September 19, 2011
I love the sitcom 'Modern Family' so I was glad to hear it had won several Emmys last night. But all the attention prompts me to bring up a couple of aspects of the show that keep niggling at my feminist side. I am surprised that in a show called 'Modern Family', neither of the two wives works (this in an era when the majority of American women does work outside the home, at least part-time). Perhaps it's easier for the writers to center plots around the home setting? The other thing that bugs me relates to the depiction of the teenage girls in the show, mainly the elder daughter, Haley. There have been various episodes where Haley's boy obsession gets a good airing. (I assume this character is meant to be at least 16 since she has a driver's license, although she looks about 14, even with heavy makeup.) What strikes me as odd is that the mother, Julie Bowen's character Claire, actively encourages her daughter to date, and I presume that involves sex. An episode earlier this year was all about Claire wanting Haley to dump her boyfriend because 'she could do so much better'. But all along it was a given that this very young girl would be in a relationship. Why would a parent want to push that on a teenager? I've always found it strange that US society encourages you to be part of a couple at a very young age. Where does this couple obsession come from? Of course teenagers want to date, with all that involves. But all this attention, including parental attention, to daughters' dating perpetuates the idea that having a man is the most important thing a woman can do, even at 16. (See Alex, the incredibly smart, nerdy younger sister in 'Modern Family' who is into books, not boys, and has to have glasses to put the final touch on her nerdiness. In one episode her parents have to force her to leave her desk and engineer 'fun' things for her to do. Then, in the graduation episode, she emerges as a swan and announces to everyone's surprise she has a date. Well that's alright then!)
Photo credit: ABC.com via AP Photo
I'd actually love to review these boxes on my shopping/lifestyle blog. i wonder if they'd send me a sample box to talk about?
Posted by: red bottom | 11/14/2011 at 10:22 AM