The 1950’s involved some of the biggest changes in the evolution of the family dynamic within the middle class American family. More and more young couples began to move to the suburbs where they would have children and start families. In fact, Stephanie Coontz, author of The Way We Never Were: American Families And The Nostalgia Trap, writes in her book “By the early 1950’s, newlyweds not only were establishing single family homes at an earlier age and a more rapid rate than ever before but also were increasingly moving to the suburbs, away from the close scrutiny of the elder generation.” (Coontz 26). Although family life in the 1950’s is often romanticized as happy times without many social issues, the truth is that society was very oppressive towards women, and restrictive gender roles for both men and women were perpetuated throughout 1950’s society. This sexist and gender roles-based lifestyle is depicted within much of the media created in the 1950’s. While on the surface, television shows of this era may seem to be sweet and nostalgic, there are actually much deeper, more serious connotations about the issues of 1950’s family life. Sexism and gender roles in 1950’s television shows, such as Leave It to Beaver, reinforce sexist and negative societal behavior through their scripts and portrayals of the family dynamic in America.
The family in Leave It to Beaver is comprised of the stereotypical housewife and husband − June and Ward − along with their two young sons − Wally and Beaver. In “Eddie’s Girl”, many aspects of the episode demonstrate gender roles. The show portrays June in the opening scene wearing a housedress, pearls, and high heels while cleaning the refrigerator in the kitchen. This opening shot clearly conveys the themes of a stereotypical 1950’s family with its sexist gender roles being fulfilled. From the opening shot on, the gender roles are evident. For instance, Beaver, Wally, and Eddie are discussing a girl when the prospect of a girl going to military school is brought up. The moment is fleeting, but the show and its writers do not pass up an opportunity to insert a laugh track at the sheer passing mention of a woman in the military. This sequence reinforces gender roles in that being in the military was seen as a “man’s job”, something not fit for a woman to do. Even the more subtle aspects of the episode induce an undeniable feeling of sexism and gender roles. Things such as Carolyn’s mother answering the door instead of her father indicate that her mother is a stay at home housewife, just as June is. At one point in the episode when Ward is looking for June, he just assumes that she is in the kitchen. This assumption is followed by a laugh track. This, again, drives home the message of stereotypical gender roles perpetuated by the idea of the 1950’s family. While gender roles were undoubtedly more emphasized with women, men were also targeted. The whole reason that Eddie made up having a girlfriend in “Eddie’s Girl” was because he wanted to seem like a “big shot” to his friend. Part of the reason there was so much emphasis on gender roles in Leave It to Beaver was because anything other than the nuclear family fulfilling gender roles was viewed as an outcast to society. In fact, “electric shock treatments were used to force women to accept their domestic roles and their husbands’ dictates” and women “who had trouble adjusting to ‘creative homemaking,’ were labeled neurotic, perverted, or schizophrenic” (Coontz 32). This further emphasizes the severe consequences of punishment and outcast for those did not conform to these stereotypical family roles. Leave It to Beaver portrayed these gender roles to be the norm, which in turn supported the outcast mentality that was evidently so prevalent in the 1950s. While it could be argued that gender roles are not inherently sexist, the sexist dialogue combined with the portrayal of gender roles within Leave It to Beaver prove that this show does reinforce negative societal behavior along with the extremely sexist aspect of gender roles.
The Leave It to Beaver episode “Eddie’s Girl” may simply seem like a comical family situation arising from Wally Cleaver’s friend Eddie trying to convince everyone that he has a girlfriend. However, this episode has several moments of cringe-worthy, sexist dialogue that conveys the underlying themes of 1950’s family life. Perhaps the most sexist moment of dialogue in the episode is when June tells her son Beaver that girls are “what you take to dances.” To the viewer who is simply watching for entertainment, it may be easy to gloss over this choice of diction. The writers using the word “what” rather than “who” to describe girls severely dehumanizes women while also objectifying them as a gender. Soon after June says this, Beaver claims “girls are rats.” Comparing women to an animal such as a rat is just as, if not more, dehumanizing and objectifying as saying “what” rather than “who”. Later in the episode, Beaver comments on Ward’s advice to Wally to be respectful and nice to his date Carolyn, regarding these manners as “all that other junk.” While some may say that these sexist and negative comments towards women are just a result of Beaver being young and naïve, there is still much evidence that the show reinforces his behavior. For one, he had to have learned this sexist line of thinking from the family dynamic that he grows up in. The show also supports these sexist comments, as they continuously use a laugh track after a character says something demeaning or insulting about a woman. The use of the laugh track sends a message to the audience – middle class 1950’s suburban families – that it is socially and behaviorally acceptable to debase and reduce women as individuals.
