June Cleaver is the Television Mom Americans Would Have Liked to Have Growing Up

[Zoneboy]

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For Mother’s Day: June Cleaver is the Television Mom Americans Would Have Liked to Have Growing Up

Claire Huxtable and Carol Brady Come in at Number 2 and 3, Respectively

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Growing up, who didn’t, at one point or another, look at their television and think to themselves, “wow, I wish my mom was that cool”? The top mom that Americans would like to have had when they were growing up harkens back to the “simpler” days of the 1950s. The Beaver’s mom, June Cleaver of Leave it to Beaver tops the list. Coming in at number two is Claire Huxtable, from The Cosby Show. In at number three is the lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls, Carol Brady of The Brady Bunch. Rounding out the top five television moms are Fonzie’s favorite, Marion “Mrs. C” Cunningham of Happy Days and Donna Stone of The Donna Reed Show.

These are the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 2,529 U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive® between April 7 and 15, 2008.

Another fifties icon, Harriet Nelson of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet comes in at number six while the mom who always had some explaining to do to Ricky, Lucy Ricardo of I Love Lucy, is number seven. Tied for number 8 are three more modern moms – the blue-collar Roseanne Connor of Roseanne; the mom as best friend, or Lorelei Gilmore of Gilmore Girls; and the ever-suffering Bart’s mom, Marge Simpson of The Simpsons.

Favorites Among Different Groups

Different groups all have their favorite moms. First, men prefer the fifties mom of June Cleaver, while women go more for the take charge lawyer of Claire Huxtable. Looking at this by race and ethnicity, Whites prefer June Cleaver while both African Americans and Hispanics have Claire Huxtable as their top mom. There are also differences by generation. Both Baby Boomers (those aged 44-62) and Matures (those aged 63+) have June Cleaver as number one. Gen Xers (those aged 32-43) go for 1970’s icon Carol Brady while the Echo Boomers (those aged 18-31) say Lorelei Gilmore is the television mom they wished they had.

While the Obama/Clinton/McCain fight continues, maybe television moms can broker some bipartisanship? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Republicans claim Carol Brady as their favorite while Democrats cite Claire Huxtable and Independents say June Cleaver is the mom they would have wanted growing up.

How Americans will Celebrate Mother’s Day

When it comes to their own moms, just under half (48%) of those whose mothers are alive will send cards for Mother’s Day while 47 percent will buy their moms a present and the same number will call their moms. Three in ten (29%) will take their moms to lunch of dinner while one-quarter (26%) will buy or send their moms flowers. Further down the list, one in ten (10%) will cook for their moms while 2 percent will take them to a museum, show or event and 5 percent say they will do nothing for their moms.

Men and women do different things for their mothers. Over half of women (53%) will buy their moms a present compared to two in five men (41%) who will do so. Half of men (49%) will call their moms as will 45 percent of women.

Methodology

This Harris Poll® was conducted online within the United States April 7 and 15, 2008, among 2,529 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. A full methodology and data tables will be made available at www.harrisinteractive.com.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

[PlayOn]

it does seem like June could do everything. cook, clean, take care of her family. but my vote would be for Clair Huxtable. she was hot-shot lawyer and still came home for dinner every night and when her kids needed her, she was there. only in TV land does that happen.

[sunshinefizzy]

I would not want Clair for a mother and I'm sure she wouldn't want me for a daughter. I don't like women like Clair, she seemed always ready to rip someone (anyone) something new. I need a nurturing motherly figure, and even Roseanne at times was more tolerable than Clair and that can be saying something.

[Ireneparalegal]

I actually loved Abby from Eight is Enough. She was a step-mother but she still evoked motherly love, friendship and was ready to listen and never put anyone down or judge them.

[Janice]

I can see why June Cleaver gets the honor. She was a great mother, although a worrywart. She was pretty, kind and always there for her children. Ward Cleaver was a great Dad too. I enjoyed their scenes together.