Contending with the social stigma that all dad's are idiots.
Let's face it guys. We are up against a serious stereotype perpetuated by the media and comedy sketches. All dad's are incompetent idiots. Not just when left alone with the baby, but from day one.
I will admit it makes for great comedy. But the stereotype has irritated me for a long time, even before I knew I was going to be one of them. I have already seen people's view of me change. Face it, you are this guy,
I will admit it makes for great comedy. But the stereotype has irritated me for a long time, even before I knew I was going to be one of them. I have already seen people's view of me change. Face it, you are this guy,
and if you don't know who he is, you are this guy.
Not that there is anything wrong with these guys. But here is what TV says you are going to do.
When you first find out she is pregnant, you ramble on incoherently and then pass out. When she goes into labor, you run around crazy forgetting her bag. When you remember the bag, you leave for the hospital without her. When the baby comes out, you faint.
That is just the first half. Now, every time you are left with the baby everyone knows some sort of hijinx will ensue. When there is a dirty diaper, you slip out of the room unnoticed. You will leave the baby on the roof of the car, lose the baby, and enlist the help of your best buddy to cover up every detail only to be foiled by the all knowing, all seeing mother.
Not only is this a standard in sitcoms, but commercials too. Obviously this works for the TV and advertising industry because everyone you know is going to make you the butt of every joke.
When you first find out she is pregnant, you ramble on incoherently and then pass out. When she goes into labor, you run around crazy forgetting her bag. When you remember the bag, you leave for the hospital without her. When the baby comes out, you faint.
That is just the first half. Now, every time you are left with the baby everyone knows some sort of hijinx will ensue. When there is a dirty diaper, you slip out of the room unnoticed. You will leave the baby on the roof of the car, lose the baby, and enlist the help of your best buddy to cover up every detail only to be foiled by the all knowing, all seeing mother.
Not only is this a standard in sitcoms, but commercials too. Obviously this works for the TV and advertising industry because everyone you know is going to make you the butt of every joke.
Women have a huge advantage over us. Society automatically assumes they are experts on all things baby. They juggle work, kids, soccer, cooking, scheduling, shopping, basically everything. They are the glue that holds the entire world together. They are the only reason anything in the house works. They do all of this while the father watches football and ignores her and the kids.
Toys are partially to blame, in my opinion. From a very young age, girls are handed a practice child, or "baby doll" to tend to. They learn to care for it in all ways. They are also trained in the plastic culinary and custodial arts. Additionally, they are taught to make clothes for their precious newborns (this may be an out of date fact). Their childhood is based on one central theme, nurturing.
Little boys are trained only in death and violence. We hand them squirt guns and karate men. Once they master these concepts, they are trained in other fields that make killing and fighting easier. Here is your car. Learn to drive so you can make a fast getaway after assassinating Prime Minister Doodyface of the Republic of Cootieland.
And if you should ever need a fallback career, here are some construction toys. Now go learn to objectify women. Also, here is a ball. Learn to play grab ass with your buddies while you beat the crap out of each other.
I find the image of what males should be interesting. Each gender specific toy line has a completely different take. Here is just one example of the differences in the male characters.
And if you should ever need a fallback career, here are some construction toys. Now go learn to objectify women. Also, here is a ball. Learn to play grab ass with your buddies while you beat the crap out of each other.
I find the image of what males should be interesting. Each gender specific toy line has a completely different take. Here is just one example of the differences in the male characters.
Note how the Ken dolls are very feminine and and obviously way more concerned with fashion and doing whatever barbie tells them to do and not about how they are going to pay the bills. Did I mention how feminine they look?
The GI Joes are very rugged and manly. They are loaded to the gills with weapons designed to kill in the most unorthodox ways. Did I mention how rugged and manly they look? Even Scarlett is pretty rough and tumble.
But, there is nothing funny about hardcore death dealers. No one is going to watch a government trained, life extracting, bomb constructed from toothpicks and ear wax making, bundle of muscly terror care for children. Unless he is a complete idiot when it comes to kids.
The GI Joes are very rugged and manly. They are loaded to the gills with weapons designed to kill in the most unorthodox ways. Did I mention how rugged and manly they look? Even Scarlett is pretty rough and tumble.
But, there is nothing funny about hardcore death dealers. No one is going to watch a government trained, life extracting, bomb constructed from toothpicks and ear wax making, bundle of muscly terror care for children. Unless he is a complete idiot when it comes to kids.
So, how do we overcome this? That is a good question. I don't think we ever will. It is too deeply implanted in everyone's minds. Personally, I feel that the only opinion that matters is that of my lady. And that opinion is 1970's Chuck Norris Barbie approved.
But if that just isn't enough for you, here are some ideas of what not to do to further the image.
If you are anything like me, you came up with a very practical explanation for each of these pictures.
Here is the funny thing about the two fathers pictured at the beginning of the post. They both do very stupid things. But, when it comes down to it, they are the most loving fathers that would do anything for their families. But no one really focuses on that. I do like it when they take the time to show it. For example: there was an episode of Married with Children where Al took his car to the car wash and they lost it. Al was freaking out about it throughout the whole episode. At the end they found the car. Turns out he hadn't washed it in so long he forgot it was red instead of brown. He rushes to the trunk to make sure his most prized possessions are still there. He pulls out a stack of Juggs magazines and sighs in relief. It is revealed that hidden inside the nudy mags is a portrait of his family. The audience awwwws together.
I will concede that stupid dads are funny. And, maybe stupid moms are seen as an insult to women. But, I would like to see more strong fatherly characters portrayed. There is a fine line between stupid and funny. It is possible to go so far into the stupid that it becomes funny, and just the opposite. I like to dance on both sides of the line myself.
The bottom line is that we all want funny. But, enough of the Homer's dominating the TV. Let's see a few more funny dads like this guy.
Here is the funny thing about the two fathers pictured at the beginning of the post. They both do very stupid things. But, when it comes down to it, they are the most loving fathers that would do anything for their families. But no one really focuses on that. I do like it when they take the time to show it. For example: there was an episode of Married with Children where Al took his car to the car wash and they lost it. Al was freaking out about it throughout the whole episode. At the end they found the car. Turns out he hadn't washed it in so long he forgot it was red instead of brown. He rushes to the trunk to make sure his most prized possessions are still there. He pulls out a stack of Juggs magazines and sighs in relief. It is revealed that hidden inside the nudy mags is a portrait of his family. The audience awwwws together.
I will concede that stupid dads are funny. And, maybe stupid moms are seen as an insult to women. But, I would like to see more strong fatherly characters portrayed. There is a fine line between stupid and funny. It is possible to go so far into the stupid that it becomes funny, and just the opposite. I like to dance on both sides of the line myself.
The bottom line is that we all want funny. But, enough of the Homer's dominating the TV. Let's see a few more funny dads like this guy.
If you absolutely refuse to see a father as a positive Jello pudding eatin' role model, then at least give them a little credit that they wont turn out to be this dad.
How cool would "bring your dad to school" day be?