Gender Roles In American Culture

409 Words2 Pages
The American family, as portrayed on television, has moved away from the tight knit nuclear family, like the Cleavers (Leave it to Beaver 1957 – 1963), to a more relaxed version, which includs friends and neighbors, in a less structured extended family scenario, as seen with the Cobb family (Cougar Town 2009-). As American culture diversifies, the realities we are faced with on the small screen seem to mimic the changes in every day life. What is perceived as family by some in 2011 is different than what others see it as. The Nuclear Family, or two parents and their children living under the same roof, may not be the way it is for more Americans. ***According to my research, 27 percent of American households with minor children are headed…show more content…
Looking back at the era, the 1950’s was an era of the perfect cookie cutter suburban lifestyle. Husbands were the breadwinners, and wives stayed at home, doted over the children, cooked the meals, and the cleaned the house. Roles were more defined by gender norms of the era, and that was reflected in the entertainment available at the time. Flash forward to 2011 and the differences can be astounding. Gender roles aren’t as clear cut as they used to be. Women are as actively involved in the work force as their male counterparts, and often enough, the wives are the breadwinners while the husbands dutifully stays home and watches out for the family. Or in the case of the Cobb family, the husband and wife divorced, but still co-parented their son, with help, and input from their friends and neighbors. While the idea of the nuclear family to some is antiquated, there are many that would like to see it revived in entertainment, believing that life imitates art instead of the other way around. While the reality is that these families are here to stay, on television, and in the entertainment media, because looking into the streets, these are increasingly the types of families making up
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