TV moms that worked outside the home - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Tankeryanker · 05-11-2026, 08:35 PM

LHOTP and the waltons the women were not educated, but Ma Ingalls worked for a time.

LITB and FKB, the women were educated but didnt hold jobs in the origional runs of the shows. In the Cosby show the mom was a lawyer.

Who were the moms in between that held jobs?
M3S, the stepmom did have the substitute teaching job.
Carol Brady didn't work.
Did the partridge mom have a job before her husband died or only after?

Who else?

ThisLittlePiggy · 05-11-2026, 09:09 PM

Alice

ThisLittlePiggy · 05-11-2026, 09:12 PM

Linda Belcher (Bob’s Burgers)

ThisLittlePiggy · 05-11-2026, 09:15 PM

Roseanne Conner

ThisLittlePiggy · 05-11-2026, 09:16 PM

Christy Plunkett

biffbronson · 05-12-2026, 05:19 AM

Julia (1968-71): Single mom - widow Julia Baker works as a nurse.

Family Ties: Elyse Keaton works as an architect.

opus · 05-12-2026, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisLittlePiggy

Roseanne Conner

She definitely had a lot of them.

opus · 05-12-2026, 02:02 PM

Ann Romano (One Day At A Time) and Angela Bower (Who’s The Boss) both had jobs in advertising.

Willbo · 05-12-2026, 02:06 PM

Lucy Carter on "Here's Lucy".

howilu · 05-13-2026, 09:45 AM

Shirley Partridge on The Partridge Family worked as a bank teller.

biffbronson · 05-13-2026, 09:57 AM

In some cases, a working sitcom woman gives birth during the series:

Agent 99 on Get Smart
Murphy Brown

I don't believe in either of those examples, the woman is inclined to suspend her career indefinitely or end it.

Coffeecup · 05-18-2026, 01:44 PM

As I think of this question, just about all women who were married didn't work prior to 1970. I think the woman's lib played part. Now widowed mothers had to work. "Julia" comes to mind. How well Lucy Carmichael did for work, well she was a bit flustered at times. Now tv wives of the last 50 years work for income is really needed and kids tend to be more on their own.

Chocolate Moose · 05-18-2026, 01:58 PM

The War at Home

Still Standing

Reba

Cheers

Elsbeth

George's First marriage

biffbronson · 05-21-2026, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willbo

Lucy Carter on "Here's Lucy".

Also, on The Lucy Show, Lucy Carmichael was a single mom; her 2 children were not featured much at all though in the later seasons while Lucy worked as a bank secretary.

05-11-2026, 08:35 PM	#1
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,039	TV moms that worked outside the home LHOTP and the waltons the women were not educated, but Ma Ingalls worked for a time. LITB and FKB, the women were educated but didnt hold jobs in the origional runs of the shows. In the Cosby show the mom was a lawyer. Who were the moms in between that held jobs? M3S, the stepmom did have the substitute teaching job. Carol Brady didn't work. Did the partridge mom have a job before her husband died or only after? Who else?

05-18-2026, 01:58 PM	#13
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	The War at Home Still Standing Reba Cheers Elsbeth George's First marriage
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

05-11-2026, 09:09 PM	#2
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,150	Alice

05-11-2026, 09:12 PM	#3
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,150	Linda Belcher (Bob’s Burgers)

05-11-2026, 09:15 PM	#4
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,150	Roseanne Conner

05-11-2026, 09:16 PM	#5
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,150	Christy Plunkett

05-12-2026, 05:19 AM	#6
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,266	Julia (1968-71): Single mom - widow Julia Baker works as a nurse. Family Ties: Elyse Keaton works as an architect.

05-12-2026, 02:02 PM	#8
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,053	Ann Romano (One Day At A Time) and Angela Bower (Who’s The Boss) both had jobs in advertising.

05-12-2026, 02:06 PM	#9
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 859	Lucy Carter on "Here's Lucy".

05-13-2026, 09:45 AM	#10
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,958	Shirley Partridge on The Partridge Family worked as a bank teller.

05-13-2026, 09:57 AM	#11
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,266	In some cases, a working sitcom woman gives birth during the series: Agent 99 on Get Smart Murphy Brown I don't believe in either of those examples, the woman is inclined to suspend her career indefinitely or end it.

05-18-2026, 01:44 PM	#12
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,176	As I think of this question, just about all women who were married didn't work prior to 1970. I think the woman's lib played part. Now widowed mothers had to work. "Julia" comes to mind. How well Lucy Carmichael did for work, well she was a bit flustered at times. Now tv wives of the last 50 years work for income is really needed and kids tend to be more on their own.