This sexist behavior within Leave It to Beaver may be a societal result of the audience that it is appealing to, but it reinforces sexism regardless of whether it is the cause or the result. The sexist dialogue within Leave It to Beaver may be rooted from a trend in the 1950’s that individuals, especially women, are defined in relation to their family. This sexism may be because “For the first time, men as well as women were encouraged to root their self identity and self image in familial and parental roles” (Coontz 27). Women had much less self-identity than they had prior to the 1950’s due to the complete take over of family life. Prior to the 1950’s, it was still not encouraged for women to be individualistic, but this became even less possible with the introduction of the role of housewife. Therefore, sexism towards women was still prominent as they were less individualistic because of their roles as mothers and wives around the house.
Sexism and gender roles no doubt permeate throughout Leave It to Beaver and other 1950’s television, and the dynamic between the two parents – June and Ward – accentuate these aspects of the 1950’s. In “Eddie’s Girl”, there are several instances of the husband being the dominant figure in the family, while the wife is belittled and functions almost as a sort of third child. For instance, there is a point in the episode where June is worried because she accepted a date for her son without knowing that the date is supposedly Eddie’s girlfriend. When she asks Ward what to do, he essentially looks down on her and says that she ought to “consult her children” before making decisions such as this. This statement conveys an interesting family dynamic. For one, it belittles June in that although she is supposed to know her children best because she takes care of them all the time, Ward is still made out to seem that he can parent better than June. Furthermore, it belittles June in the sense that he is telling her to consult her children, when her children should be consulting her as the authority figure and parent in the family. Later in the episode, Ward scolds June for upsetting Wally when she was “just trying to make him happy”. Throughout the episode, Ward constantly babies June, repeatedly telling her that he told she shouldn’t have made the date. June reinforces her role as a third child when she, in an almost helpless yet charming tone, asks Ward for help in getting Wally to go on the date. Ward expresses great pleasure with her request. Ward also mocks June when she gets emotional about Wally going to the dance and growing up, suggesting that fathers should not have these emotions. These exchanges between Ward and June convey the reoccurring idea of gender roles in that the husband is the head of the house and is able to fix any problems that may arise within the family. Obviously, this is an unhealthy dynamic within the show that reinforces this type of lifestyle to its viewers. Unlike today where “Accessible, low-cost divorce has been an important reform for people trapped in abusive or destructive relationships” (Coontz 205), those trapped in a negative marriage in the 1950’s could not escape it without being ostracized by society. Marriages such as June’s and Ward’s reinforce this negative sexist behavior which influences society to view these aspects of marriage as normal.
Another family dynamic that seems to stem from sexism, misogyny, and gender roles within the Cleaver family is the serious issue of domestic violence. There are a few instances where there are subtle references and connotations to an abusive relationship between Ward and his kids. One instance of this is after Wally yells at his mother for setting up the date, Beaver comes out of the bathroom and says how he hides in their when people start yelling. Another example of this is when Beaver says to Wally, “You’re in high school now so I don’t think Dad will hit you” (Eddie’s). These are strong indications of abusive behavior. In the 1950’s “Wife battering was not even considered a ‘real’ crime by most people” (Coontz 35). In referencing domestic violence in a lighthearted manor, the show convinces the audience that this type of behavior is moral and socially acceptable, when it is in fact quite the opposite.
Overall, some may romanticize the 1950’s family dynamic, but when looked at from a more modern and progressive perspective, it is actually an era filled with sexism and exploitation of gender roles. Leave it to Beaver is a prime example of this sexism and misogynistic gender roles. Although on the surface it may seem like a nostalgic sitcom, in reality it reinforces negative family behavior in society at a time where there was already prevalent sexism. The fact that it is still looked at with such sentimental value has somewhat concerning implications for America’s society today. However, looking back, one can still see how much progress America has made in regards to family life, acceptance of others, and women’s rights. It is still evident that there is much social progress to be made, especially within media. On the other hand, if Leave It to Beaver were compared to a more modern sitcom, the difference in sexist dialogue, portrayal of gender roles, and general feel of the episode would be quite obvious. Hopefully, America will continue to grow into a more accepting and equal place.