RHONJ: Everyone needs to stop infantalizing Dolores Catania

The latest episode of Real Housewives of New Jersey was frustrating to watch because it seems like no matter how many times star Dolores Catania says she’s happy and content with her relationship, no one wants to believe her. The other RHONJ housewives continue to judge and cast their unwanted opinions on her relationship with David, which comes to a head when Joe Gorga calls her a “ruined” and “broken” woman at a party.

Look, I think Dolores is a queen and I’m not sure David deserves her but the point is that Dolores says she’s happy and that’s all that matters. She’s a grown woman! It’d be different if she was genuinely going to her friends and seeking advice, but she’s made it clear that she would rather everyone stay out of it.

It’s particularly surprising to see someone like Jackie, who has spent the whole season upset about rumors regarding her husband, would pitch in to comment on someone else’s relationship, but Jackie’s also done that with Teresa, too. For Jackie, it’s not okay to discuss her marriage with Evan but it’s totally okay for her to comment on everyone else’s relationships.

RHONJ recap: Joe Gorga’s behavior at the party was reprehensible

Then RHONJ Season 11, Episode 11 comes to a head when Joe decides that a big party with a bunch of people Dolores barely knows is the right time to demoralize her and generally put her down over David. Frankly, it’s disgusting, and I’m tired of people tolerating Joe’s misogyny because they claim he’s just “old-school.” So what? It’s 2021, grow the hell up Joe and everyone else, stop making excuses for this egocentric manbaby!

My jaw dropped when Joe started saying all that stuff about Dolores, and Marge was right to call him chauvinistic. It would have been bad enough for Joe to say that in private or just with their core group of friends, but he said it in front of tons of other people! He was deliberately humiliating Dolores, whether he realized it or not.

Then Melissa made things worse by throwing out her “poll” thing. Newsflash Melissa, taking a “poll” and getting people like Michelle and her husband involved before chatting to Dolores very much is discussing things behind her back. And after Dolores left, Jackie kept going!

It’ll be interesting to see how this is hashed out at the reunion, that’s for sure.

New episodes of RHONJ Season 11 air Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. on Bravo.