I currently don't have tv because I'm too cheap (or really poor actually) to pay for cable. It's been over a year now that I haven't had it, and I even gave my tv away to a friend. I've gotten really used to it and it really doesn't bother me UNLESS....I discover a new show that I really like and really want to follow. I usually catch different shows at my friends' houses but rarely take interest in any of them. However I recently saw the show Parenthood. It's really good. And now that I'm into the plot I have to find excuses to go over my friends' houses to watch their tv. It's sad.
Anyway one of the reasons that I like the show is because it's fairly realistic. It's funny and sometimes predictable but it has great characters that confront interesting issues . One of the couples in the show is a control freak lawyer mom, and her husband is a stay at home dad for their daughter. I love that this this type of couple is being portrayed on tv. I think it does a lot for the progression and normalization of women in the workplace. So far the couple's status hasn't been confronted aloud- however it is made clear that the working mom struggles to balance her time between being a mom and her job. She also has feelings of guilt when she works a lot. But Parenthood shows the dad as a "rockstar dad" who really enjoys going to playgroups, and making all the meals for the family. I can't recall any other show that does this (but then again, I don't have tv so I miss a lot). But either way I think it's a refreshing choice of characters, and can't wait to see where the show goes.
I think that it's great how the show changes the ideas of gender roles around. Last week I did an interview paper where I contrasted the stay at home mom and the working dad. I asked the working dad what did he think about a stay at home dad and he was not very open to the idea. He believed that the stay at home dad was just being lazy and had no excuse staying home caring for his children. It's obvious that some people don't consider that men who are dads are just as entitled to help raise their kids just like moms do if they choose so.
ReplyDeleteI like the theme of the show as you put it. Showing that women do have upscale jobs in the workforce is more common these days. However, the stay at home dad isn't usually advertised or presented. This dad is seen as a rock star, in your opinion, but I wonder if it were the mom doing the same things would she be seen as one. Probably not because it is more common to expect mothers to do these things. I am a mom of two boys and an active duty husband who is home when the government sees fit. I do everything, even when he is home because it is not a part of his routine and apart of mine. The funny thing is when the boys get something given to them when he is gone they say 'thanks mom," but when dad is home even if it still came from me, which it did, they say "thanks dad." Men receive glory for almost everything. I wonder if women will ever make it to the top and see what they see.
ReplyDeleteI love this show and dvr every episode! It's rare that you see a popular sitcom that has reversal of gender roles being portrayed. Even though the show portrays other families where the "normal" gender roles are still in effect. The mom who is the succesful lawyer and the dad who stays at home with his daughter are happy with what they're doing in life, it's what they enjoy and is good for the family. I'm glad that that type of family is being portrayed in society because it could have an affect on people. They may see that it is completely fine for there to be reversed gender roles and that it's not considered abnormal as many people think. Hopefully this could have a huge impact on people's lives and encourage and assure them that it's alright to have these reveresed gender roles.
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