Okay, I choose you. Now propose!

So I have to start out by saying I do not watch The Bachelorette and have barely ever seen The Bachelor. But I'm pretty sure I understand the premise of the show, which is to have one person cull a herd of the opposite sex and ultimately select a spouse.

Of course this franchise began with the man choosing from a harem, a concept that is cleverly manipulated by lauding the runner-up as a winner and giving her a reality dating show of her own. Three cheers for feminism; it's the woman who'll be calling the shots now.

Except. Apparently the conclusion to both shows ends the same: A man proposes. WTF? Doesn't flipping the whole "boy picks girl" schema on its head require the woman to ask for the man's hand in marriage? Or is it that improbable that a woman would take the lead in making such a lifechanging decision?

I mean, could you imagine if on the season finale of The Bachelor, the guy expected the woman to propose?

"Okay, Cheryl, this is it. I sent away all the others, and you are the most special person in the whole world/on this show. You win."

"Ohmigod Gene, I am so happy! I'm so glad I won this contest....So..."

"So, now is the part where you ask me to marry you."

"But--"

"Yes, that's right, I'm allowing you to propose."

You know, I'm pretty traditional when it comes to dating--I don't think it helps anyone for the woman to take too much of a lead. But if you're going to make the premise of your plotline that the lady is in charge, make her say the tough stuff. To let her pass off popping the question to her intended is weak.