, and wanting to make sure everyone behaves. She refuses to sing some of the most popular SnP songs from back in the day because of the sexually explicit lyrics. Pepa, on the other hand, is single and living it up. She drinks, she gambles, she’s loud and brash, she has to be constrained from doing sexy moves when they perform. Pepa is portrayed as wanting the duo to reunite because she wants the money, while it’s clear that the good girl, Salt, doesn’t need it and is not motivated by the money.

Last night’s episode featured Pepa staying at Salt’s place, which caused conflict when Pepa stayed up all night being rowdy, playing cards with the menfolk and gambling and drinking. Salt repeatedly asks them to be quiet, and yet her husband continues to participate in the festivities and basically tricks her into thinking he’s going to wrap it up and come to bed. What really happens? Mr. Salt gets the game going again and eggs on the rowdiness despite his wife’s wishes.

The seeming lesson? The menfolk are nearly wild animals who will be tempted by the presence of loose women into lying to their wives, drinking, and getting into all kinds of trouble. This big fun is what they’d really rather be doing anyway, and a good wife must be constantly vigilant if she wants her man to behave.

Is this dichotomy really all there is going on between two women who once made their career together? Somehow I doubt it, but I suppose the “reality” tv folks think it makes good television because it plays on stereotypical fears and notions of women as simply one thing or the other.

Okay, I might have caught more than one episode. Shut up.