Five Basic Types of Popular Television Moms

Television has influenced the way mothers are often perceived, by the manner in which they are portrayed on popular programs.

Five basic types of television moms have been depicted, over the years.

"Stepford" Mom

"Stepford" moms were more popular during the 1950's and '60's, before the Women's Liberation Movement. Mothers were presented in a more strict, traditional way. They were expected to always look fresh-as-a-daisy, focus on everybody else's needs- except their own, have no interests or pursuits outside the home and seldom express an opposing opinion.

A perfect example is the June Cleaver character on the classic sitcom. Leave It To Beaver June wore a frilly dress, pearls and heels all day. Even when Ward, Wally and the Beaver were allowed to dress down, she was still outfitted like a Barbie doll. June's only concerns in life were housekeeping and "the boys". June Cleaver was impossibly "perfect" and you never got to see her as anything other than an extension of her spouse and kids.

Wouldn't it have been a hoot to see the kids come back from school, to find mom June wearing dungarees and the house in disarray, because she simply wasn't in the mood to clean up that day? It might have been refreshing to hear her argue with Ward once in awhile and have a "Girl's Night Out."

This was the way that television mothers were presented, during that era, however. A lot of women attempted to copy this very unrealistic example of what a wife and mother were supposed to be

"Activist" Moms

"Activists" television moms were at the other end of the spectrum. These were women who were defiantly rebelling against conventional gender- role perceptions and expressing their opinions on controversial topics. This type of t.v. mom became popular during the 1970's.