It's no secret that North American women are addicted to The Real Housewives reality television franchise. Whether it's following Camille's divorce in Hollywood or gossiping about Ramona's ridiculous outbursts in NYC, women just can't seem to get enough of these feisty females. And now, as Shaw Media begins ramping up for the first Canadian version of the franchise (The Real Housewives of Vancouver will begin airing in April on Shaw Media's Slice channel), we northern gals can enjoy the on-air antics of our very own privileged princesses.

Is this really the "reality" that we want to support? Granted, The Real Housewives franchise, like other reality shows, is one part truth mixed with two parts fiction. Brilliantly written and produced with respect to entertainment value, these television shows are designed to provide us with an escape from reality, offering sensational storylines and tabloid talk.

The question remains, however, whether these shows have a much deeper impact than pure escapist fun. [More: Livin' large: What is a real income of real housewives and modern families?]

Stereotypes abound Over the past two decades, Canadian men have consistently been two to three times more likely than women to rise to leadership roles in the corporate arena. Women are still fighting to break through the glass ceiling and dispel the very stereotypes perpetuated by popular media.

Critics argue that shows like The Real Housewives put women into the gutter of society, suggesting dangerous stereotypes and discriminatory thinking. [More: Rebranding girls: How do we increase our value in the world?]

Just look at the cast line-up for the new Vancouver series:

Frankly, some might argue that it's hard to tell what's worse the fact that these women allow themselves to be presented in such one-dimensional fashion, or that we as viewers can't get enough of it. [More: Women, aging & economics: The changing labour market]

Designer labels don't bring success From the fully loaded Escalades to the over-the-top soirees, The Real Housewives franchise does a brilliant job of equating success and status with materialistic possessions and excessive consumption. In fact, that's part of the appeal. These women are wealthy, influential and powerful, but for what reasons? Instead of focusing on fulfilling careers, strong friendships and loving families, the main selling points of the series are often salacious gossip and catty behaviour.

One might indeed infer that we're headed down a dangerous road in our culture a road where it's impossible to tell what's real and what's scripted. And while most of us are perceptive enough to tell the difference, it's still a tad troublesome that reality TV producers tend to focus on seemingly psychotic, superficial women as their central characters. While every nuance of these shows is plotted, shot and edited for dramatic effect, they're still based on real-life people. And from Twitter wars to Today Show tiffs, it's tough to tell where the scripted story ends, especially when some cast members of the franchise behave the same way off-set as they do on. [More: The skinny & rich conundrum: Eating disorders among executive women on the rise ]

More importantly, when all is said and done, how can we expect young women to strive for personal achievements, break down barriers and build a better future when we provide them with a limited view of what a successful woman should be?

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Are the Real Housewives of Vancouver eroding our idea of financial success?