Why so many gay couples in tv shows?

[MagdalenaRita]

My experience was different from yours—I grew up with feminism presented as a quest for equality, not a need to degrade men.

I heard about equality also, but in getting there it was a degrading of men. You know the name calling, such as “male chauvanist pigs” and more that I would not want to post here.

I think for feminists what is meat by equality is a big issue. For feminists it is equal without gender or role differences. Jesus gives us equality, equality in dignity and value but maintains that we are different in roles and gender.

 

[Atreju]

I think a lot of the “chauvinist pigs” and crazy stuff are cherrypicked extreme examples to try to paint the cause of equality as crazy by entrenched interests. I personally have never met a feminist who acts like rightwingers commonly portray them.

Consider how popular culture and the left wing portray Christians, usually pulling out examples of crazed fundamentalists calling for the execution of gays or that women be forced to be barefoot and in the kitchen. Something in human nature calls us to make cartoons out of people we disagree with rather than listen to what is actually being said.

 

[JulianN]

For feminists it is equal without gender or role differences. Jesus gives us equality, equality in dignity and value but maintains that we are different in roles and gender.

Sure, as long as the difference doesn’t extend to the notion of authority being solely the province of men, or women’s roles being restricted to subservience.

 

[JulianN]

So many likes.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

Anyone else remember the good ol’ days…back in the 50’s - 60’s when movies and TV were all about entertainment…no nudity and sex scenes…no cursing and blaspheming…no blood and guts…no pushing “lifestyle” agendas…

When the Honeymooners would end every episode with threats of domestic violence

 

[edwest]

You haven’t watched the Honeymooners then. Ralph and Alice would end an episode with a hug and an implied kiss. “To the moon, Alice!” Alice gave him the brush off every time.

 

[exnihilo]

That’s not true. Not every show ended with a ‘threat of violence’. And the ‘threat’ was always a joke. It was obviously not serious and violence wasn’t shown. The Simpsons and other modern shows show what could be called actual child abuse.

Also, you could complain about fat shaming and all sorts of other things from that show. What it shows me is that people back then weren’t so tightly wound.

 

[edwest]

I’ll add Family Guy to the list.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

I think a lot of the “chauvinist pigs” and crazy stuff are cherrypicked extreme examples to try to paint the cause of equality as crazy by entrenched interests.

It is not an extreme example, it was a very common phrase in the 60’s and 70’s and into the 80’s. It is not heard as much today.

I personally have never met a feminist who acts like rightwingers commonly portray them.

Check out photos and videos of the Women’s March. You don’t have to meet them personally. Watch shows of the 70’s, such as Maude. Even Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons had their feminist movement episodes.

Something in human nature calls us to make cartoons out of people we disagree with rather than listen to what is actually being said.

I have heard what they said for many years. IMHO because feminism has become so big, the wording has changed and much of it’s ideals have been accepted by society, we don’t think about or don’t look at where it started nor do we want to look at the damage that it has done.

Sure, as long as the difference doesn’t extend to the notion of authority being solely the province of men,

That is probably one of the big things that bothers women. Authority. I agree that authority shouldn’t be the sole province of men but in feminism, it is about throwing off any authority from men. It may not be something that happens on a day to day basis but it is the goal.

Gloria Steinman through the ages:
“be the man you wanted to marry”
“some of us are becoming the man we wanted to marry”
“we have become the men we wanted to marry”

women’s roles being restricted to subservience.

yes, women’s roles should not be restricted to “subservience” but we also need to realize where there is authority, accept it and follow. Just as Christ obeyed the Father.

 

[AngelusDomini]

The television has an off button. It is not an ubiquitous presence.

Maybe I’m misreading some replies but I think priorities may be somewhat different if this was being discussed in countries where a television is a luxury item.

 

[edwest]

I agree with everything you said. The 1970s were described by radicals as “second wave feminism.” And yes, starting in the 1970s, references to feminist ideas were acted out, arguments for it were scripted in. Divorce was scripted in, along with dysfunctional families. Instead of being and portraying the best we could be - meaning the best, not perfect - TV began a long slide into the gutter and depravity.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

Yes, you are right, that is exactly what happened.

A good example of how feminists were not just seeking equality but wanted to see the roles change, is the sitcom, “Whose the Boss?”. Woman big executive, man the housekeeper.

Even todays commercials for cleaning products have gone pretty much men doing the cleaning and the women coming home from work.

That’s not equality.

 

[halogirl]

If you disagree with what’s on the tv don’t watch those shows. There are countries where they control what media you see and those aren’t places you would want to live

 

[Atreju]

People back then literally lost their mind and protested because black people started joining white people in schools.

 

[edwest]

And what does that have to do with gay couples in TV shows?

 

[exnihilo]

People today kill their babies by the millions, divorce, and have open same sex relationships.

 

[JulianN]

yes, women’s roles should not be restricted to “subservience” but we also need to realize where there is authority, accept it and follow. Just as Christ obeyed the Father.

Agreed. Again, as long as there’s not some inherent requirement that authority belongs only to men.

 

[JulianN]

How is that not equality?

 

[MagdalenaRita]

Agreed. Again, as long as there’s not some inherent requirement that authority belongs only to men.

Women have had leadership roles going back into the Old Testament times but there are places where the authority of a particular role does belong only to a man and a woman can not fill it.

 

[JulianN]

I’m talking about the workplace, for example. In your previous comment, you made it sound as if there’s something wrong with a woman being an executive and a man being a housekeeper.