Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Reality show revels in crude Italian-American stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 41 parent reviews
Parents say the show is highly controversial and often criticized for its negative influence on children and teenagers, with many reviewers deeming it inappropriate due to its portrayal of excessive partying, violence, and poor role models. While some viewers find it entertaining or a guilty pleasure, others see it as mindless entertainment that promotes destructive behavior and a harmful lifestyle.
- negative influence
- inappropriate for kids
- mindless entertainment
- guilty pleasure
- cultural stereotypes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 97 kid reviews
What's the Story?
JERSEY SHORE follows a group of young Italian-American adults spending the summer together at the Jersey shore. The four women and four men live together at the stylish Shore House and must work at a T-shirt shop owned by their landlord, Dan. In between shifts, the gang spends their time experiencing all the lively entertainment the popular East Coast hot spot has to offer -- which, in their case, seems to translate to lots and lots of partying.
Is It Any Good?
Jersey Shore centers on the broad ethnic stereotypes of the "guido" (a male Italian American) and the "guidette" (the female version) -- who are often characterized as uneducated and hot-tempered and who proudly sport fake tans, over-gelled hair, and tight-fitting and/or gaudy outfits as cultural assets.
Rather than challenging these characterizations, the cast members of the show have proudly reclaimed the stereotypes. Instead of looking at Jersey Shore as a chance to transform these over-simplified characterizations into a positive celebration of their ethnicity, they use them to excuse inappropriate behavior. As a result, the show leaves viewers with a depiction of Italian Americans that's both misguided and offensive.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the difference between celebrating a cultural heritage and playing into stereotypes about that culture.
Do you think the show's portrayal of Italian Americans is accurate? Or could the cast members be playing up to specific stereotypes because they're on a reality show?
Should racial/ethnic stereotyping ever be used as a source of entertainment? Is there such a thing as positive stereotypes?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 3, 2009
- Cast : Jenni Farley , Nicole Polizzi , Paul DelVecchio
- Network : MTV
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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