Was Edith Bunker The Last of The "June Cleaver" Type Housewives on TV???

[Brian Damage]

What I mean is, the type of woman who would run to do anything for her husband. Yes, Edith had her moments when she stood up to Archie, but for the most part, was loyal to him to a fault. Was she the last of this type on television?

[comedyfreak]

I'd say no, Harriet Winslow from Family Matters was sort of a June Cleaver type.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I'd say no, Harriet Winslow from Family Matters was sort of a June Cleaver type.

Hmmm, interesting choice, but Harriet actually had a job and was sassy towards her husband.

[Retro4Life]

I'd say, "yes", Brian, because ever since AITF (and particularly now) it is very non PC to have a stay at home wife who doesn't work. The perception of the media and the world at large is that such a person "doesn't have a life" and such a portrayal would probably be looked upon as being "anti woman".

Edith did branch out eventually, helping out at the Sunshine home, but even in her early years she kept very busy and definitely wasn't sitting around watching soaps and talking on the phone all day. She served a vital purpose in that home, and no one in her position should ever feel "less than" or somehow insignificant. Of course, if it's a situation where she would have WANTED to work or do other things and Archie forbid it, that's bad. But Edith did what she did because it was her choice, even when she worked at the nursing home, above Archie's protest.

Edith, and anyone like her, had no reason to ever feel ashamed of their lifestyle and vocation.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I'd say, "yes", Brian, because ever since AITF (and particularly now) it is very non PC to have a stay at home wife who doesn't work. The perception of the media and the world at large is that such a person "doesn't have a life" and such a portrayal would probably be looked upon as being "anti woman".

Edith did branch out eventually, helping out at the Sunshine home, but even in her early years she kept very busy and definitely wasn't sitting around watching soaps and talking on the phone all day. She served a vital purpose in that home, and no one in her position should ever feel "less than" or somehow insignificant. Of course, if it's a situation where she would have WANTED to work or do other things and Archie forbid it, that's bad. But Edith did what she did because it was her choice, even when she worked at the nursing home, above Archie's protest.

Edith, and anyone like her, had no reason to ever feel ashamed of their lifestyle and vocation.

Well said Retro!

[OH Nuts!]

Edith wasn't very June Cleaver to me - Edith was real and looked like she lived in her clothes and her home - June looked like she never went to the bathroom, and you just had the feeling an iron and a dry cleaner were only a few inches away in the next room - God forbid June's dress ldidn't look 100.000% perfectly pressed. (And those pearls - she must haveowned her own ocean someplace.)

I also really liked Retro's post; staying home to take care of your husband and family IS a job - and a darn big one. While both June and Edith did this; there was more depth to Edith (not to fault to June - the writers of many 50s shows were fixated on turning out pablum)

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Hmmm, interesting choice, but Harriet actually had a job and was sassy towards her husband.

But she backed up her husband when it came time for disciplining of the kids. I also loved when she became the report card lady while Carl gave out the money.