'The Bachelorette': Why Couldn't Jillian Be the One to Propose?

It was the final rose ceremony on 'The Bachelorette,' and the moment of truth had arrived. The music swelled. Jillian looked deeply, happily into the eyes of Ed and told him that he -- not Reid or Kiptyn -- was her ultimate choice, the man with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

And then what happened? Ed took out a ring and asked if she would marry him.

Hold up. Rewind. The name of the show is 'The Bachelorette,' and Jillian (the bachelorette in question) had considered her options, searched her heart and chosen the guy she wanted to marry. Yet he was the one who proposed?It was the final rose ceremony on 'The Bachelorette,' and the moment of truth had arrived. The music swelled. Jillian looked deeply, happily into the eyes of Ed and told him that he -- not Reid or Kiptyn -- was her ultimate choice, the man with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

And then what happened? Ed took out a ring and asked if she would marry him.

Hold up. Rewind. The name of the show is 'The Bachelorette,' and Jillian (the bachelorette in question) had considered her options, searched her heart and chosen the guy she wanted to marry. Yet he was the one who proposed?

Did this not strike anyone else as odd? Surely we're not the only ones who thought that maybe the woman making the decision would get to do the actual proposing, too. Instead, what happened is that she chose her man, then had to wait for him to ask her to marry him so she could say "yes." (What if she changed her mind in that split-second? Could she still say "no"?)

We do realize, of course, that on this show, the man proposes to the woman. That's how it's always been on both 'The Bachelor' and 'The Bachelorette,' and that's how it usually happens in real life.

But why does it have to be that way? This is the 21st century, and women have high-powered careers, they juggle work and family, they ask men out on dates ... and yes, sometimes they even propose. So you would think, in this day and age, that the star of her own reality show -- one that's all about her taking control of her own romantic destiny -- would get to end the show just like her 'Bachelor' counterparts do: by sealing her choice with an offer of marriage.

Apparently, the producers of 'The Bachelorette' disagree, going with the more traditional route. And, many would argue, the fact that Ed proposed to Jillian and not the other way around is just a matter of semantics. Or they'd say that audiences aren't ready to accept a woman proposing to a man on national television -- it's just not romantic!

All that said, maybe someday we'll get to see a reality dating show where the woman really does get to be the decider, in action and words, from beginning to end. She'll pick out her own ring (maybe his, too!), ask him to be hers forever, and offer him a final red rose that means something ... And then she'll just have to figure how to kneel down without ruining her dress. -- By Patricia Chui

What do you think? Sound off below.

Related: Jillian Harris Chooses Ed Swiderski in 'Bachelorette' Finale