She wouldn't let him spank Stephanie, but that was different. They were not Stephanie's parents. Plus, Stephanie had been through a lot and was very insecure at that point in her life. She had been bounced around from one person to another, etc. My opinion is that Edith would have let Archie spank Gloria if Edith had felt like it was warranted. Gloria was their child from day one, and she knew she was loved. Insecurity was not at issue, etc. I think Edith would have supported Archie spanking her if Gloria had done something to justify it. In other words, I don't see Edith being against spanking per se, she just didn't think it was the best way to handle Stephanie's stealing given the circumstances.

She wouldn't let him spank Stephanie, but that was different. They were not Stephanie's parents. Plus, Stephanie had been through a lot and was very insecure at that point in her life. She had been bounced around from one person to another, etc. My opinion is that Edith would have let Archie spank Gloria if Edith had felt like it was warranted. Gloria was their child from day one, and she knew she was loved. Insecurity was not at issue, etc. I think Edith would have supported Archie spanking her if Gloria had done something to justify it. In other words, I don't see Edith being against spanking per se, she just didn't think it was the best way to handle Stephanie's stealing given the circumstances.

I'mkind of on the fence with this because Edith was a softee anyway. But the way Gloria sometimes slapped and sassed Archie, I have to say most likey she got away with it because Edith stepped in and stopped Archie from spanking her - although I think Gloria should have been spanked more often and maybe she would have chosen a better mate and just would have been smarter in life - period.

I'mkind of on the fence with this because Edith was a softee anyway. But the way Gloria sometimes slapped and sassed Archie, I have to say most likey she got away with it because Edith stepped in and stopped Archie from spanking her - although I think Gloria should have been spanked more often and maybe she would have chosen a better mate and just would have been smarter in life - period.

I'm thinking just the opposite. Yes, Edith was a softie, but she rarely stood up to Archie. I can see her pleading with Archie, "Oh, please don't hit her, Archie." Then Archie would go into some recollection about how his father spanked him, "and I'm all the better for it, see." Edith would then put on her sad face and Archie would go on and do the deed.

I just can't picture Archie doing it because Gloria always had him wrapped around her little finger. She was his little girl. lol

I just can't picture Archie doing it because Gloria always had him wrapped around her little finger. She was his little girl. lol

Archie was a died-in-the-wool conservative, and conservatives like him believe in "spare the rod, spoil the child" and their "right" to spank their children. If he believed it was okay to discipline Stephanie that way, why would he feel differently about his own daughter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmtrxyLsaqU

The OP pointed out that Stephanie was a very insecure child, but how do we know Gloria wasn't an insecure child as well? We never saw her as a child. She did have her occasional tantrums as an adult, so I would assume she also had them when she was a child.

If you think that only conservatives hit people, and that all conservatives hit people, then you're too ignorant to be posting in public.

That said, did he spank Stephanie, or did he bluster about it? Who did Archie ever hit except in defense of someone else?

Maybe you're reading too fast, or reading only what you want to read, but what I wrote is "conservatives like him." Nowhere in my post did I say "all conservatives" or "only conservatives." I was careful not to say that. My sister is conservative and she never spanked her kids. She gave them time outs, but didn't spank them. They both turned out to be all A students who have gone on to college on scholarships. I've also encountered many very conservative people who insist to me that spanking is the best method of disciplining a child. And there are some liberal-leaning people who also spank.

Thank you for the name-calling.

This is the politics equivalent of "some of my best friends are black."

Huh??? :confused:

You're the one who brought conservatives into it, to no positive purpose at all.

I'm supposed to ignore conservatives? Have you ever even seen All in the Family? It's about ultra conservative Archie Bunker sharing his home with ultra liberal Mike. That's the friggin' premise of the show. This discussion is about whether or not Archie would spank his daughter, and we're supposed to ignore his own belief system?

You might consider that everyone here except for you has treated these characters as individuals in discussing this question.

Newsflash: Archie Bunker, the character, the individual, was very, very conservative. If you don't believe me, ask Norman Lear.

I think Archie did spank Gloria when she was a kid. It was probably a very rare thing, and she probably had to do something pretty terrible to get a spanking. Gloria would have been a little kid in the 1950s, a time when most all American parents spanked. I would venture to say that maybe Edith also spanked her, perhaps more than Archie since Edith would have been at home with her more. I think Gloria was a different person before she met Mike, and I think she was raised the old-fashioned way. I can see Edith supporting spanking as long as it is warranted and fair and not overly harsh.

I think Norman Lear had a vastly more complex view of the character, and that you've completely missed it.

I've listened to countless interviews with Norman Lear and he's explained exactly who Archie Bunker was, who he was inspired by, and what his intentions were with this series. It seems like you're the one who's completely missed it.