Father Knows Best is a famous sitcom
Father Knows Best is a famous sitcom that premiered in the year 1954 -1963. It features a family of five headed by Jim Anderson, their father. His wife is called Margret and their three children, Betty, Bud, and Kathy. The film basically makes Anderson a superhero to his family as whenever they need advice; he is always there for them. Episode one of father knows best; Bud takes up the dance is about how Bud asks a girl out for a dance. There is this girl Bud likes, and he does not hesitate to ask her out for a school dance. Given that he does not know how to dance, he asks he seeks the advice of a dance book written over 5o years ago. Bud’s family finds out, and he feels embarrassed about it. They eventually talk it out to him and even show him some moves.
All in the Family is an exciting sitcom of its era in 1965-1975. The show focuses on the life of a lower-middle-class white family that resided in New York. The family comprises of Archie Bunker as the head of the family, his wife, Edith, and their only daughter Gloria. She is married to Michael Stivic, who is a college student. Episode five of season one, judging books by covers, analyses different characters that do not seem straight. Archie’s friend Steve turns out to be gay, yet Archie viewed him as a real man, which shocks him a lot. Casting Steve, as a gay person, brings out the aspect of stereotyping, and it was seen as a bold move by the producer. Archie also has concerns over Mike’s friend, who he thinks is not straight.
Father Knows Best has depicted the stereotyped gender roles during the early days. Anderson, as the dad, works as an insurance agent, yet this job was preferably for women. His wife is a stay at home mum; she takes care of their three children. Even though she was always around most of the time, Anderson came back home after to work to solve their children’s problems. They included relationships, school, or friends. All in the Family features Steve, Archies friend as a gay man which was something very unusual those days. Although Archie has concerns over Michael’s friend being gay, he turns out to be super straight.
The tv show Father Knows Best is aware they are depicting stereotypes by setting up Anderson with an insurance agent work. He is also given the role of the best advisor to his children even though his wife is a housewife. According to society, she is supposed to take care of the children while her husband provides for them. The show is okay with the stereotyping as it brings about a unique aspect in the market. All in the Family tv show is aware they depicted stereotypes by featuring Steve as a gay man. During that time, the gay community’s issue had gained very little popularity, so having to incorporate it brought out something special about the show.
Both shows, Father Knows Best, and All in the Family, depict a variation in the sense of their stereotypes. Father Knows Best chose to premier about gender roles, which was a significant issue in the 1950s. It blended well in that era as the audience could relate to the current society. All in the Family chose to address the gay community’s issue by featuring Steve, Mike’s friend. It was premiered in the 1960s, which was a current issue during those days. A few gay people had openly come out even though they were not being welcomed well. It is evident that the shows depicted an aspect of stereotype in the periods it was premiered.