Looking back through the years of TV, movies, magazines and books, roles of men versus women have dramatically changed. Back in the 50's, women were viewed as beautiful, submissive housewives. They spent their days cleaning the house, tending to the children and baking pies, without breaking a sweat, while eagerly anticipating their husband's arrival home from work. June Cleaver, from Leave It to Beaver, was the picture of the ultimate housewife: loving, dedicated, constantly catering to her husband, hardworking, not a hair out of place. The women's place was in th
e home. The man's place was at work, making the money to provide for his family. He was the head of his house, the king of his castle. While he loved his children, it was the mother's role to tend to them and if he was absolutely needed to hand out punishment, he was called on. This portrayal, while it seems to be exaggerated, was typical of families at this time. As time went on, the media seemed to follow the perceptions within TV, movies and books.
e home. The man's place was at work, making the money to provide for his family. He was the head of his house, the king of his castle. While he loved his children, it was the mother's role to tend to them and if he was absolutely needed to hand out punishment, he was called on. This portrayal, while it seems to be exaggerated, was typical of families at this time. As time went on, the media seemed to follow the perceptions within TV, movies and books. Familes have changed drastically since the 1950's. Men and women have changed drastically as well. In his book, Media, Gender and Identity, David Gauntlett examines the differences between men and women from the past into the present within the realms of magazines, movies, advertising and TV. Where women used to be viewed as the quiet, submissive but elegantly beautiful, they are now seen as independant sex objects. A quote from Janice Winship, Inside Women's Magazines: "Cosmopolitan is aware firstly, that being a woman involves constantly adjusting one's own image to fit time and place in an ever changing game of images; and secondly, that 'real life' is constantly thought through dream images" (Gauntlett, 54). Women today have it ten times harder than they used to. All the images and messages that get thrown at them daily tell them they have to look, act and dress a certain way to be a woman in today's society. Just wanting to be a stay at home mom is no longer a widely accpeted job. Women are seen as throwing away their education and lives if they choose to remain at home to raise their children.
Views of men through the years have not changed as much as women's have. Men were and are still often seen as the stronger gender. They are the ones who should make the most money, be the strongest physically and have a job that is the epitomy of masculinity. While that is still often true for men, some men are defying that stereotype. There are males in typically seen as female roles, there are men who are classified as 'feminine" due to ways of dress and mannerisms and shocker of all shockers there are actually men who have a desire to stay at home with their children while their wives go off to work. These men are often seen as less than a man for choosing these feminine paths. While it is still somewhat of a shock, it is becoming more of a norm.
The best example I can think of to describe the change between the time of the Cleavers to the present is one of my absolute favorite TV shows from the 90's, Full House. For those of you who have never seen it, Full House is the story of three guys (yes guys) left to raise three little girls after their mother dies in a car crash. The mother is never seen in the show, it opens a short time after her death. The three guys are Danny (dad), Joey (best friend of Danny) and Jesse (uncle and best friend). The three girls are pretty young so this is a huge undertaking. All three guys hav
e careers- talk show host, stand up comedian and musician, but all make the sacrifices and efforts needed to raise these girls in a loving, stable but fun environment. Throughout the seven years of the show, Danny Jesse and Joey are the ones who go through it all with the girls--kindergarten, bullies, first date, broken hearts, prom, etc. Being raised by three guys brings an interesting dynamic, especially as the girls get older and all of the guys realize that. They never deny that a mother plays an important part in a girl's life, but do all they can to try to make up for it. Full House is one of the first shows of its kind to have the male parent doing the raising, without a woman's help. I love that show for many reasons, but one of them is that it shows that guys are just as capable of being the girl scout's leaders, baking brownies, shopping for dresses, and giving advice as women are. Like the opening line of the theme song, 'whatever happened to predictability"? The foundation of Full House is anything but predictable and it was liked that way.
e careers- talk show host, stand up comedian and musician, but all make the sacrifices and efforts needed to raise these girls in a loving, stable but fun environment. Throughout the seven years of the show, Danny Jesse and Joey are the ones who go through it all with the girls--kindergarten, bullies, first date, broken hearts, prom, etc. Being raised by three guys brings an interesting dynamic, especially as the girls get older and all of the guys realize that. They never deny that a mother plays an important part in a girl's life, but do all they can to try to make up for it. Full House is one of the first shows of its kind to have the male parent doing the raising, without a woman's help. I love that show for many reasons, but one of them is that it shows that guys are just as capable of being the girl scout's leaders, baking brownies, shopping for dresses, and giving advice as women are. Like the opening line of the theme song, 'whatever happened to predictability"? The foundation of Full House is anything but predictable and it was liked that way.
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