How far we have come...

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Dana, that is a fascinating discussion. Well done.

Being a young teen in the later 40's and early 50's when tv was new,
in b/w and only on for a few hours each evening, I grew up following
down the path cleared by the now-called "greatest generation... the WWII vets.

While there are so many government programs created to their benefit, we take them now for granted.
But for me they created a sense of resentment at some of the social norms.
I agree with so many of the images and examples you give above.
For example, in the 9th grade, I was the only boy/male in the "Typing 1" class.
I was there instead being in "Metal Shop 1", as were my friends.

When it came to tv... I resented, and still do, the "dumb daddy" programs
that were the alternative comic themes to the "I Love Lucy" gendre.

I can't write about all that in the way you have above.
So sometime I would really like to see you take on a discussion
of your views of the male stereotypes during that same time period.

An excellent point. I have talked a little before about the sexist portrayal of men in sitcoms and advertising in particular. The dumb dad image winds me up no end. Positive portrayals of husbands and fathers in advertising were all but absent for much of my life. Dad's were either: slightly inept mini-tyrants against whom the mum and kids collaborated, big kids, with whom the wives were infuriated, or fools to be tricked and cajoled by domineering wives and daughters.

Mainly because, I think, anything that was being sold as a product for the home and family was assumed to be selling to women - and this kind of 'Men huh!' eyerolling was assumed to appeal to wives and mothers.

i love it when I see a really good portrayal of fatherhood in adverts. My favourite recently was the Colman's Shepherd's Pie advert: