Throughout the history of humans the male has been the hunter and protector of the group. This is even present in the animal world i.e. bears, wolves, etc.
When it comes to seeing the male in action on the small screen you are likely to do a double take. In American sitcoms the husband is often portrayed as an overweight, beer drinking idiot who spends most of his time with a beer in one hand and the other down his pants. Even more startling is how this classic underachiever is often (not always) paired with a smart, attractive female.
Case in point: According to Jim, King of Queens, Grounded for Life, Til Death, Married with Children, Everybody Loves Raymond and The Munsters.
The world of animation is filled with simple, loud mouth husbands. The Flintstones, Family Guy, Dagwood and The Simpsons.
This is not some new white hot phenomenon. For decades Hollywood has churned out successful shows using this model. The Honeymooners leading role played by Jackie Gleason is a classic example. Gleason played blue collar Ralph Cramden; an ill tempered bully with latent violent tendencies, in the 1955 sitcom.
Night after night millions of viewers tune in and watch husbands with diminished intellect and often protruding bellies on parade. Even of the wife isn’t the best looker you can always count on her hubby being a complete bumbling idiot.
Is art imitating life or has the American public been spoon fed a warped model of
marriage that we’ve happily adopted?~The Warden
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