Roles of Women

& Television

Conservative• Nuclear Family: Consists of a mother and

father plus their children living in the same

quarters. May also include extended

family.

• Mother typically stays home to take care of

the household.

• Father typically works to make sure all the

family’s financial needs are met.

• Examples: The Waltons, Leave it to

Beaver, Little House on the Prairie

Leave it to Beaver

June Cleaver:

-“All-American Mom”

Roles:

-Cooking, Cleaning,

Being a Mother.

Family:

-Husband (Ward

Cleaver)

-Son (Beaver Cleaver)

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq_9wu-KjTk&NR=1

Moderate• Women typically have jobs outside of the

household and take part in providing

financial stability.

• Women may be shown pregnant but

separate beds are still shown.

• Males may show more responsibility

involving the household duties.

• Examples: I Love Lucy, The Cosby Show,

That 70’s Show, The Brady Bunch

I Love Lucy

Lucy Ricardo:

-First woman to be

shown pregnant on

television.

Roles:

-Housewife with

motives to have an

occupation.

Family:

-Husband (Ricky

Ricardo)

-Son (Little Ricky

Ricardo)Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeH8uV6ptcQ&feature=related

Liberal• Females are allowed to be the main

provider for the family.

• They may be single mothers or cougars or

even teenage mothers.

• Males might even take on the role of the

“stay at home dad”.

• Examples: Weeds, Sex and the City, The

Secret Life of the American Teenager.

Weeds

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcepZi8XFuY

Nancy Botwin:

-Single Mother selling

drugs to provide for her

family after the death of

her husband.

Roles:

-Providing for her

children.

Family:

-Sons (Silas and Shane

Botwin)

-Brother-in-Law (Andy

Botwin)