We’re eleven series into Love Island, but we’re still a long way from healthy, balanced heterosexual relationships being the norm. So far this series, which started on 3 June on ITV2, we’ve seen the boys lusted over for doing the bare minimum, while the girls run circles around them and compete with one another for their attention.
There is a noticeable power imbalance between the boys and the girls, which has created a more competitive atmosphere than usual. It seems like everyone is rushing to find one person they can stick with, rather than trying to get to know everyone so that they can make an informed decision based off their strongest connection.
Even Samantha Kenny, who is currently coupled up with Joey Essex, referred to them as the 'king and queen' of the villa - a bold statement to make considering they are one week in and he doesn't seem all that interested in her.
Whether it be because 'day one couples' on Love Island have done well in the past, or simply because these islanders just want to skip the 'pull you for a chat' phase, they seem to be turning dating into a game of winners and losers. This is, of course, most noticeable in the love triangles.
There are currently two love triangles on the show; the first is Ayo Odukoya, Mimii Ngulube and Uma Jammeh, and the second is Ronnie Vint, Jess White and Harriet Blackmore. Sadly, an unremarkable man holds all the power in both situations, while four strong-willed women are left vying for their attention and reducing themselves to 'prizes'.
When Harriet stopped speaking to Ciaran Davies, she started getting to know Ronnie and they shared a kiss in the hideaway. Ronnie was coupled up with Jess at the time, leading to a rivalry between the two girls. While expressing her frustration with the situation, Jess has repeatedly said 'I'm the prize' Ronnie was coupled up with Jess at the time, a rivalry between the two girls ensued and Jess has repeatedly said 'I'm the prize'.
Of course, it’s never nice to feel like an ‘option’ when someone you like is dating other people, but no women should reduce her worth to that of a 'prize' - especially if the contest is for male attention. This is needlessly competitive language that does them both a disservice.
The same is true with Mimii, Ayo and Uma. When Mimii picked Ayo at the last recoupling, Uma seemed upset that they were still exploring their connection because she was thought Ayo had made it clear he was leaning more towards her. When the three of them sat down to clear the air, Ayo confirmed that he likes both of them and wants to get to keep getting to know them at the same time. Uma asked, 'so we're equal then?' as if she and Mimii had just got the same score in a pub quiz.
Of course, it's difficult to get to know someone naturally when you’re living with nine other people trying to do the same thing, but it's sad to see these confident, beautiful women questioning their worth based on the whims of random men they've just met. And it's even worse to see them pitting themselves each against other as a result.
Language like this turns relatively normal (albeit awkward and intensified) dating dynamics into a contest where the 'best' person wins – and, in reality, no one does.